Over-Age Students in Middle School by Country 2026

Over-age for grade in middle school measures the percentage of students enrolled in middle school who are at least 2 years older than the official age for their current grade. This indicator reveals important information about educational progression, student retention, and the cumulative effects of grade repetition from primary education. High over-age rates at the middle school level indicate that many students have experienced multiple years of grade repetition or late entry into the education system.

Understanding Over-Age in Middle School

Over-age for grade at the middle school level is typically higher than at the primary level because it reflects the cumulative effect of grade repetition across multiple years. Students who were over-age in primary school often remain over-age in middle school, and additional repetition may occur. An over-age rate of 20% in middle school means that one-fifth of middle school students are at least 2 years older than the official age for their grade.

The causes of over-age status in middle school are similar to primary school but often more severe. Grade repetition continues due to academic challenges, inadequate teaching quality, or insufficient student support. The transition from primary to middle school can also create challenges, as students must adapt to new teachers, curricula, and school environments. Students who are already over-age may face increased pressure to leave school, particularly in developing countries where economic constraints force families to prioritize work over education.

Over-Age Students in Middle School by Country 2026

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#	Country	Over-Age Rate 2026 Estimate (%) (%)
1	Guinea-Bissau GW	62.2%
2	Central African Republic CF	55.1%
3	Liberia LR	55.1%
4	Burundi BI	53.2%
5	Mali ML	52.9%
6	Chad TD	52.2%
7	Malawi MW	50.1%
8	DR Congo CD	49.1%
9	Guinea GN	49.1%
10	South Sudan SS	48%
11	Ethiopia ET	47.2%
12	Mauritania MR	47.2%
13	Burkina Faso BF	46.1%
14	Madagascar MG	44.1%
15	Sierra Leone SL	44.1%
16	Benin BJ	43.1%
17	Eritrea ER	43.1%
18	Mozambique MZ	42.9%
19	Yemen YE	41%
20	Haiti HT	39.9%
21	Congo CG	38.9%
22	Equatorial Guinea GQ	38.9%
23	Niger NE	38.9%
24	Somalia SO	38.9%
25	Laos LA	37.9%
26	Sudan SD	37.9%
27	Gambia GM	36.9%
28	Cameroon CM	35.9%
29	Papua New Guinea PG	35.9%
30	Senegal SN	35.9%
31	Zambia ZM	35.8%
32	Ghana GH	33.9%
33	Comoros KM	32.8%
34	Gabon GA	32.8%
35	Rwanda RW	32.8%
36	Uganda UG	32.8%
37	Iraq IQ	31.9%
38	Nepal NP	31.9%
39	Tanzania TZ	31.9%
40	Afghanistan AF	29.1%
41	Ivory Coast CI	29%
42	Nigeria NG	29%
43	Pakistan PK	29%
44	Togo TG	29%
45	Myanmar MM	27.9%
46	Cambodia KH	26.7%
47	Djibouti DJ	24.7%
48	Kenya KE	24.7%
49	Sao Tome and Principe ST	24.7%
50	Zimbabwe ZW	24.6%
51	Bangladesh BD	22.7%
52	Namibia NA	22.7%
53	Eswatini SZ	21.8%
54	Timor-Leste TL	21.8%
55	Morocco MA	20.8%
56	Guatemala GT	19.8%
57	Lesotho LS	19.8%
58	Egypt EG	15.7%
59	Solomon Islands SB	15.7%
60	Western Sahara EH	15.7%
61	Bhutan BT	15.5%
62	Honduras HN	15.5%
63	Syria SY	14.5%
64	India IN	13.6%
65	Nicaragua NI	13.6%
66	Bolivia BO	12.3%
67	Vanuatu VU	11.5%
68	Paraguay PY	11%
69	Tunisia TN	11%
70	Brazil BR	10.3%
71	Philippines PH	10.2%
72	El Salvador SV	9.98%
73	Kiribati KI	9.28%
74	Cape Verde CV	8.08%
75	Dominican Republic DO	7.88%
76	Venezuela VE	7.88%
77	Libya LY	7.78%
78	Nauru NR	7.38%
79	Peru PE	7.18%
80	Belize BZ	6.78%
81	Lebanon LB	6.18%
82	Suriname SR	6.18%
83	Colombia CO	5.78%
84	Panama PA	5.78%
85	Algeria DZ	5.75%
86	Mexico MX	5.08%
87	Argentina AR	5.05%
88	Botswana BW	4.58%
89	Indonesia ID	4.58%
90	Marshall Islands MH	4.58%
91	China CN	4.18%
92	Fiji FJ	4.18%
93	Iran IR	4.18%
94	South Africa ZA	4.18%
95	Antigua and Barbuda AG	4.15%
96	Azerbaijan AZ	4.15%
97	Chile CL	3.78%
98	Dominica DM	3.58%
99	Jordan JO	3.58%
100	Micronesia FM	3.58%
101	Samoa WS	3.58%
102	Sri Lanka LK	3.58%
103	Türkiye TR	3.58%
104	Albania AL	3.15%
105	Bahamas BS	3.05%
106	Grenada GD	2.98%
107	Palestine PS	2.98%
108	Trinidad and Tobago TT	2.98%
109	Kosovo XK	2.78%
110	Barbados BB	2.38%
111	Ecuador EC	2.38%
112	Jamaica JM	2.38%
113	Oman OM	2.38%
114	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines VC	2.38%
115	Tajikistan TJ	2.38%
116	Tonga TO	2.38%
117	Vietnam VN	2.38%
118	Costa Rica CR	2.19%
119	Palau PW	2.19%
120	Thailand TH	2.19%
121	Tuvalu TV	2.19%
122	Saint Lucia LC	1.78%
123	Saudi Arabia SA	1.78%
124	Armenia AM	1.75%
125	Bulgaria BG	1.59%
126	Guyana GY	1.59%
127	Kyrgyzstan KG	1.59%
128	Saint Kitts and Nevis KN	1.59%
129	Uruguay UY	1.59%
130	Bahrain BH	1.58%
131	Bosnia and Herzegovina BA	1.39%
132	Belgium BE	1.19%
133	Kuwait KW	1.19%
134	Belarus BY	0.99%
135	Cyprus CY	0.99%
136	Moldova MD	0.99%
137	North Korea KP	0.99%
138	Tokelau TK	0.99%
139	Australia AU	0.79%
140	Croatia HR	0.79%
141	France FR	0.79%
142	Kazakhstan KZ	0.79%
143	Martinique MQ	0.79%
144	North Macedonia MK	0.79%
145	Puerto Rico PR	0.79%
146	Romania RO	0.79%
147	Turkmenistan TM	0.79%
148	United Arab Emirates AE	0.79%
149	US Virgin Islands VI	0.79%
150	Austria AT	0.59%
151	Cuba CU	0.59%
152	Denmark DK	0.59%
153	Georgia GE	0.59%
154	Greece GR	0.59%
155	Italy IT	0.59%
156	Malaysia MY	0.59%
157	Mauritius MU	0.59%
158	Mongolia MN	0.59%
159	Montenegro ME	0.59%
160	Portugal PT	0.59%
161	Qatar QA	0.59%
162	Réunion RE	0.59%
163	Russia RU	0.59%
164	Saint Martin MF	0.59%
165	Sint Maarten SX	0.59%
166	Spain ES	0.59%
167	Turks and Caicos Islands TC	0.59%
168	United States US	0.59%
169	Uzbekistan UZ	0.59%
170	Wallis and Futuna WF	0.59%
171	Brunei BN	0.39%
172	Canada CA	0.39%
173	Czech Republic CZ	0.39%
174	Germany DE	0.39%
175	Gibraltar GI	0.39%
176	Hungary HU	0.39%
177	Israel IL	0.39%
178	Latvia LV	0.39%
179	Luxembourg LU	0.39%
180	Maldives MV	0.39%
181	Malta MT	0.39%
182	Netherlands NL	0.39%
183	New Zealand NZ	0.39%
184	Poland PL	0.39%
185	Serbia RS	0.39%
186	Seychelles SC	0.39%
187	Slovakia SK	0.39%
188	Switzerland CH	0.39%
189	Taiwan TW	0.39%
190	Ukraine UA	0.39%
191	United Kingdom GB	0.39%
192	Estonia EE	0.19%
193	Finland FI	0.19%
194	Hong Kong HK	0.19%
195	Iceland IS	0.19%
196	Ireland IE	0.19%
197	Japan JP	0.19%
198	Jersey JE	0.19%
199	Liechtenstein LI	0.19%
200	Lithuania LT	0.19%
201	Macau MO	0.19%
202	Monaco MC	0.19%
203	Norway NO	0.19%
204	San Marino SM	0.19%
205	Singapore SG	0.19%
206	Slovenia SI	0.19%
207	South Korea KR	0.19%
208	Sweden SE	0.19%
209	Vatican City VA	0.19%

Global Patterns in Middle School Over-Age Rates

Over-age rates in middle school are generally higher than in primary school across all regions. Developed nations typically show rates below 8%, indicating relatively efficient grade progression. Many developing countries show rates between 15-40%, reflecting cumulative educational challenges. The highest-performing countries have implemented comprehensive support systems that address both primary and secondary education.

Sub-Saharan Africa shows the highest middle school over-age rates globally, with many countries exceeding 35%. This reflects the compounding effects of primary school challenges combined with limited resources at the secondary level. South Asia also shows elevated rates, particularly in countries with high poverty and limited educational infrastructure. Latin America shows moderate rates, while East Asia and developed regions show the lowest rates.

Gender Dimensions of Over-Age Status

Gender disparities in over-age rates are particularly pronounced at the middle school level. In many developing countries, girls are more likely to be over-age than boys, reflecting higher dropout rates and interrupted schooling for girls. Early marriage, pregnancy, and family responsibilities contribute to girls' over-age status. Additionally, girls who fall behind academically may face greater pressure to leave school rather than repeat grades.

Consequences of Over-Age Status in Middle School

Over-age students in middle school face significant challenges that affect their educational outcomes and future prospects. They are substantially more likely to drop out of school, particularly as they approach working age. Over-age students often experience social isolation and reduced motivation, as they feel disconnected from their younger classmates. The age gap can create behavioral challenges and reduce classroom engagement.

For education systems, high over-age rates in middle school indicate systemic inefficiency and wasted resources. Students spending extra years in middle school reduces capacity for new students and increases per-pupil costs. High repetition rates suggest inadequate teaching quality, insufficient curriculum adaptation, or lack of support for struggling learners. Addressing over-age status requires improving teaching quality, providing targeted remedial support, and reducing unnecessary grade repetition.

Over-Age Students in Middle School by Country 2026

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#	Country	Over-Age Rate 2023 (%) (%)	Over-Age Rate 2026 Estimate (%) (%)
1	Guinea-Bissau	61.2%	62.2%
2	Central African Republic	54.2%	55.1%
3	Liberia	54.2%	55.1%
4	Burundi	52.3%	53.2%
5	Mali	52.1%	52.9%
6	Chad	51.3%	52.2%
7	Malawi	49.2%	50.1%
8	DR Congo	48.2%	49.1%
9	Guinea	48.3%	49.1%
10	South Sudan	47.1%	48%
11	Ethiopia	46.3%	47.2%
12	Mauritania	46.3%	47.2%
13	Burkina Faso	45.2%	46.1%
14	Madagascar	43.2%	44.1%
15	Sierra Leone	43.2%	44.1%
16	Benin	42.3%	43.1%
17	Eritrea	42.3%	43.1%
18	Mozambique	42.1%	42.9%
19	Yemen	40.2%	41%
20	Haiti	39.2%	39.9%
21	Congo	38.2%	38.9%
22	Equatorial Guinea	38.1%	38.9%
23	Niger	38.1%	38.9%
24	Somalia	38.2%	38.9%
25	Laos	37.2%	37.9%
26	Sudan	37.2%	37.9%
27	Gambia	36.2%	36.9%
28	Cameroon	35.2%	35.9%
29	Papua New Guinea	35.2%	35.9%
30	Senegal	35.2%	35.9%
31	Zambia	35.1%	35.8%
32	Ghana	33.2%	33.9%
33	Comoros	32.1%	32.8%
34	Gabon	32.1%	32.8%
35	Rwanda	32.1%	32.8%
36	Uganda	32.1%	32.8%
37	Iraq	31.2%	31.9%
38	Nepal	31.2%	31.9%
39	Tanzania	31.2%	31.9%
40	Afghanistan	28.3%	29.1%
41	Ivory Coast	28.3%	29%
42	Nigeria	28.3%	29%
43	Pakistan	28.3%	29%
44	Togo	28.3%	29%
45	Myanmar	27.3%	27.9%
46	Cambodia	26.1%	26.7%
47	Djibouti	24.1%	24.7%
48	Kenya	24.1%	24.7%
49	Sao Tome and Principe	24.1%	24.7%
50	Zimbabwe	24.1%	24.6%
51	Bangladesh	22.1%	22.7%
52	Namibia	22.1%	22.7%
53	Eswatini	21.2%	21.8%
54	Timor-Leste	21.2%	21.8%
55	Morocco	20.2%	20.8%
56	Guatemala	19.3%	19.8%
57	Lesotho	19.3%	19.8%
58	Egypt	15.3%	15.7%
59	Solomon Islands	15.3%	15.7%
60	Western Sahara	15.3%	15.7%
61	Bhutan	15.2%	15.5%
62	Honduras	15.1%	15.5%
63	Syria	14.1%	14.5%
64	India	13.2%	13.6%
65	Nicaragua	13.2%	13.6%
66	Bolivia	12.1%	12.3%
67	Vanuatu	11.2%	11.5%
68	Paraguay	10.8%	11%
69	Tunisia	10.8%	11%
70	Brazil	10.2%	10.3%
71	Philippines	10.1%	10.2%
72	El Salvador	9.8%	9.98%
73	Kiribati	9.1%	9.28%
74	Cape Verde	8.1%	8.08%
75	Dominican Republic	7.8%	7.88%
76	Venezuela	7.8%	7.88%
77	Libya	7.8%	7.78%
78	Nauru	7.2%	7.38%
79	Peru	7.2%	7.18%
80	Belize	6.8%	6.78%
81	Lebanon	6.2%	6.18%
82	Suriname	6.2%	6.18%
83	Colombia	5.8%	5.78%
84	Panama	5.8%	5.78%
85	Algeria	5.8%	5.75%
86	Mexico	5.1%	5.08%
87	Argentina	5.1%	5.05%
88	Botswana	4.6%	4.58%
89	Indonesia	4.6%	4.58%
90	Marshall Islands	4.6%	4.58%
91	China	4.2%	4.18%
92	Fiji	4.2%	4.18%
93	Iran	4.2%	4.18%
94	South Africa	4.2%	4.18%
95	Antigua and Barbuda	4.2%	4.15%
96	Azerbaijan	4.2%	4.15%
97	Chile	3.8%	3.78%
98	Dominica	3.6%	3.58%
99	Jordan	3.6%	3.58%
100	Micronesia	3.6%	3.58%
101	Samoa	3.6%	3.58%
102	Sri Lanka	3.6%	3.58%
103	Türkiye	3.6%	3.58%
104	Albania	3.2%	3.15%
105	Bahamas	3.1%	3.05%
106	Grenada	3%	2.98%
107	Palestine	3%	2.98%
108	Trinidad and Tobago	3%	2.98%
109	Kosovo	2.8%	2.78%
110	Barbados	2.4%	2.38%
111	Ecuador	2.4%	2.38%
112	Jamaica	2.4%	2.38%
113	Oman	2.4%	2.38%
114	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	2.4%	2.38%
115	Tajikistan	2.4%	2.38%
116	Tonga	2.4%	2.38%
117	Vietnam	2.4%	2.38%
118	Costa Rica	2.2%	2.19%
119	Palau	2.2%	2.19%
120	Thailand	2.2%	2.19%
121	Tuvalu	2.2%	2.19%
122	Saint Lucia	1.8%	1.78%
123	Saudi Arabia	1.8%	1.78%
124	Armenia	1.8%	1.75%
125	Bulgaria	1.6%	1.59%
126	Guyana	1.6%	1.59%
127	Kyrgyzstan	1.6%	1.59%
128	Saint Kitts and Nevis	1.6%	1.59%
129	Uruguay	1.6%	1.59%
130	Bahrain	1.6%	1.58%
131	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1.4%	1.39%
132	Belgium	1.2%	1.19%
133	Kuwait	1.2%	1.19%
134	Belarus	1%	0.99%
135	Cyprus	1%	0.99%
136	Moldova	1%	0.99%
137	North Korea	1%	0.99%
138	Tokelau	1%	0.99%
139	Australia	0.8%	0.79%
140	Croatia	0.8%	0.79%
141	France	0.8%	0.79%
142	Kazakhstan	0.8%	0.79%
143	Martinique	0.8%	0.79%
144	North Macedonia	0.8%	0.79%
145	Puerto Rico	0.8%	0.79%
146	Romania	0.8%	0.79%
147	Turkmenistan	0.8%	0.79%
148	United Arab Emirates	0.8%	0.79%
149	US Virgin Islands	0.8%	0.79%
150	Austria	0.6%	0.59%
151	Cuba	0.6%	0.59%
152	Denmark	0.6%	0.59%
153	Georgia	0.6%	0.59%
154	Greece	0.6%	0.59%
155	Italy	0.6%	0.59%
156	Malaysia	0.6%	0.59%
157	Mauritius	0.6%	0.59%
158	Mongolia	0.6%	0.59%
159	Montenegro	0.6%	0.59%
160	Portugal	0.6%	0.59%
161	Qatar	0.6%	0.59%
162	Réunion	0.6%	0.59%
163	Russia	0.6%	0.59%
164	Saint Martin	0.6%	0.59%
165	Sint Maarten	0.6%	0.59%
166	Spain	0.6%	0.59%
167	Turks and Caicos Islands	0.6%	0.59%
168	United States	0.6%	0.59%
169	Uzbekistan	0.6%	0.59%
170	Wallis and Futuna	0.6%	0.59%
171	Brunei	0.4%	0.39%
172	Canada	0.4%	0.39%
173	Czech Republic	0.4%	0.39%
174	Germany	0.4%	0.39%
175	Gibraltar	0.4%	0.39%
176	Hungary	0.4%	0.39%
177	Israel	0.4%	0.39%
178	Latvia	0.4%	0.39%
179	Luxembourg	0.4%	0.39%
180	Maldives	0.4%	0.39%
181	Malta	0.4%	0.39%
182	Netherlands	0.4%	0.39%
183	New Zealand	0.4%	0.39%
184	Poland	0.4%	0.39%
185	Serbia	0.4%	0.39%
186	Seychelles	0.4%	0.39%
187	Slovakia	0.4%	0.39%
188	Switzerland	0.4%	0.39%
189	Taiwan	0.4%	0.39%
190	Ukraine	0.4%	0.39%
191	United Kingdom	0.4%	0.39%
192	Estonia	0.2%	0.19%
193	Finland	0.2%	0.19%
194	Hong Kong	0.2%	0.19%
195	Iceland	0.2%	0.19%
196	Ireland	0.2%	0.19%
197	Japan	0.2%	0.19%
198	Jersey	0.2%	0.19%
199	Liechtenstein	0.2%	0.19%
200	Lithuania	0.2%	0.19%
201	Macau	0.2%	0.19%
202	Monaco	0.2%	0.19%
203	Norway	0.2%	0.19%
204	San Marino	0.2%	0.19%
205	Singapore	0.2%	0.19%
206	Slovenia	0.2%	0.19%
207	South Korea	0.2%	0.19%
208	Sweden	0.2%	0.19%
209	Vatican City	0.2%	0.19%

2026 Projections and Methodology

Projections for 2026 show varied trends across countries. Some nations are successfully reducing over-age rates through improved teaching quality and comprehensive student support programs. Others show stable or increasing rates, indicating persistent challenges in secondary education systems.

The 2026 estimates are calculated using linear regression analysis based on historical trends from available data years. This statistical method identifies the rate of change over recent years and projects that trend forward to 2026. The methodology examines each country's historical over-age rate trajectory and applies the observed trend to estimate 2026 values. All projections are constrained to the 0-100% range to ensure realistic estimates. This approach assumes that current trends will continue, which may not hold if significant policy changes or educational reforms occur.

Methodology and Data Sources

This analysis uses UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) administrative data on over-age for grade in middle school education. Administrative data comes from official school records and government education statistics, providing comprehensive coverage across countries.

Over-age for grade is calculated as: (Number of middle school students at least 2 years over-age / Total middle school enrollment) × 100

The data reflects the most recent available years from administrative records, with 2026 projections calculated using linear regression analysis based on historical trends. Using administrative data ensures consistency in measurement across countries, though it is important to note that data quality and completeness vary by country. This approach allows for meaningful comparisons between countries with different education systems and administrative practices.