According to UNESCO, about 263 million children and youth worldwide do not attend school.
Understanding the Global Out-of-School Figures
The challenge of ensuring universal education remains significant, with millions of children and adolescents still excluded from learning opportunities. The figures compiled by UNESCO, as cited by the World Top 20 Project, provide a comprehensive breakdown of these out-of-school populations across different age groups.
This total number includes children and youth from various educational levels, highlighting the global scale of the issue.
Breakdown by Education Level
The 263 million children and adolescents out of school are categorized by their age and the corresponding education level they should be attending:
| Age Group (Years) | Education Level | Number of Children Out of School (Millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 to 11 | Primary School Age | 61 |
| 11 to 14 | Lower Secondary Age | 60 |
| 15 to 19 | Upper Secondary Age | 142 |
| Total | ~263 |
- Primary School Age (5 to 11): A significant portion, 61 million, are children who should be in primary education but are not.
- Lower Secondary School Age (11 to 14): An additional 60 million adolescents are missing out on lower secondary education.
- Upper Secondary School Age (15 to 19): This category, with an estimated 142 million, represents the largest group of out-of-school youth, highlighting the drop-off rates as children get older. This was the first ever estimate for this age group by UNESCO.
These statistics underscore the ongoing global effort required to achieve sustainable development goals related to education, ensuring that all children have access to quality learning environments.
For more information, you can refer to the Out of School Children - World Top 20 Project website.
