Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in New Zealand

New Zealand: Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary was 3,998 number in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
3,998 number
Change on year
down 29.2%
World rank
109th
of 149 countries
All-time high
12,890 number
in 2014
All-time low
1,829 number
in 1986
Years of data
21
1977–2018

Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in New Zealand, 1977–2018

2.5k5.0k7.5k10.0k12.5k1977199720181977: 5.0k number1979: 5.4k number1980: 3.3k number1981: 3.2k number1982: 3.3k number1983: 5.0k number1984: 2.9k number1985: 2.3k number1986: 1.8k number1987: 4.7k number1988: 3.6k number1989: 6.0k number1990: 3.0k number1991: 5.3k number1992: 11.2k number2013: 11.5k number2014: 12.9k number2015: 12.1k number2016: 9.1k number2017: 5.6k number2018: 4.0k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

In 2018, out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in New Zealand stood at 3,998 number.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 29.2% on the previous year and down 65.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in New Zealand peaked at 12,890 number in 2014 and was at its lowest, 1,829 number, in 1986.

New Zealand ranks 109th of 149 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age, both sexes (number) in New Zealand, 1977 to 2018.
Year number Change
1977 5,025 number
1979 5,425 number +8.0%
1980 3,349 number -38.3%
1981 3,196 number -4.6%
1982 3,314 number +3.7%
1983 5,011 number +51.2%
1984 2,853 number -43.1%
1985 2,315 number -18.9%
1986 1,829 number -21.0%
1987 4,726 number +158.4%
1988 3,564 number -24.6%
1989 6,011 number +68.7%
1990 2,977 number -50.5%
1991 5,311 number +78.4%
1992 11,155 number +110.0%
2013 11,528 number +3.3%
2014 12,890 number +11.8%
2015 12,117 number -6.0%
2016 9,117 number -24.8%
2017 5,646 number -38.1%
2018 3,998 number -29.2%

New Zealand compared with similar countries

  • New Zealand's 3,998 number is below the median for high income countries, which is 4,639 number, 86% of the median. (61 countries reporting)
  • New Zealand's 3,998 number is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 18,566 number, 22% of the median. (19 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 5,225 number 5,025 number 5,425 number 2
1980s 3,617 number 1,829 number 6,011 number 10
1990s 6,481 number 2,977 number 11,155 number 3
2010s 9,216 number 3,998 number 12,890 number 6

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 106 Costa Rica 4,639 number compare
  2. 107 Croatia 4,143 number compare
  3. 108 Vanuatu 4,065 number compare
  4. 110 Denmark 3,959 number compare
  5. 111 Sweden 3,634 number compare
  6. 112 Mauritius 3,577 number compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More reference data data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in New Zealand?
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in New Zealand was 3,998 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 12,890 number in 2014.
What is the lowest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 1,829 number in 1986.
How does New Zealand rank for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary?
New Zealand ranks 109th out of 149 countries with data for 2018.
Is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is down 65.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this New Zealand data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/out-of-school-children-and-adolescents-of-primary-and-lower-secondary-school-age-both/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age, both sexes (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
194 places, 4,726 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Number of children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age who are not enrolled or attending school during in a given academic year. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/