Iran, Islamic Rep.: Children out of school, primary

Key figures

Since 1971 it is down 99.57% from 2.12 million in 1971 (9.94% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 22 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2023, Iran, Islamic Rep.'s children out of school, primary fell 66.9% on 2022 (from 27,708 to 9,163).

Across the 21 yearly changes before that (1985 to 2022), the average change was +15.3% and a typical year strayed about 87.6% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 377.1% in 2007 and the biggest yearly fall was 66.9% in 2023. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2014 to 2023 the straight-line trend is downward, about 32,776 a year. A straight line explains 96% of the movement over 8 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2023, Iran, Islamic Rep. had the 21st highest value of the 37 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Iran, Islamic Rep. in the 2023 ranking

• Tunisia — 18th of 37: 14,015
• Belgium — 19th of 37: 13,226
• Timor-Leste — 20th of 37: 13,085
• Czechia — 22nd of 37: 4,700
• Japan — 23rd of 37: 4,225
• North Macedonia — 24th of 37: 4,151

What this measures

Children out of school are the number of primary-school-age children not enrolled in primary or secondary school.

Limitations: Due to different data sources for enrollment and population data, the number may not capture the actual number of children not attending in primary school.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 31 values

Children out of school, primary in nearby economies

• Algeria — 78,683 (2025)
• Bahrain — 5,993 (2024)
• Egypt, Arab Rep. — 559,709 (2024)
• Israel — 28,644 (2024)
• Jordan — 21,351 (2024)
• Kuwait — 21,183 (2016)
• Lebanon — 146,896 (2024)
• Malta — 738 (2023)
• Morocco — 18,988 (2021)
• Oman — 21,922 (2024)
• Qatar — 8,638 (2024)

More education data for Iran, Islamic Rep.

• Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 12 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 9.09 million (2023)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 101.96% (2023)
• School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) — 72.48% (2020)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) — 102.05% (2023)
• School enrollment, primary, male (% gross) — 101.88% (2023)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Iran, Islamic Rep.'s children out of school, primary?

9,163 in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1971?

It is down 99.57% from 2.12 million in 1971 (9.94% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 2.12 million in 1971 and the lowest 9,163 in 2023.

How does Iran, Islamic Rep. rank?

21st highest of 37 economies with data for 2023.

Is the latest change in children out of school, primary unusual for Iran, Islamic Rep.?

In 2023, Iran, Islamic Rep.'s children out of school, primary fell 66.9% on 2022 (from 27,708 to 9,163). Across the 21 yearly changes before that (1985 to 2022), the average change was +15.3% and a typical year strayed about 87.6% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.PRM.UNER, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API. Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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