The Data

Stats & Data

The numbers behind the education crisis in South Asia.

Key Facts

32M+
children in South Asia are not enrolled in any school
UNESCO, 2023
2 in 3
children in South Asia cannot read a simple sentence by age 10
World Bank, 2022
$1.5T
is lost in potential earnings each year due to children not learning
World Bank, 2022
12M+
girls in South Asia are out of school — more than boys
UNICEF Data, 2023
50%
of out-of-school children live in conflict-affected areas
UNICEF, 2023
1 year
of extra schooling increases a person's earnings by up to 10%
UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report
Out-of-School Children by Country
Pakistan has the highest number of out-of-school children in the region.
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2023
Literacy Rates by Country
Sri Lanka leads the region, while Bangladesh and Pakistan lag behind.
Source: World Bank Development Indicators, 2022
Children in School vs. Not in School
Roughly 1 in 8 children in South Asia are not attending school.
Source: UNICEF Data — Education, 2023
Children Who Work Instead of Going to School
Over 26 million children in South Asia are engaged in child labor instead of attending school.
Source: UNICEF & ILO — Child Labour: Global Estimates, 2020
School Enrollment Over the Years
Enrollment has improved since 2000, but progress has stalled in recent years.
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2000–2024
Out-of-School Children Over Time
The number of out-of-school children dropped significantly but remains stubbornly high.
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2000–2024
The Data is Clear — Children Need Help
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