Over 250 million primary school children cannot read, write or do basic maths. Up to 120 million children have never been to school. This makes countries poorer. Countries lose up to $130 billion every year. The U.N. said there is a "learning crisis". In 30% of countries, 75% of primary school teachers do not have enough training.

Most children not going to school are girls. Countries are richer when girls go to school. Almost 66% of girls in some countries never go to school. In Yemen, just 36% of girls are literate. Girls in poorer countries will not be literate until 2072. In Laos, Rwanda and Vietnam, the number of children not going to school fell by 85%.