The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation has disclosed that the global number of out-of-school children has climbed to 273 million, extending a steady increase for the seventh consecutive year.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, UNESCO’s Senior Press Officer for Education, Romain Parlier, said the figures are drawn from the organisation’s 2026 Global Education Monitoring Report.

The report links the persistent rise in out-of-school children to rapid population growth, ongoing crises, and declining education budgets.

“One in six children of school age worldwide is excluded from education, and only two in three students complete secondary school,” the statement reads.

“Yet many countries are making significant progress, highlighting the importance of national context when setting targets and designing policies.”

Khaled El-Enany said the report highlights a troubling trend, with more young people being denied access to education each year, though he stressed that there remains hope.

“Since 2000, enrolment in primary and secondary education has increased overall by 30 per cent, and many countries are making meaningful progress,” he said.

“UNESCO remains fully mobilised to collaborate with governments and partners to expand learning opportunities for all, in ways that respond to local realities and give every learner a fair chance to build their future.”

The statement further noted that since 2015, progress in keeping children in school has slowed in nearly all regions, with sub-Saharan Africa experiencing a particularly sharp decline, largely driven by rapid population growth.

“Several crises — including conflict — have also derailed progress. Over one in six children live in conflict-affected areas, representing millions of additional children out of school beyond those captured in the statistics,” the statement reads.

“This reality is particularly urgent in the Middle East, where ongoing regional tensions have forced many schools to close, leaving millions of children out of the classroom and at heightened risk of falling behind.”