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 119,961 number in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
119,961 number
Change on year
up 12.9%
Rank
43rd
of 45 groups
All-time high
2.99 million number
in 1972
All-time low
69,193 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

01.0M2.0M3.0M197019942019

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.

Analysis

In 2019, out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in North America stood at 119,961 number.

That represents a change of up 12.9% on the previous year and down 60.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in North America peaked at 2.99 million number in 1972 and was at its lowest, 69,193 number, in 2016.

North America ranks 43rd of 45 groups on this measure, 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, male (number) in North America, 1970 to 2019.
Year number Change
1970 2.96 million number
1971 2.94 million number -0.8%
1972 2.99 million number +1.8%
1973 2.67 million number -10.7%
1974 2.74 million number +2.8%
1975 2.69 million number -2.0%
1976 2.48 million number -7.6%
1977 2.37 million number -4.5%
1978 2.25 million number -5.2%
1979 2.24 million number -0.3%
1980 1.24 million number -44.7%
1981 1.23 million number -0.4%
1982 927,190 number -24.8%
1983 1.06 million number +13.8%
1984 1.16 million number +9.5%
1985 1.09 million number -5.6%
1986 874,797 number -19.9%
1987 1.07 million number +21.9%
1988 523,940 number -50.9%
1989 367,594 number -29.8%
1990 226,831 number -38.3%
1991 161,823 number -28.7%
1992 271,564 number +67.8%
1993 393,197 number +44.8%
1994 506,329 number +28.8%
1995 435,849 number -13.9%
1996 544,278 number +24.9%
1997 531,513 number -2.3%
1998 529,759 number -0.3%
1999 544,559 number +2.8%
2000 404,547 number -25.7%
2001 295,953 number -26.8%
2002 487,746 number +64.8%
2003 386,807 number -20.7%
2004 399,274 number +3.2%
2005 191,765 number -52.0%
2006 193,520 number +0.9%
2007 77,177 number -60.1%
2008 107,702 number +39.6%
2009 302,808 number +181.2%
2010 379,295 number +25.3%
2011 560,138 number +47.7%
2012 402,194 number -28.2%
2013 385,970 number -4.0%
2014 492,100 number +27.5%
2015 299,968 number -39.0%
2016 69,193 number -76.9%
2017 70,475 number +1.9%
2018 106,236 number +50.7%
2019 119,961 number +12.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 2.63 million number 2.24 million number 2.99 million number 10
1980s 953,242 number 367,594 number 1.24 million number 10
1990s 414,570 number 161,823 number 544,559 number 10
2000s 284,730 number 77,177 number 487,746 number 10
2010s 288,553 number 69,193 number 560,138 number 10

Countries ranked near North America

  1. 40 Morocco 86,056 number compare
  2. 41 Togo 81,657 number compare
  3. 42 El Salvador 80,413 number compare
  4. 43 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 79,085 number compare
  5. 44 Italy 61,190 number compare
  6. 45 Spain 56,149 number compare
  7. 46 Paraguay 55,233 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 119,961 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 2.99 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 69,193 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 60.4%. 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, male (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-male/north-america/

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About this data

Indicator
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age, male (number)
Unit
number
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
193 places, 4,440 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/