The number of pupils in secondary education worldwide increased almost constantly since 2000. While around million children were enrolled in secondary school in 2000, the number reached about million pupils in 2024. At the same time, the completion rate of lower secondary education also increased, reaching over percent in 2023.聽
Despite a growing number of students in primary and secondary schools, not all children are undertaking elementary education. percent of girls were not in lower secondary schools in 2018, which was a slightly higher proportion than for boys. Furthermore, several pupils were hit by the COVID-19 pandemic which forced schools all around the world to close.