Every girl has the right to education.
Millions of girls around the world are out of school and are being denied an education. Why? Because they are made to care for younger siblings, work to make money, or are married far too early.
Girls' Education: The Facts
31 million girls of primary school age are out of school.
Of these 17 million are expected never to enter school.
34 million female adolescents out of school.
These girls are missing out on the chance to learn vital skills for work.
Nearly 25% of girls 15-24 (116 million) in developing countries have never
completed primary school.
Slow education progress for children today has lifelong effects.
Two-thirds of the 774 million illiterate people in the world are female.
Girls' Education Has a Huge Impact on Society
Educated women are less likely to die in childbirth.
If all mothers completed primary education, maternal deaths would be reduced by 66%.
Educating girls can save millions of lives.
If all women had a primary education, there would be 15% fewer child deaths and increases to 50% fewer if all women had a secondary education, saving 3 million lives.
Mothers’ education improves child nutrition.
If all women had a primary education, 1.7 million children would be saved from stunting from malnutrition. That number increases to 12 million if all women had a secondary education.
Girls with higher levels of education are less likely to have children at an early age.
Educating girls is a key factor in hastening the demographic transition to lower birth rates.
Girls with higher levels of education are less likely to get married at an early age (14-66% less).
Education narrows pay gaps between men and women.
Educated women are more likely to find work.
Educating Girls is Smart for All of Us
When 10% more of its girls go to school, a country's GDP increases an average of 3%.
Source: UNESCO Institute of Statistics