Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in North America

North America: Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary was 157,924 number in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
157,924 number
Change on year
up 98.8%
Rank
43rd
of 45 groups
All-time high
2.10 million number
in 1972
All-time low
58,804 number
in 2016
Years of data
50
1970–2019

Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in North America, 1970–2019

0500.0k1.0M1.5M2.0M197019942019

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

The most recent figure for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in North America is 157,924 number, measured in 2019.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 98.8% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in North America peaked at 2.10 million number in 1972 and was at its lowest, 58,804 number, in 2016.

That places North America 43rd out of 45 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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 North America, year by year

Annual values for Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age, female (number) in North America, 1970 to 2019.
Year number Change
1970 2.07 million number
1971 2.06 million number -0.7%
1972 2.10 million number +2.2%
1973 1.89 million number -10.0%
1974 1.95 million number +2.9%
1975 1.91 million number -2.2%
1976 1.76 million number -7.5%
1977 1.68 million number -4.6%
1978 1.59 million number -5.3%
1979 1.59 million number -0.4%
1980 900,575 number -43.3%
1981 896,609 number -0.4%
1982 666,327 number -25.7%
1983 756,156 number +13.5%
1984 826,116 number +9.3%
1985 778,394 number -5.8%
1986 625,874 number -19.6%
1987 711,443 number +13.7%
1988 343,348 number -51.7%
1989 250,668 number -27.0%
1990 144,936 number -42.2%
1991 151,808 number +4.7%
1992 259,369 number +70.9%
1993 394,839 number +52.2%
1994 431,592 number +9.3%
1995 390,960 number -9.4%
1996 478,768 number +22.5%
1997 452,450 number -5.5%
1998 429,802 number -5.0%
1999 409,014 number -4.8%
2000 366,632 number -10.4%
2001 170,464 number -53.5%
2002 401,449 number +135.5%
2003 327,767 number -18.4%
2004 366,305 number +11.8%
2005 199,524 number -45.5%
2006 89,318 number -55.2%
2007 107,810 number +20.7%
2008 181,989 number +68.8%
2009 158,397 number -13.0%
2010 359,903 number +127.2%
2011 409,803 number +13.9%
2012 407,680 number -0.5%
2013 414,744 number +1.7%
2014 303,546 number -26.8%
2015 262,420 number -13.5%
2016 58,804 number -77.6%
2017 62,675 number +6.6%
2018 79,451 number +26.8%
2019 157,924 number +98.8%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in North America 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
2002 +135.5% 170,464 number 401,449 number
2010 +127.2% 158,397 number 359,903 number

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 1.86 million number 1.59 million number 2.10 million number 10
1980s 675,551 number 250,668 number 900,575 number 10
1990s 354,354 number 144,936 number 478,768 number 10
2000s 236,966 number 89,318 number 401,449 number 10
2010s 251,695 number 58,804 number 414,744 number 10

Countries ranked near North America

  1. 40 Ghana 87,894 number compare
  2. 41 Germany 83,231 number compare
  3. 42 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 78,680 number compare
  4. 43 United States of America 76,669 number compare
  5. 44 El Salvador 75,550 number compare
  6. 45 Paraguay 72,432 number compare
  7. 46 Italy 63,301 number compare

See the full ranking of 193 places →

More reference data data for North America

All data for North America →

Frequently asked questions

What is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in North America?
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in North America was 157,924 number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in North America?
The highest recorded value was 2.10 million number in 1972.
What is the lowest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in North America?
The lowest recorded value was 58,804 number in 2016.
How does North America rank for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary?
North America ranks 43rd out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
Is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary rising or falling in North America?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this North America 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, female (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 North America. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/out-of-school-children-and-adolescents-of-primary-and-lower-secondary-school-age-female/north-america/

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About this data

Indicator
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age, female (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
193 places, 4,451 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/