Lao PDR: Children out of school, primary

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Lao PDR's children out of school, primary rose 0.9% on 2024 (from 81,506 to 82,273).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1993 to 2024), the average change was −2.8% and a typical year strayed about 14.6% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations above 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 35.1% in 2022 and the biggest yearly fall was 37% in 2010. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is upward, about 4,895 a year. A straight line explains 91% of the movement over 10 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 2025, Lao PDR had the 5th highest value of the 12 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 Lao PDR in the 2025 ranking

• Indonesia — 2nd of 12: 250,575
• India — 3rd of 12: 134,967
• Kazakhstan — 4th of 12: 128,155
• Algeria — 6th of 12: 78,683
• Gambia, The — 7th of 12: 74,577
• Thailand — 8th of 12: 36,067

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 35 values

Children out of school, primary in nearby economies

• Australia — 2,833 (2024)
• Brunei Darussalam — 1,438 (2024)
• Cambodia — 76,741 (2024)
• Fiji — 2,471 (2024)
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 4,491 (2024)
• Indonesia — 250,575 (2025)
• Japan — 4,225 (2023)
• Kiribati — 1,596 (2024)
• Korea, Rep. — 1,383 (2024)
• Macao SAR, China — 4,608 (2024)
• Malaysia — 404,724 (2024)

More education data for Lao PDR

• Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 5 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 11 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 7 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 739,554 (2025)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 93.14% (2025)
• Primary education, teachers — 21,845 (2025)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) — 92.64% (2025)
• School enrollment, primary, male (% gross) — 93.63% (2025)
• Primary education, teachers (% female) — 54.89% (2025)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Lao PDR's children out of school, primary?

82,273 in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1988?

It is down 58.25% from 197,061 in 1988 (2.33% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 271,393 in 1992 and the lowest 29,481 in 2014.

How does Lao PDR rank?

5th highest of 12 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in children out of school, primary unusual for Lao PDR?

In 2025, Lao PDR's children out of school, primary rose 0.9% on 2024 (from 81,506 to 82,273). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1993 to 2024), the average change was −2.8% and a typical year strayed about 14.6% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations above 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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