Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in South Asia
South Asia: Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary was 15.43 million number in 2019. ▼ Falling
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in South Asia, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
South Asia recorded 15.43 million number for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in 2019.
That represents a change of up 0.3% on the previous year and down 33.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in South Asia peaked at 30.87 million number in 2002 and was at its lowest, 15.39 million number, in 2018.
South Asia ranks 17th of 45 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 50 years of available data.
Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in South Asia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 23.21 million number | — |
| 1971 | 23.46 million number | +1.1% |
| 1972 | 23.18 million number | -1.2% |
| 1973 | 22.42 million number | -3.3% |
| 1974 | 22.90 million number | +2.1% |
| 1975 | 22.98 million number | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 23.23 million number | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 22.94 million number | -1.3% |
| 1978 | 24.08 million number | +5.0% |
| 1979 | 24.55 million number | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 24.70 million number | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 24.73 million number | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 25.04 million number | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 24.82 million number | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 25.14 million number | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 25.57 million number | +1.7% |
| 1986 | 25.46 million number | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 26.45 million number | +3.9% |
| 1988 | 25.96 million number | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 25.64 million number | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 26.08 million number | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 26.74 million number | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 27.31 million number | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 27.59 million number | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 27.73 million number | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 28.41 million number | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 28.48 million number | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 29.22 million number | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 29.91 million number | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 30.42 million number | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 29.62 million number | -2.6% |
| 2001 | 30.74 million number | +3.8% |
| 2002 | 30.87 million number | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 29.24 million number | -5.3% |
| 2004 | 26.45 million number | -9.5% |
| 2005 | 24.34 million number | -8.0% |
| 2006 | 23.21 million number | -4.6% |
| 2007 | 20.79 million number | -10.4% |
| 2008 | 21.75 million number | +4.6% |
| 2009 | 23.25 million number | +6.9% |
| 2010 | 22.00 million number | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 22.67 million number | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 20.61 million number | -9.1% |
| 2013 | 19.36 million number | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 18.59 million number | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 17.31 million number | -6.9% |
| 2016 | 16.47 million number | -4.9% |
| 2017 | 15.90 million number | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 15.39 million number | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 15.43 million number | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 23.29 million number | 22.42 million number | 24.55 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 25.35 million number | 24.70 million number | 26.45 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.19 million number | 26.08 million number | 30.42 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.03 million number | 20.79 million number | 30.87 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.37 million number | 15.39 million number | 22.67 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near South Asia
More reference data data for South Asia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 102.17 (2026)
- CPI Price, nominal 246.03 (2026)
- CPI Price, nominal, annual growth rate 1.91 % change on previous year (2026)
- CPI Price, nominal, seas. adj. 247.05 (2026)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 5.02 years (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 33.83 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 16.19 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 17.64 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 5.06 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 4.98 years (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in South Asia?
- Out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary in South Asia was 15.43 million 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 South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 30.87 million number in 2002.
- What is the lowest out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary recorded in South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.39 million number in 2018.
- How does South Asia rank for out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary?
- South Asia ranks 17th out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is out-of-school children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary rising or falling in South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Asia 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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About this data
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/