Sub-Saharan Africa sees only 4% decline in out-of-school primary kids in 23 years

Millions of children missing basic education can affect future workforce skill levels and poverty cycles, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, which has the highest number of out-of-school children.

Between 2000 and 2023, Central and Southern Asia achieved a 72% reduction in out-of-school primary-age children, the largest global improvement.

Meanwhile, sub-Saharan Africa only managed a 4.4% decrease. This highlights the critical need for educational investment in regions still lagging behind.

Source:

UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2024) – Processed by Our World in Data

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Period:

2000 - 2023

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