Suriname: Children out of school, primary

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Suriname's children out of school, primary fell 59.2% on 2023 (from 26,242 to 10,697).

Across the 21 yearly changes before that (1978 to 2023), the average change was +2.1% and a typical year strayed about 20.3% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 3.0 standard deviations below that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 54.1% in 2022 and the biggest yearly fall was 59.2% in 2024. 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 2024 the straight-line trend is upward, about 1,126 a year. A straight line explains 38% 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 2024, Suriname had the 49th highest value of the 101 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 Suriname in the 2024 ranking

• Costa Rica — 45th of 101: 19,701
• Rwanda — 46th of 101: 19,504
• Bulgaria — 47th of 101: 14,529
• Hungary — 49th of 101: 10,500
• New Zealand — 50th of 101: 10,396
• Jamaica — 51st of 101: 9,419

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 26 values

Children out of school, primary in nearby economies

• Antigua and Barbuda — 132.91 (2023)
• Argentina — 32,816 (2023)
• Bahamas, The — 4,585 (2024)
• Barbados — 3,420 (2024)
• Belize — 4,953 (2024)
• Bolivia — 136,027 (2024)
• Brazil — 316,818 (2024)
• British Virgin Islands — 1,080 (2024)
• Cayman Islands — 234 (2024)
• Chile — 31,779 (2024)
• Colombia — 289,295 (2022)

More education data for Suriname

• 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) — 7 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 60,612 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (% gross) — 91.92% (2024)
• Secondary education, pupils — 63,941 (2023)
• School enrollment, secondary (% gross) — 76.11% (2023)
• School enrollment, primary, female (% gross) — 89.67% (2024)
• School enrollment, primary, male (% gross) — 94.09% (2024)

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 Suriname's children out of school, primary?

10,697 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1977?

It is up 180.68% from 3,811 in 1977 (2.22% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 26,242 in 2023 and the lowest 2,714 in 1978.

How does Suriname rank?

49th highest of 101 economies with data for 2024.

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

In 2024, Suriname's children out of school, primary fell 59.2% on 2023 (from 26,242 to 10,697). Across the 21 yearly changes before that (1978 to 2023), the average change was +2.1% and a typical year strayed about 20.3% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 3.0 standard deviations below that average, so it was unusually large compared with the rest of the record.

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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