Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female was 0.8% in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
0.8%
Change on year
up 41.7%
World rank
140th
of 166 countries
All-time high
6.3%
in 1985
All-time low
0.1%
in 2002
Years of data
33
1971–2018

Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female in United Kingdom, 1971–2018

02461971199420181971: 1.8 %1972: 2.8 %1973: 3.7 %1974: 4.2 %1975: 4.1 %1976: 3.9 %1977: 3.6 %1978: 3.5 %1979: 3.4 %1980: 2.1 %1981: 2.1 %1982: 3.1 %1983: 4.7 %1984: 5.4 %1985: 6.3 %1986: 4.7 %1987: 1.8 %1988: 0.138 %1991: 1.6 %1992: 3.2 %2002: 0.105 %2004: 0.505 %2006: 0.107 %2007: 2 %2008: 1.1 %2009: 1.9 %2010: 1.7 %2011: 1.7 %2012: 1.5 %2013: 0.399 %2016: 0.433 %2017: 0.575 %2018: 0.814 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female in United Kingdom is 0.8%, measured in 2018.

The figure is up 41.7% on the previous year and down 26.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female in United Kingdom peaked at 6.3% in 1985 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2002.

United Kingdom ranks 140th of 166 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female (%) in United Kingdom, 1971 to 2018.
Year % Change
1971 1.8%
1972 2.8% +54.0%
1973 3.7% +33.1%
1974 4.2% +11.1%
1975 4.1% -0.6%
1976 3.9% -5.5%
1977 3.6% -7.8%
1978 3.5% -2.6%
1979 3.4% -3.9%
1980 2.1% -39.0%
1981 2.1% +4.3%
1982 3.1% +42.6%
1983 4.7% +54.8%
1984 5.4% +13.7%
1985 6.3% +17.5%
1986 4.7% -25.1%
1987 1.8% -62.2%
1988 0.1% -92.3%
1991 1.6% +1028.7%
1992 3.2% +103.7%
2002 0.1% -96.7%
2004 0.5% +381.4%
2006 0.1% -78.9%
2007 2.0% +1760.9%
2008 1.1% -44.1%
2009 1.9% +74.7%
2010 1.7% -13.7%
2011 1.7% +2.2%
2012 1.5% -10.3%
2013 0.4% -73.9%
2016 0.4% +8.5%
2017 0.6% +32.8%
2018 0.8% +41.7%

United Kingdom compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom's 0.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.6%, 52% of the median. (60 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom's 0.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.7%, 48% of the median. (44 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2007 +1760.9% 0.1% 2.0%
1991 +1028.7% 0.1% 1.6%
2004 +381.4% 0.1% 0.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 3.5% 1.8% 4.2% 9
1980s 3.4% 0.1% 6.3% 9
1990s 2.4% 1.6% 3.2% 2
2000s 1.0% 0.1% 2.0% 6
2010s 1.0% 0.4% 1.7% 7

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 137 Kuwait 0.9% compare
  2. 138 Malta 0.9% compare
  3. 139 Cyprus 0.8% compare
  4. 141 North Macedonia 0.8% compare
  5. 142 Maldives 0.7% compare
  6. 143 Egypt 0.7% compare

See the full ranking of 211 places →

More education data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female in United Kingdom?
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female in United Kingdom was 0.8% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 6.3% in 1985.
What is the lowest out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2002.
How does United Kingdom rank for out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female?
United Kingdom ranks 140th out of 166 countries with data for 2018.
Is out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is down 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/out-of-school-rate-for-children-of-primary-school-age-female-percent/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Out-of-school rate for children of primary school age, female (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
211 places, 5,144 data points, 1970–2020
Last refreshed

The number of female students of the official age for primary education is subtracted from the total female population of the same age. The result is expressed as a percentage of the female population of the official age for primary education. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/