The number of children and young people out of school worldwide has reached 273 million, according to the UNESCO in its 2026 Global Education Monitoring Report.
The report revealed that the figure has increased for the seventh consecutive year, with one in every six school-age children currently excluded from education. It also noted that only about two-thirds of students complete secondary school.
According to UNESCO, progress in expanding access to education has slowed across most regions since 2015. Factors such as armed conflict and rapid population growth have been identified as major contributors to the rising numbers, with sub-Saharan Africa being the hardest hit.
The situation is even more severe in conflict-affected areas, where the number of out-of-school children is believed to be higher than official estimates.
Despite these challenges, the report highlighted notable improvements over the past two decades. Since 2000, global school enrolment has increased significantly, with more than 25 additional children gaining access to education every minute.
UNESCO, however, warned that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the crisis. It called for targeted policies and sustained investment to address barriers to education and ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn.
