Child labour statistics by country
The indicators that separate countries where children are still in school from those where they are not.
Child labour is counted by the ILO, and the demographic indicators the World Bank publishes describe the conditions around it: how many children are in school, how many adults can read, and how concentrated income is. The simulation uses all three when it decides whether a character keeps studying.
Secondary school enrolment
A higher value means more of each cohort is enrolled in secondary school. 179 countries report this indicator.
Among the 179 countries reporting secondary school enrolment, the figure runs from 3.3% (Somalia, Fed. Rep., 2023) to 158.5% (Monaco, 2024), with a median of 92.4%. The middle half of the countries fall between 46.9% and 118.7%.
- Lowest reported
- 3.3%
- Somalia, Fed. Rep. · 2023
- Median
- 92.4%
- across 179 countries
- Highest reported
- 158.5%
- Monaco · 2024
- Middle half
- 46.9% – 118.7%
- 10th–90th percentile
Adult literacy rate
A higher value means a larger share of adults can read and write. 113 countries report this indicator.
Among the 113 countries reporting adult literacy rate, the figure runs from 30.6% (Chad, 2019) to 100.0% (Tuvalu, 2022), with a median of 91.1%. The middle half of the countries fall between 51.6% and 99.5%.
- Lowest reported
- 30.6%
- Chad · 2019
- Median
- 91.1%
- across 113 countries
- Highest reported
- 100.0%
- Tuvalu · 2022
- Middle half
- 51.6% – 99.5%
- 10th–90th percentile
Poverty rate
A higher value means a larger share of people live below the national poverty line. 134 countries report this indicator.
Among the 134 countries reporting poverty rate, the figure runs from 0.0% (Belarus, 2020) to 85.3% (Congo, Dem. Rep., 2020), with a median of 1.5%. The middle half of the countries fall between 0.1% and 41.8%.
- Lowest reported
- 0.0%
- Belarus · 2020
- Median
- 1.5%
- across 134 countries
- Highest reported
- 85.3%
- Congo, Dem. Rep. · 2020
- Middle half
- 0.1% – 41.8%
- 10th–90th percentile
What separates the countries with the most children in school?
Each row is one country, with the year its figure was observed. The regions are the World Bank's own groupings.
East Asia & Pacific (29)
| Country | Secondary school enrolment | Adult literacy rate | Poverty rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 131.9% (2024) | 0.9% (2020) | |
| Brunei Darussalam | 91.8% (2023) | ||
| Cambodia | 58.8% (2024) | 71.9% (2021) | |
| China | 96.7% (2020) | 0.0% (2022) | |
| Fiji | 98.1% (2024) | 4.7% (2019) | |
| Hong Kong SAR, China | 107.2% (2024) | ||
| Indonesia | 98.8% (2024) | 96.0% (2020) | 5.4% (2024) |
| Japan | 101.5% (2023) | 1.2% (2020) | |
| Kiribati | 90.3% (2024) | 98.6% (2020) | 0.9% (2023) |
| Korea, Rep. | 96.3% (2024) | 0.1% (2021) | |
| Lao PDR | 51.9% (2024) | 75.6% (2023) | 7.1% (2024) |
| Macao SAR, China | 94.7% (2024) | ||
| Malaysia | 80.3% (2024) | 95.8% (2022) | 0.0% (2021) |
| Marshall Islands | 85.8% (2024) | 95.8% (2021) | 2.1% (2019) |
| Mongolia | 96.8% (2023) | 98.6% (2024) | 0.4% (2022) |
| Myanmar | 77.0% (2018) | 93.5% (2020) | |
| Naoero | 91.5% (2024) | 96.6% (2023) | |
| New Zealand | 114.2% (2024) | ||
| Palau | 95.7% (2024) | 99.8% (2020) | |
| Papua New Guinea | 52.1% (2023) | 87.0% (2022) | |
| Philippines | 85.3% (2024) | 98.5% (2020) | 5.3% (2023) |
| Samoa | 98.0% (2019) | ||
| Singapore | 103.1% (2023) | 97.7% (2021) | |
| Thailand | 92.5% (2024) | 91.1% (2022) | 0.0% (2024) |
| Timor-Leste | 84.7% (2020) | 69.4% (2022) | |
| Tonga | 92.4% (2024) | 99.5% (2023) | 0.4% (2021) |
| Tuvalu | 90.7% (2024) | 100.0% (2022) | |
| Vanuatu | 134.7% (2023) | 88.0% (2023) | 19.5% (2019) |
| Viet Nam | 93.4% (2022) | 96.1% (2022) | 1.6% (2022) |
Europe & Central Asia (54)
| Country | Secondary school enrolment | Adult literacy rate | Poverty rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | 108.4% (2024) | 97.7% (2023) | 0.3% (2020) |
| Andorra | 101.9% (2024) | ||
| Armenia | 90.9% (2024) | 99.8% (2023) | 0.8% (2024) |
| Austria | 100.6% (2024) | 0.5% (2023) | |
| Azerbaijan | 91.1% (2024) | 99.8% (2023) | |
| Belarus | 94.8% (2024) | 99.9% (2019) | 0.0% (2020) |
| Belgium | 143.0% (2023) | 0.1% (2023) | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 87.9% (2023) | 0.3% (2021) | |
| Bulgaria | 94.8% (2024) | 1.0% (2023) | |
| Croatia | 105.0% (2023) | 0.3% (2023) | |
| Cyprus | 106.7% (2024) | 0.0% (2023) | |
| Czechia | 97.6% (2023) | 0.0% (2023) | |
| Denmark | 125.6% (2024) | 0.4% (2023) | |
| Estonia | 108.5% (2024) | 0.3% (2023) | |
| Finland | 142.4% (2024) | 0.2% (2023) | |
| France | 103.8% (2024) | 0.1% (2023) | |
| Georgia | 101.0% (2024) | 99.7% (2024) | 4.2% (2024) |
| Germany | 100.2% (2024) | 0.7% (2022) | |
| Gibraltar | 78.5% (2024) | ||
| Greece | 105.2% (2023) | 0.6% (2023) | |
| Hungary | 107.4% (2024) | ||
| Iceland | 108.9% (2023) | 0.1% (2019) | |
| Ireland | 130.6% (2022) | 0.1% (2023) | |
| Italy | 100.7% (2023) | 99.3% (2019) | 0.9% (2023) |
| Kazakhstan | 97.2% (2024) | 0.0% (2021) | |
| Kosovo | 10.0% (2022) | ||
| Kyrgyz Republic | 91.3% (2024) | 2.2% (2024) | |
| Latvia | 101.3% (2024) | 0.4% (2023) | |
| Liechtenstein | 118.7% (2021) | ||
| Lithuania | 104.9% (2024) | 1.1% (2023) | |
| Luxembourg | 108.6% (2024) | 0.1% (2023) | |
| Moldova | 99.3% (2024) | 0.0% (2024) | |
| Monaco | 158.5% (2024) | ||
| Montenegro | 93.9% (2023) | 98.5% (2018) | 2.5% (2021) |
| Netherlands | 137.5% (2023) | 0.1% (2021) | |
| North Macedonia | 90.1% (2023) | 3.9% (2019) | |
| Norway | 116.3% (2024) | 0.2% (2023) | |
| Poland | 107.9% (2024) | 0.2% (2023) | |
| Portugal | 120.3% (2023) | 0.4% (2023) | |
| Romania | 81.6% (2023) | 99.2% (2021) | 0.7% (2023) |
| Russian Federation | 92.5% (2023) | 99.9% (2021) | 0.1% (2023) |
| San Marino | 60.4% (2024) | 99.9% (2022) | |
| Serbia | 89.8% (2024) | 99.3% (2022) | 1.1% (2023) |
| Slovak Republic | 93.2% (2024) | 0.5% (2023) | |
| Slovenia | 107.6% (2023) | 0.0% (2023) | |
| Spain | 118.5% (2024) | 99.7% (2021) | 0.8% (2023) |
| Sweden | 132.0% (2024) | 0.8% (2023) | |
| Switzerland | 101.4% (2024) | 0.1% (2023) | |
| Tajikistan | 86.9% (2024) | 6.1% (2024) | |
| Turkiye | 118.4% (2023) | 97.3% (2021) | 0.2% (2023) |
| Turkmenistan | 94.6% (2024) | 99.9% (2022) | |
| Ukraine | 86.2% (2024) | 0.0% (2020) | |
| United Kingdom | 112.1% (2023) | 0.4% (2021) | |
| Uzbekistan | 96.8% (2024) | 100.0% (2022) | 2.7% (2024) |
Latin America & Caribbean (38)
| Country | Secondary school enrolment | Adult literacy rate | Poverty rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | 108.9% (2023) | ||
| Argentina | 105.6% (2023) | 99.1% (2020) | 1.0% (2024) |
| Aruba | 124.4% (2024) | ||
| Bahamas, The | 79.5% (2024) | ||
| Barbados | 104.4% (2024) | ||
| Belize | 86.5% (2024) | 87.9% (2022) | 1.0% (2018) |
| Bolivia | 90.5% (2024) | 96.7% (2024) | 2.1% (2024) |
| Brazil | 104.1% (2024) | 94.7% (2024) | 3.0% (2024) |
| British Virgin Islands | 75.6% (2024) | ||
| Cayman Islands | 84.8% (2024) | ||
| Chile | 105.6% (2024) | 0.4% (2024) | |
| Colombia | 101.6% (2022) | 95.3% (2024) | 8.5% (2024) |
| Costa Rica | 121.8% (2024) | 1.3% (2024) | |
| Cuba | 91.7% (2024) | 97.7% (2019) | |
| Curacao | 89.9% (2024) | ||
| Dominica | 102.6% (2023) | ||
| Dominican Republic | 76.4% (2024) | 94.0% (2024) | 0.8% (2024) |
| Ecuador | 92.8% (2023) | 93.5% (2024) | 7.3% (2024) |
| El Salvador | 62.1% (2024) | 89.8% (2024) | 4.6% (2023) |
| Grenada | 100.7% (2024) | 0.8% (2018) | |
| Guatemala | 49.6% (2024) | 82.1% (2024) | 9.7% (2023) |
| Guyana | 91.4% (2024) | 85.6% (2020) | |
| Honduras | 51.8% (2024) | 88.3% (2024) | 15.7% (2024) |
| Jamaica | 84.5% (2024) | 1.4% (2021) | |
| Mexico | 103.1% (2024) | 95.5% (2024) | 1.6% (2024) |
| Nicaragua | 70.2% (2023) | ||
| Panama | 96.2% (2024) | 3.1% (2024) | |
| Paraguay | 79.1% (2024) | 94.9% (2024) | 2.1% (2024) |
| Peru | 108.3% (2024) | 93.7% (2024) | 5.1% (2024) |
| Puerto Rico (US) | 81.5% (2024) | ||
| St. Kitts and Nevis | 137.5% (2023) | ||
| St. Lucia | 87.9% (2024) | ||
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 124.9% (2024) | ||
| Suriname | 76.1% (2023) | 2.2% (2022) | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 95.7% (2024) | ||
| Turks and Caicos Islands | 119.7% (2024) | ||
| Uruguay | 119.1% (2023) | 98.9% (2024) | 0.2% (2024) |
| Venezuela, RB | 97.8% (2024) |
North America (3)
| Country | Secondary school enrolment | Adult literacy rate | Poverty rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bermuda | 74.4% (2023) | ||
| Canada | 104.3% (2023) | 0.3% (2022) | |
| United States | 97.5% (2022) | 1.1% (2024) |
South Asia (6)
| Country | Secondary school enrolment | Adult literacy rate | Poverty rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 64.3% (2024) | 79.0% (2022) | 5.9% (2022) |
| Bhutan | 86.2% (2024) | 64.9% (2022) | 0.0% (2022) |
| India | 78.1% (2024) | 78.2% (2024) | 2.6% (2023) |
| Maldives | 79.4% (2023) | 98.2% (2019) | 0.0% (2019) |
| Nepal | 90.4% (2024) | 68.7% (2019) | 2.4% (2022) |
| Sri Lanka | 88.0% (2023) | 92.7% (2024) | 2.7% (2019) |
Sub-Saharan Africa (47)
| Country | Secondary school enrolment | Adult literacy rate | Poverty rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angola | 51.5% (2023) | 68.2% (2023) | 39.3% (2018) |
| Benin | 43.6% (2022) | 51.4% (2022) | 27.2% (2021) |
| Botswana | 70.6% (2021) | ||
| Burkina Faso | 30.0% (2024) | 41.6% (2023) | 42.1% (2021) |
| Burundi | 44.9% (2020) | 71.3% (2020) | 74.2% (2020) |
| Cabo Verde | 96.4% (2022) | 88.5% (2024) | |
| Cameroon | 44.8% (2023) | 72.5% (2018) | 26.7% (2021) |
| Central African Republic | 42.4% (2019) | 71.6% (2021) | |
| Chad | 23.5% (2024) | 30.6% (2019) | 39.5% (2022) |
| Comoros | 54.8% (2022) | 75.6% (2021) | 5.1% (2024) |
| Congo, Dem. Rep. | 55.5% (2023) | 68.5% (2023) | 85.3% (2020) |
| Cote d'Ivoire | 65.3% (2024) | 50.0% (2021) | 20.8% (2021) |
| Equatorial Guinea | 8.8% (2022) | ||
| Eritrea | 44.0% (2022) | ||
| Eswatini | 90.8% (2022) | ||
| Ethiopia | 60.5% (2022) | 38.6% (2021) | |
| Gabon | 70.3% (2019) | 88.9% (2021) | |
| Gambia, The | 107.0% (2021) | 51.6% (2021) | 22.0% (2020) |
| Ghana | 75.7% (2024) | 76.5% (2021) | |
| Guinea | 39.6% (2018) | 11.7% (2018) | |
| Guinea-Bissau | 63.9% (2022) | 39.9% (2021) | |
| Kenya | 84.3% (2023) | 45.5% (2022) | |
| Lesotho | 90.5% (2024) | ||
| Liberia | 37.7% (2020) | ||
| Madagascar | 34.1% (2021) | 74.7% (2021) | 69.2% (2021) |
| Malawi | 36.6% (2023) | 70.2% (2020) | 75.4% (2019) |
| Mali | 38.9% (2023) | 35.6% (2024) | 36.1% (2021) |
| Mauritania | 36.0% (2020) | 59.5% (2020) | 10.2% (2019) |
| Mauritius | 90.7% (2024) | 94.3% (2023) | |
| Mozambique | 61.7% (2022) | 81.4% (2022) | |
| Namibia | 82.0% (2024) | 87.6% (2023) | |
| Niger | 19.9% (2024) | 35.6% (2022) | 60.5% (2021) |
| Nigeria | 46.9% (2023) | 70.4% (2024) | 41.8% (2022) |
| Rwanda | 48.8% (2024) | 78.8% (2022) | 38.6% (2023) |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 87.4% (2019) | ||
| Senegal | 44.1% (2023) | 50.4% (2023) | 17.9% (2021) |
| Seychelles | 70.8% (2024) | 0.7% (2018) | |
| Sierra Leone | 86.9% (2023) | 43.6% (2019) | 41.5% (2018) |
| Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 3.3% (2023) | 54.1% (2022) | |
| South Africa | 104.1% (2023) | 91.2% (2024) | 17.4% (2022) |
| South Sudan | 122.1% (2024) | ||
| Sudan | 43.5% (2019) | ||
| Tanzania | 28.2% (2021) | 78.2% (2022) | 51.3% (2018) |
| Togo | 63.4% (2023) | 72.6% (2022) | 34.7% (2021) |
| Uganda | 77.0% (2024) | 54.4% (2023) | |
| Zambia | 56.8% (2024) | 71.8% (2024) | 71.7% (2022) |
| Zimbabwe | 93.2% (2019) | 49.2% (2019) |
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (20)
| Country | Secondary school enrolment | Adult literacy rate | Poverty rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 59.6% (2023) | 37.3% (2021) | |
| Algeria | 105.2% (2024) | ||
| Bahrain | 98.8% (2024) | 97.8% (2024) | |
| Egypt, Arab Rep. | 84.8% (2024) | 79.5% (2022) | 1.4% (2021) |
| Iran, Islamic Rep. | 85.1% (2023) | 88.9% (2023) | 2.5% (2023) |
| Iraq | 84.1% (2021) | 0.5% (2023) | |
| Israel | 98.5% (2024) | 0.4% (2022) | |
| Jordan | 91.8% (2024) | 94.4% (2024) | |
| Kuwait | 96.5% (2020) | ||
| Lebanon | 63.8% (2024) | 92.0% (2019) | 5.8% (2022) |
| Malta | 103.0% (2023) | 0.4% (2023) | |
| Morocco | 90.0% (2024) | ||
| Oman | 95.1% (2024) | 97.3% (2022) | |
| Pakistan | 48.3% (2024) | 58.9% (2021) | 23.0% (2024) |
| Qatar | 99.6% (2024) | ||
| Saudi Arabia | 110.7% (2024) | 97.9% (2024) | |
| Syrian Arab Republic | 38.7% (2024) | 94.4% (2021) | 18.0% (2022) |
| Tunisia | 86.3% (2023) | 0.7% (2021) | |
| United Arab Emirates | 102.1% (2024) | 98.8% (2024) | 0.0% (2018) |
| West Bank and Gaza | 89.1% (2023) | 97.9% (2024) | 2.1% (2023) |
About these figures
Every number on this page comes from the World Bank Open Data, with the year it was observed attached. World Bank data is released under CC BY 4.0 Retrieved 2026-11-01.
This page describes the shape of the data. It does not rank countries against each other, and it says nothing about the people who live in them — a low figure is a fact about conditions and about what the source reports, not a verdict on a population. Our editorial standard.
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