Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary was 21,989 number in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
21,989 number
Change on year
up 36.4%
World rank
64th
of 148 countries
All-time high
204,062 number
in 1975
All-time low
2,324 number
in 2002
Years of data
28
1971–2018

Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971–2018

050.0k100.0k150.0k200.0k1971199420181971: 74.0k number1972: 115.8k number1973: 177.8k number1974: 190.1k number1975: 204.1k number1976: 131.0k number1977: 120.8k number1978: 117.5k number1979: 119.8k number1981: 75.5k number1982: 90.8k number1998: 19.0k number1999: 9.5k number2000: 2.7k number2002: 2.3k number2004: 10.9k number2006: 5.2k number2007: 75.0k number2008: 39.8k number2009: 41.5k number2010: 35.3k number2011: 52.1k number2012: 96.3k number2013: 43.9k number2014: 41.2k number2015: 22.4k number2017: 16.1k number2018: 22.0k number

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

In 2018, out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 21,989 number.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 36.4% on the previous year and down 44.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 204,062 number in 1975 and was at its lowest, 2,324 number, in 2002.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 64th of 148 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age, female (number) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971 to 2018.
Year number Change
1971 73,950 number
1972 115,814 number +56.6%
1973 177,762 number +53.5%
1974 190,100 number +6.9%
1975 204,062 number +7.3%
1976 130,971 number -35.8%
1977 120,809 number -7.8%
1978 117,523 number -2.7%
1979 119,783 number +1.9%
1981 75,508 number -37.0%
1982 90,819 number +20.3%
1998 18,985 number -79.1%
1999 9,532 number -49.8%
2000 2,663 number -72.1%
2002 2,324 number -12.7%
2004 10,892 number +368.7%
2006 5,244 number -51.9%
2007 74,978 number +1329.8%
2008 39,812 number -46.9%
2009 41,549 number +4.4%
2010 35,270 number -15.1%
2011 52,090 number +47.7%
2012 96,330 number +84.9%
2013 43,866 number -54.5%
2014 41,236 number -6.0%
2015 22,447 number -45.6%
2017 16,122 number -28.2%
2018 21,989 number +36.4%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 21,989 number is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,843 number, 11.9× the median. (61 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 21,989 number is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4,256 number, 5.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 +1329.8% 5,244 number 74,978 number
2004 +368.7% 2,324 number 10,892 number

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 138,975 number 73,950 number 204,062 number 9
1980s 83,164 number 75,508 number 90,819 number 2
1990s 14,258 number 9,532 number 18,985 number 2
2000s 25,352 number 2,324 number 74,978 number 7
2010s 41,169 number 16,122 number 96,330 number 8

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 61 Chile 26,216 number compare
  2. 62 Republic of Moldova 23,320 number compare
  3. 63 Azerbaijan 22,226 number compare
  4. 65 Cuba 21,894 number compare
  5. 66 Australia 20,316 number compare
  6. 67 Argentina 18,743 number compare

See the full ranking of 193 places →

More reference data data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 21,989 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 204,062 number in 1975.
What is the lowest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 2,324 number in 2002.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 64th out of 148 countries with data for 2018.
Is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 44.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/out-of-school-children-and-adolescents-of-primary-and-lower-secondary-school-age-female/united-kingdom/

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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/