Romania: Children out of school, primary

Key figures

Over five years it is up 82.95% from 87,591 in 2018 (12.84% a year on average, compounded). Since 2001 it is up 2,350% from 6,540 in 2001 (15.65% a year on average, compounded). The World Bank has no value for 2 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

In 2023, Romania's children out of school, primary rose 0.5% on 2022 (from 159,418 to 160,246).

Across the 18 yearly changes before that (2002 to 2022), the average change was +30.5% and a typical year strayed about 63.6% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.5 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 202.6% in 2003 and the biggest yearly fall was 65% in 2009. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2023 the straight-line trend is upward, about 7,914 a year. A straight line explains 45% of the movement over 9 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, Romania had the 7th 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 Romania in the 2023 ranking

• South Africa — 4th of 37: 448,146
• Russian Federation — 5th of 37: 187,975
• Congo, Rep. — 6th of 37: 171,125
• Sri Lanka — 8th of 37: 157,499
• Canada — 9th of 37: 127,666
• Ecuador — 10th of 37: 86,090

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 21 values

Children out of school, primary in nearby economies

• Albania — 617 (2024)
• Andorra — 102 (2024)
• Armenia — 1,710 (2024)
• Austria — 5,200 (2024)
• Azerbaijan — 152 (2024)
• Belarus — 20,600 (2024)
• Belgium — 13,226 (2023)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 2,933 (2023)
• Bulgaria — 14,529 (2024)
• Croatia — 2,642 (2023)
• Cyprus — 247 (2023)

More education data for Romania

• 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) — 8 (2025)
• School enrollment, primary, private (% of total primary) — 2.2% (2023)
• School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) — 94.91% (2020)
• School enrollment, preprimary, female (% gross) — 94.98% (2020)
• School enrollment, preprimary, male (% gross) — 94.85% (2020)
• Tertiary education, academic staff (% female) — 52.35% (2023)
• Pupil-teacher ratio, preprimary

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
• Data analysis examples: 6 worked from one dataset — 3 min read
• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Romania's children out of school, primary?

160,246 in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2001?

It is up 2,350% from 6,540 in 2001 (15.65% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 160,246 in 2023 and the lowest 6,540 in 2001.

How does Romania rank?

7th highest of 37 economies with data for 2023.

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

In 2023, Romania's children out of school, primary rose 0.5% on 2022 (from 159,418 to 160,246). Across the 18 yearly changes before that (2002 to 2022), the average change was +30.5% and a typical year strayed about 63.6% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.5 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.

Want to ask your own questions of data like this? Try AnalyzeIt: upload a file or ask about public data in plain words, and every figure comes with its working.