Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes was 4.4% in 2018. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2018)
4.4%
Change on year
up 19.4%
World rank
125th
of 147 countries
All-time high
39.0%
in 1972
All-time low
0.6%
in 2015
Years of data
30
1972–2018

Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1972–2018

0102030401972199520181972: 39 %1973: 36.2 %1974: 26.4 %1975: 25.8 %1976: 27.4 %1977: 28.3 %1978: 29.7 %1979: 30.3 %1981: 34.6 %1982: 33.1 %1998: 9.8 %1999: 8.3 %2000: 9.3 %2001: 8.9 %2002: 7.1 %2003: 7.6 %2004: 5 %2005: 5.3 %2006: 9.4 %2007: 9.8 %2008: 9.3 %2009: 8.2 %2010: 6.5 %2011: 8.7 %2012: 9.2 %2013: 5.8 %2014: 0.691 %2015: 0.627 %2017: 3.7 %2018: 4.4 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 4.4% for out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in 2018.

That represents a change of up 19.4% on the previous year and down 52.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 39.0% in 1972 and was at its lowest, 0.6%, in 2015.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 125th of 147 countries 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 rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes (%) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1972 to 2018.
Year % Change
1972 39.0%
1973 36.2% -7.3%
1974 26.4% -27.2%
1975 25.8% -2.2%
1976 27.4% +6.4%
1977 28.3% +3.3%
1978 29.7% +4.9%
1979 30.3% +1.8%
1981 34.6% +14.3%
1982 33.1% -4.2%
1998 9.8% -70.4%
1999 8.3% -15.4%
2000 9.3% +11.7%
2001 8.9% -4.6%
2002 7.1% -19.8%
2003 7.6% +7.4%
2004 5.0% -34.3%
2005 5.3% +5.4%
2006 9.4% +78.3%
2007 9.8% +4.4%
2008 9.3% -5.8%
2009 8.2% -11.2%
2010 6.5% -20.5%
2011 8.7% +33.3%
2012 9.2% +5.7%
2013 5.8% -36.9%
2014 0.7% -88.1%
2015 0.6% -9.3%
2017 3.7% +488.6%
2018 4.4% +19.4%

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

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 4.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 8.4%, 53% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 4.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.5%, 67% of the median. (43 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes 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
2017 +488.6% 0.6% 3.7%
2014 -88.1% 5.8% 0.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 30.4% 25.8% 39.0% 8
1980s 33.9% 33.1% 34.6% 2
1990s 9.1% 8.3% 9.8% 2
2000s 8.0% 5.0% 9.8% 10
2010s 5.0% 0.6% 9.2% 8

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 122 Chile 4.6% compare
  2. 123 France 4.5% compare
  3. 124 Saint Kitts and Nevis 4.5% compare
  4. 126 Latvia 4.3% compare
  5. 127 Korea 4.0% compare
  6. 128 Finland 3.7% compare

See the full ranking of 192 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 rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 4.4% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 39.0% in 1972.
What is the lowest out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 0.6% in 2015.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 125th out of 147 countries with data for 2018.
Is out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is down 52.5%. 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 rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/out-of-school-rate-for-youth-of-upper-secondary-school-age-both-sexes-percent/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Out-of-school rate for youth of upper secondary school age, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
192 places, 3,194 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Number of youth of official upper secondary school age who are not enrolled in upper secondary school expressed as a percentage of the population of official upper secondary school age.