Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Kuwait
Kuwait: Share of children in primary school age who are in school was 80.6% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Kuwait, 1820–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Kuwait recorded 80.6% for share of children in primary school age who are in school in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children in primary school age who are in school in Kuwait peaked at 99.9% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1820.
That places Kuwait 180th out of 209 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 0.0% | — |
| 1825 | 0.0% | — |
| 1830 | 0.0% | — |
| 1835 | 0.0% | — |
| 1840 | 0.0% | — |
| 1845 | 0.0% | — |
| 1850 | 0.0% | — |
| 1855 | 0.0% | — |
| 1860 | 0.0% | — |
| 1865 | 0.0% | — |
| 1870 | 0.0% | — |
| 1875 | 0.0% | — |
| 1880 | 0.0% | — |
| 1885 | 0.0% | — |
| 1890 | 0.0% | — |
| 1895 | 0.0% | — |
| 1900 | 0.0% | — |
| 1905 | 0.0% | — |
| 1910 | 5.1% | — |
| 1915 | 9.5% | +85.9% |
| 1920 | 13.8% | +46.1% |
| 1925 | 18.2% | +31.6% |
| 1930 | 22.6% | +24.0% |
| 1935 | 26.9% | +19.4% |
| 1940 | 31.3% | +16.2% |
| 1945 | 38.1% | +21.9% |
| 1950 | 45.0% | +17.9% |
| 1955 | 64.6% | +43.7% |
| 1960 | 55.0% | -14.9% |
| 1965 | 52.0% | -5.5% |
| 1970 | 61.0% | +17.3% |
| 1971 | 54.3% | -11.0% |
| 1972 | 57.4% | +5.7% |
| 1973 | 60.8% | +6.0% |
| 1974 | 62.2% | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 64.0% | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 66.6% | +4.1% |
| 1977 | 71.3% | +7.0% |
| 1978 | 80.2% | +12.5% |
| 1979 | 79.2% | -1.3% |
| 1980 | 78.0% | -1.5% |
| 1981 | 78.3% | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 78.9% | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 79.7% | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 78.8% | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 78.2% | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 77.7% | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 73.1% | -6.0% |
| 1988 | 72.9% | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 59.5% | -18.5% |
| 1994 | 71.9% | +20.8% |
| 1996 | 74.2% | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 71.9% | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 83.1% | +15.7% |
| 1999 | 83.0% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 85.1% | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 89.3% | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 94.5% | +5.8% |
| 2003 | 97.4% | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 97.6% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 97.2% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 99.5% | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 99.2% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 99.5% | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 99.9% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 98.7% | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 98.2% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 98.0% | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 96.9% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 92.5% | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 80.6% | -12.9% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 80.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 98.2%, 82% of the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 80.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 95.4%, 84% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Kuwait 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1915 | +85.9% | 5.1% | 9.5% |
| 1920 | +46.1% | 9.5% | 13.8% |
| 1955 | +43.7% | 45.0% | 64.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1830s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1840s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1850s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1860s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1870s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1910s | 7.3% | 5.1% | 9.5% | 2 |
| 1920s | 16.0% | 13.8% | 18.2% | 2 |
| 1930s | 24.7% | 22.6% | 26.9% | 2 |
| 1940s | 34.7% | 31.3% | 38.1% | 2 |
| 1950s | 54.8% | 45.0% | 64.6% | 2 |
| 1960s | 53.5% | 52.0% | 55.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 65.7% | 54.3% | 80.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 77.3% | 72.9% | 79.7% | 9 |
| 1990s | 73.9% | 59.5% | 83.1% | 6 |
| 2000s | 95.0% | 85.1% | 99.5% | 8 |
| 2010s | 97.7% | 92.5% | 99.9% | 7 |
| 2020s | 80.6% | 80.6% | 80.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More education data for Kuwait
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 47,443 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 11 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 30,349 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 29,489 (2021)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 302,047 (2015)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 265,113 (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -4.44 % change on previous year (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0608 units per person (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children in primary school age who are in school in Kuwait?
- Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Kuwait was 80.6% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 99.9% in 2011.
- What is the lowest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1820.
- How does Kuwait rank for share of children in primary school age who are in school?
- Kuwait ranks 180th out of 209 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of children in primary school age who are in school rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kuwait data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children in primary school age who are in school. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of children of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.