Nearly 5.8 million refugee children remained out of school in 2025, highlighting a widening education challenge amid growing funding pressures.
The UN refugee agency said 44 percent of the world’s 13.1 million school-age refugee children missed education last year.
UNHCR warned that funding cuts could further threaten education programmes. Consequently, millions of displaced children could face fewer opportunities to continue their studies.
Primary and Secondary Education Gaps Remain
UNHCR reported that 65 percent of refugee children of primary school age were enrolled in education during 2025.
However, the situation became more difficult at the secondary level. Only 32 percent of refugee children were enrolled in secondary education last year.
Meanwhile, tertiary education enrolment among refugees reached a record 11 percent in 2025. Despite that progress, the overall figures show significant gaps in access to education.
“Education is protection. But it is also a pathway to opportunity and self-reliance,” said Barham Salih, the UN high commissioner for refugees.
“At a time of severe pressure on humanitarian and development financing, cuts to education risk reversing decades of collective investment and closing opportunities for a generation of young people.”
Funding Shortfalls Threaten Refugee Education
UNHCR has also warned that declining funding could make the education situation even more difficult.
The agency’s available funding fell from $5.2 billion in 2024 to $3.9 billion in 2025. At the same time, the number of people under its protection remained around historically high levels.
UNHCR said it requires $8.5 billion this year to protect refugees. However, the agency had received only 32 percent of that requirement by the end of July.
That amounted to $2.7 billion in available funding. Therefore, the widening gap between humanitarian needs and available resources remains a major concern.
Millions Could Lose Vital Assistance
The funding shortage extends beyond education programmes. UNHCR said nearly 8.3 million refugees and other forcibly displaced people could lose vital assistance from the agency.
Salih also reflected on his own experience as a former refugee while highlighting the importance of education.
“education gave me opportunities that displacement might otherwise have denied me”.
He added, “Displacement should not determine the limits of a child’s life.”
The latest figures underline the scale of the education challenge facing refugee children. While tertiary enrolment reached a record level, millions of younger children remained outside school.
With humanitarian funding under pressure, UNHCR has warned that further cuts could undermine progress and reduce educational opportunities for another generation of displaced children.
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