GITNUXREPORT 2026

School Attendance Statistics

Chronic absenteeism is a widespread issue that harms student achievement worldwide.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

In 2022, the average school attendance rate in the United States for public elementary and secondary schools was 92.1%

Statistic 2

Globally, 258 million children and youth were out of school in 2023, representing a non-attendance rate of about 17% for school-age population

Statistic 3

In England, pupil absence rate averaged 7.4% in the autumn term of 2022/23, equating to 4.2 million lost school days weekly

Statistic 4

India's national average school attendance rate for primary schools in 2021-22 was 88.5%, varying from 85% in rural to 92% in urban areas

Statistic 5

In Australia, the national apparent school attendance rate for Year 7-10 in 2022 was 89.2%

Statistic 6

Brazil's public school attendance rate for ages 6-14 reached 95.3% in 2022 per PNAD Continua survey

Statistic 7

In South Africa, the average learner attendance rate in public schools was 82% in Term 3 of 2023

Statistic 8

Japan's compulsory education attendance rate exceeded 99.9% in 2022 for elementary and junior high schools

Statistic 9

In Canada, the average daily attendance rate in public schools was 93.5% for the 2021-22 school year

Statistic 10

Germany's school attendance rate for compulsory education averaged 97.2% in 2022/23

Statistic 11

In France, the truancy rate (unexcused absences) was 1.2% of school days in 2022

Statistic 12

Mexico's primary school attendance rate was 94.8% for 2022-23 per INEGI data

Statistic 13

In the Philippines, the average daily attendance rate post-COVID recovery was 90.1% in SY 2022-23

Statistic 14

Sweden's school attendance rate for grades 1-9 was 95.6% in 2022

Statistic 15

In New Zealand, secondary school attendance fell to 68.5% average in Term 4 2023

Statistic 16

Turkey's net school attendance rate for primary education was 93.4% in 2022

Statistic 17

In Kenya, primary school attendance rate was 87.2% in 2022 per EMIS

Statistic 18

Chile's average attendance rate in basic education was 91.7% in 2023

Statistic 19

In Finland, upper secondary attendance rate averaged 94.3% in 2022

Statistic 20

Nigeria's primary school attendance rate stood at 61% for ages 6-11 in 2021

Statistic 21

In the UK, overall absence rate was 7.3% in 2022/23 academic year

Statistic 22

Argentina's school attendance rate for primary levels was 92.6% in 2022

Statistic 23

In Indonesia, lower secondary attendance rate was 84.5% in 2022

Statistic 24

Poland's compulsory school attendance compliance was 98.1% in 2022/23

Statistic 25

In Egypt, net attendance rate for primary education was 89.2% in 2022

Statistic 26

Thailand's school attendance rate averaged 93.8% in 2023

Statistic 27

In Vietnam, primary school attendance reached 98.7% in 2022

Statistic 28

Peru's average daily attendance in public schools was 88.4% in 2023

Statistic 29

In Morocco, middle school attendance rate was 78.6% for 2022

Statistic 30

Colombia's attendance rate for basic education was 90.2% in 2022

Statistic 31

In the US, chronic absenteeism affected 14.7 million students or 28% of public school students in 2021-22

Statistic 32

In England, persistent absence (over 10%) impacted 22.3% of pupils in 2022/23

Statistic 33

California's chronic absenteeism rate was 25.3% in 2022-23 school year

Statistic 34

In New York City, 45% of students were chronically absent in 2022-23

Statistic 35

Australia's national chronic absenteeism rate for secondary schools reached 25% in 2023

Statistic 36

In Scotland, pupils missing 10% or more sessions were 19.5% in 2022/23

Statistic 37

Michigan's chronic absenteeism rate was 32.4% pre-COVID but 43% in 2021-22

Statistic 38

In Ontario, Canada, chronic absenteeism affected 24% of elementary students in 2022-23

Statistic 39

Philadelphia's chronic absenteeism rate hit 39% in 2022-23

Statistic 40

In Wales, persistent absentees were 21.8% of pupils in 2022/23

Statistic 41

Nevada's statewide chronic absenteeism was 28.7% in 2022-23

Statistic 42

In Northern Ireland, 12.4% of pupils had unauthorized absence over 10% in 2022/23

Statistic 43

Oregon's chronic absenteeism rate was 30.2% in 2021-22

Statistic 44

In Illinois, 27.5% of students were chronically absent in 2022-23

Statistic 45

New Mexico's rate was 35.1% chronic absenteeism in 2022-23

Statistic 46

In Colorado, chronic absenteeism affected 24.6% in 2022-23

Statistic 47

Washington's chronic absenteeism was 25.8% for 2022-23

Statistic 48

In Massachusetts, 18.4% chronic absenteeism in 2022-23

Statistic 49

Rhode Island's rate was 29.3% in 2022-23

Statistic 50

In Connecticut, 22.7% of students chronically absent in 2022-23

Statistic 51

Maryland's chronic absenteeism was 26.1% in 2022-23

Statistic 52

In New Jersey, 19.5% chronic absenteeism rate in 2022-23

Statistic 53

Pennsylvania's rate reached 31.2% in 2022-23

Statistic 54

In Ohio, chronic absenteeism was 28.9% for 2022-23

Statistic 55

Florida's chronic absenteeism affected 21.4% in 2022-23

Statistic 56

In Texas, 22.8% of students were chronically absent in 2022-23

Statistic 57

Georgia's rate was 24.3% in 2022-23

Statistic 58

In North Carolina, chronic absenteeism was 23.1% for 2022-23

Statistic 59

Virginia's chronic absenteeism rate was 20.6% in 2022-23

Statistic 60

Poverty is associated with 1.5 times higher chronic absenteeism rates in US schools

Statistic 61

Students with disabilities have 2-3 times higher absenteeism rates than peers without

Statistic 62

Homeless students in the US miss school 2.5 times more often on average

Statistic 63

In urban areas, transportation issues cause 15% higher absence rates than rural

Statistic 64

Bullying victims are 2.1 times more likely to be chronically absent

Statistic 65

Family health issues lead to 20% increase in student absences per US DOE data

Statistic 66

Low-income families report work conflicts causing 25% of child absences

Statistic 67

Mental health problems correlate with 40% higher absenteeism rates

Statistic 68

In England, parental illness accounts for 18% of persistent absences

Statistic 69

Domestic violence exposure doubles chronic absenteeism risk

Statistic 70

Lack of school breakfast programs increases absences by 12%

Statistic 71

Teen parenting leads to 30% higher absence rates for student parents

Statistic 72

Language barriers for English learners raise absenteeism by 15-20%

Statistic 73

Incarcerated parents' children miss 18 more school days annually

Statistic 74

Poor housing conditions contribute to 10% higher absence rates

Statistic 75

Sibling caregiving responsibilities increase absences by 22%

Statistic 76

Food insecurity households have 1.4 times absenteeism rates

Statistic 77

Parental incarceration raises chronic absence by 25%

Statistic 78

Chronic illness in students doubles absenteeism likelihood

Statistic 79

Neighborhood crime rates correlate with 17% higher absences

Statistic 80

Lack of after-school care causes 14% more absences

Statistic 81

Each day absent in elementary school reduces achievement by 0.0007 standard deviations

Statistic 82

Chronic absenteeism links to 15-20% lower test scores in reading/math

Statistic 83

High school students with poor attendance 3 times more likely to dropout

Statistic 84

Absent students score 1.5 grades lower on average in core subjects

Statistic 85

Chronic absentees 2x more likely to repeat a grade

Statistic 86

Poor attendance correlates with 25% higher dropout risk by grade 9

Statistic 87

Each week missed reduces GPA by 0.1 points on average

Statistic 88

Absenteeism leads to 10% lower college enrollment rates

Statistic 89

In England, persistent absentees achieve 38% lower attainment 8 scores

Statistic 90

Chronic absence increases juvenile justice involvement by 2x

Statistic 91

Poor attendance links to 20% higher unemployment post-graduation

Statistic 92

Math proficiency drops 12% for every 10 absences in elementary

Statistic 93

High absentees 4x more likely to be neither in education nor employment

Statistic 94

Attendance below 80% halves likelihood of grade-level proficiency

Statistic 95

Chronic absentees face 15% lower lifetime earnings potential

Statistic 96

Behavioral issues rise 30% with high absenteeism

Statistic 97

Reading gaps widen by 18% for frequent absentees

Statistic 98

Dropout prediction accuracy 85% based on 9th grade attendance

Statistic 99

Poor attendance increases special education referral by 25%

Statistic 100

Attendance interventions boost graduation rates by 10-15%

Statistic 101

Daily check-ins reduced chronic absenteeism by 20% in pilot schools

Statistic 102

Mentoring programs cut absences by 15% per MDRC study

Statistic 103

Free breakfast initiatives lowered absenteeism 12% in low-income areas

Statistic 104

Transportation vouchers reduced absences 18% in urban districts

Statistic 105

Truancy courts decreased chronic absence by 25% in participating schools

Statistic 106

Home visits by educators cut absences 22% in randomized trials

Statistic 107

Incentive rewards for attendance boosted rates 10% in elementary

Statistic 108

Family engagement workshops reduced persistent absence 16% in UK

Statistic 109

Mental health support integration lowered absences 19%

Statistic 110

After-school programs decreased absenteeism 14% per meta-analysis

Statistic 111

Policy mandating attendance tracking raised compliance 12%

Statistic 112

Text reminders to parents reduced absences 11% in trials

Statistic 113

Community partnerships cut chronic absenteeism 21% in high-poverty schools

Statistic 114

Universal free meals policy improved attendance 8-10%

Statistic 115

Early warning systems prevented 15% dropouts via attendance focus

Statistic 116

Culturally responsive interventions reduced absences 17% for minorities

Statistic 117

COVID recovery grants funded programs cutting absences 13%

Statistic 118

Peer mentoring lowered absenteeism 20% in secondary schools

Statistic 119

Policy incentives for schools reduced system-wide chronic absence 10%

1/119

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While a 99.9% attendance rate in Japan shows perfect classroom engagement is possible, the stark reality revealed by statistics from the United States to the Philippines is that chronic absenteeism has become a pervasive global crisis, robbing millions of students of their education and future potential.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, the average school attendance rate in the United States for public elementary and secondary schools was 92.1%
Globally, 258 million children and youth were out of school in 2023, representing a non-attendance rate of about 17% for school-age population
In England, pupil absence rate averaged 7.4% in the autumn term of 2022/23, equating to 4.2 million lost school days weekly
In the US, chronic absenteeism affected 14.7 million students or 28% of public school students in 2021-22
In England, persistent absence (over 10%) impacted 22.3% of pupils in 2022/23
California's chronic absenteeism rate was 25.3% in 2022-23 school year
Poverty is associated with 1.5 times higher chronic absenteeism rates in US schools
Students with disabilities have 2-3 times higher absenteeism rates than peers without
Homeless students in the US miss school 2.5 times more often on average
Each day absent in elementary school reduces achievement by 0.0007 standard deviations
Chronic absenteeism links to 15-20% lower test scores in reading/math
High school students with poor attendance 3 times more likely to dropout
Attendance interventions boost graduation rates by 10-15%
Daily check-ins reduced chronic absenteeism by 20% in pilot schools
Mentoring programs cut absences by 15% per MDRC study

Chronic absenteeism is a widespread issue that harms student achievement worldwide.

Attendance Rates

In 2022, the average school attendance rate in the United States for public elementary and secondary schools was 92.1%
Globally, 258 million children and youth were out of school in 2023, representing a non-attendance rate of about 17% for school-age population
In England, pupil absence rate averaged 7.4% in the autumn term of 2022/23, equating to 4.2 million lost school days weekly
India's national average school attendance rate for primary schools in 2021-22 was 88.5%, varying from 85% in rural to 92% in urban areas
In Australia, the national apparent school attendance rate for Year 7-10 in 2022 was 89.2%
Brazil's public school attendance rate for ages 6-14 reached 95.3% in 2022 per PNAD Continua survey
In South Africa, the average learner attendance rate in public schools was 82% in Term 3 of 2023
Japan's compulsory education attendance rate exceeded 99.9% in 2022 for elementary and junior high schools
In Canada, the average daily attendance rate in public schools was 93.5% for the 2021-22 school year
Germany's school attendance rate for compulsory education averaged 97.2% in 2022/23
In France, the truancy rate (unexcused absences) was 1.2% of school days in 2022
Mexico's primary school attendance rate was 94.8% for 2022-23 per INEGI data
In the Philippines, the average daily attendance rate post-COVID recovery was 90.1% in SY 2022-23
Sweden's school attendance rate for grades 1-9 was 95.6% in 2022
In New Zealand, secondary school attendance fell to 68.5% average in Term 4 2023
Turkey's net school attendance rate for primary education was 93.4% in 2022
In Kenya, primary school attendance rate was 87.2% in 2022 per EMIS
Chile's average attendance rate in basic education was 91.7% in 2023
In Finland, upper secondary attendance rate averaged 94.3% in 2022
Nigeria's primary school attendance rate stood at 61% for ages 6-11 in 2021
In the UK, overall absence rate was 7.3% in 2022/23 academic year
Argentina's school attendance rate for primary levels was 92.6% in 2022
In Indonesia, lower secondary attendance rate was 84.5% in 2022
Poland's compulsory school attendance compliance was 98.1% in 2022/23
In Egypt, net attendance rate for primary education was 89.2% in 2022
Thailand's school attendance rate averaged 93.8% in 2023
In Vietnam, primary school attendance reached 98.7% in 2022
Peru's average daily attendance in public schools was 88.4% in 2023
In Morocco, middle school attendance rate was 78.6% for 2022
Colombia's attendance rate for basic education was 90.2% in 2022

Attendance Rates Interpretation

While Japan and Finland boast enviable attendance records of near perfection, the stark global snapshot reveals a disquieting truth: for millions of children, particularly in nations like Nigeria or South Africa, the simple, fundamental act of going to school remains more of a precarious privilege than a guaranteed right.

Chronic Absenteeism

In the US, chronic absenteeism affected 14.7 million students or 28% of public school students in 2021-22
In England, persistent absence (over 10%) impacted 22.3% of pupils in 2022/23
California's chronic absenteeism rate was 25.3% in 2022-23 school year
In New York City, 45% of students were chronically absent in 2022-23
Australia's national chronic absenteeism rate for secondary schools reached 25% in 2023
In Scotland, pupils missing 10% or more sessions were 19.5% in 2022/23
Michigan's chronic absenteeism rate was 32.4% pre-COVID but 43% in 2021-22
In Ontario, Canada, chronic absenteeism affected 24% of elementary students in 2022-23
Philadelphia's chronic absenteeism rate hit 39% in 2022-23
In Wales, persistent absentees were 21.8% of pupils in 2022/23
Nevada's statewide chronic absenteeism was 28.7% in 2022-23
In Northern Ireland, 12.4% of pupils had unauthorized absence over 10% in 2022/23
Oregon's chronic absenteeism rate was 30.2% in 2021-22
In Illinois, 27.5% of students were chronically absent in 2022-23
New Mexico's rate was 35.1% chronic absenteeism in 2022-23
In Colorado, chronic absenteeism affected 24.6% in 2022-23
Washington's chronic absenteeism was 25.8% for 2022-23
In Massachusetts, 18.4% chronic absenteeism in 2022-23
Rhode Island's rate was 29.3% in 2022-23
In Connecticut, 22.7% of students chronically absent in 2022-23
Maryland's chronic absenteeism was 26.1% in 2022-23
In New Jersey, 19.5% chronic absenteeism rate in 2022-23
Pennsylvania's rate reached 31.2% in 2022-23
In Ohio, chronic absenteeism was 28.9% for 2022-23
Florida's chronic absenteeism affected 21.4% in 2022-23
In Texas, 22.8% of students were chronically absent in 2022-23
Georgia's rate was 24.3% in 2022-23
In North Carolina, chronic absenteeism was 23.1% for 2022-23
Virginia's chronic absenteeism rate was 20.6% in 2022-23

Chronic Absenteeism Interpretation

While these alarming statistics prove our education systems are facing a global attendance epidemic, it appears that the most consistent lesson being taught right now is how to master the art of not showing up.

Factors Influencing Attendance

Poverty is associated with 1.5 times higher chronic absenteeism rates in US schools
Students with disabilities have 2-3 times higher absenteeism rates than peers without
Homeless students in the US miss school 2.5 times more often on average
In urban areas, transportation issues cause 15% higher absence rates than rural
Bullying victims are 2.1 times more likely to be chronically absent
Family health issues lead to 20% increase in student absences per US DOE data
Low-income families report work conflicts causing 25% of child absences
Mental health problems correlate with 40% higher absenteeism rates
In England, parental illness accounts for 18% of persistent absences
Domestic violence exposure doubles chronic absenteeism risk
Lack of school breakfast programs increases absences by 12%
Teen parenting leads to 30% higher absence rates for student parents
Language barriers for English learners raise absenteeism by 15-20%
Incarcerated parents' children miss 18 more school days annually
Poor housing conditions contribute to 10% higher absence rates
Sibling caregiving responsibilities increase absences by 22%
Food insecurity households have 1.4 times absenteeism rates
Parental incarceration raises chronic absence by 25%
Chronic illness in students doubles absenteeism likelihood
Neighborhood crime rates correlate with 17% higher absences
Lack of after-school care causes 14% more absences

Factors Influencing Attendance Interpretation

This tragic chorus of statistics sings a single, glaring truth: a student's attendance record is less about their desire to learn and far more a stark report card on the failures and fractures of the society surrounding them.

Impacts of Attendance

Each day absent in elementary school reduces achievement by 0.0007 standard deviations
Chronic absenteeism links to 15-20% lower test scores in reading/math
High school students with poor attendance 3 times more likely to dropout
Absent students score 1.5 grades lower on average in core subjects
Chronic absentees 2x more likely to repeat a grade
Poor attendance correlates with 25% higher dropout risk by grade 9
Each week missed reduces GPA by 0.1 points on average
Absenteeism leads to 10% lower college enrollment rates
In England, persistent absentees achieve 38% lower attainment 8 scores
Chronic absence increases juvenile justice involvement by 2x
Poor attendance links to 20% higher unemployment post-graduation
Math proficiency drops 12% for every 10 absences in elementary
High absentees 4x more likely to be neither in education nor employment
Attendance below 80% halves likelihood of grade-level proficiency
Chronic absentees face 15% lower lifetime earnings potential
Behavioral issues rise 30% with high absenteeism
Reading gaps widen by 18% for frequent absentees
Dropout prediction accuracy 85% based on 9th grade attendance
Poor attendance increases special education referral by 25%

Impacts of Attendance Interpretation

It seems every day missed in school isn’t just a day off, but a quiet, compounding debt against a child’s future, quietly chipping away at their grades, graduation odds, and even their lifetime earnings.

Interventions and Policies

Attendance interventions boost graduation rates by 10-15%
Daily check-ins reduced chronic absenteeism by 20% in pilot schools
Mentoring programs cut absences by 15% per MDRC study
Free breakfast initiatives lowered absenteeism 12% in low-income areas
Transportation vouchers reduced absences 18% in urban districts
Truancy courts decreased chronic absence by 25% in participating schools
Home visits by educators cut absences 22% in randomized trials
Incentive rewards for attendance boosted rates 10% in elementary
Family engagement workshops reduced persistent absence 16% in UK
Mental health support integration lowered absences 19%
After-school programs decreased absenteeism 14% per meta-analysis
Policy mandating attendance tracking raised compliance 12%
Text reminders to parents reduced absences 11% in trials
Community partnerships cut chronic absenteeism 21% in high-poverty schools
Universal free meals policy improved attendance 8-10%
Early warning systems prevented 15% dropouts via attendance focus
Culturally responsive interventions reduced absences 17% for minorities
COVID recovery grants funded programs cutting absences 13%
Peer mentoring lowered absenteeism 20% in secondary schools
Policy incentives for schools reduced system-wide chronic absence 10%

Interventions and Policies Interpretation

These statistics prove that while a village can raise a child, a coordinated barrage of check-ins, breakfasts, mentors, and text messages is what actually gets them out the door and into a classroom.

Sources & References

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