Basics

[Last update: December 2009]

How many children are out of school today?

Around the world there are still over 72 million children out of school, including 44 million girls. This number is still high, but there has been significant progress over the past years: in the year 2000 there were 100 million children out of school. Between 2000 and 2004, the number of countries that have achieved universal primary completion increased from 37 to 52 and primary completion worldwide (the percentage of children finishing grade 6 of primary school compared to their age group) increased from 78% to 83%.

How many children are out of school in (Sub-Saharan) Africa?

Africa is the region where most children are out of school today: 38 million in total. Still, there is also significant progress in Africa: six African countries have increased primary completion by over 10 percent a year since 2000 (Mozambique, Benin, Rwanda, Niger, Guinea, Madagascar).

The region with the second largest group with out-of-school children is South and West Asia: 16 million children do not go to school. Four countries are home to the largest numbers of out of school children - India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Ethiopia (22.8 million out of school children)

How many children complete primary school?

Although every year more children are enrolling into primary school, 83% of the relevant age group completes their basic education. In Africa, only 62% of the children complete grade 6 of primary school.

How much money is needed to get all children into primary education before 2015?

The financing needs to reach universal primary education are tremendous. UNESCO estimates that US$11 billion per year—US$8.3 billion in Sub-Saharan Africa alone—in external aid will be needed to help low income countries achieve basic education for all children.