This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: More than 171 million students globally—or 1 in 10—from preprimary to upper secondary age had their schooling disrupted by climate hazards in 2025, according to a new analysis released by UNICEF today. "Learning Interrupted: Global Snapshot of Climate-Related School Disruptions in 2025" analyzes data from 106 countries or territories and finds that climate hazards including storms, floods, heat waves, droughts and wildfires led to suspended classes, damaged schools, a shift to remote learning, shortened instructional time, reduced school attendance and increased risk of dropout for millions of students worldwide.
"For millions of children, climate hazards do more than disrupt lessons: They destroy schools, uproot families and push the most vulnerable children, especially girls, out of the classroom for good," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. According to the analysis, storms were the most common cause of school disruptions last year, affecting 109 million students globally. Floods affected at least 70 million students, while heat waves disrupted schooling for approximately 50 million children.
"My school is right next to a creek, and when there is flooding, the water rises and flows into the school," said 16-year-old Taudibura Garo from Papua New Guinea, where El Niño conditions are expected to increase the risk of extreme weather in the coming months. "Usually, the water comes up to our knees and floods the pit toilets, then it becomes unhealthy for us to stay at school, and we miss the lessons we are supposed to learn." While students across all income levels were affected by disruptions, three-quarters of affected students live in low- and lower-middle-income countries, where education systems often lack the resources needed to safeguard learning during climate-related emergencies. In Pakistan, for example—one of the most affected countries in the analysis—severe monsoon floods in August delayed the return to school for more than 28 million students, making it one of the largest climate-related education disruptions recorded in 2025.
In Egypt, a powerful Khamsin wind and dust storm prompted a nationwide suspension of classes for one day in April, also affecting more than 28 million students. According to the data, 40 countries experienced multiple rounds of climate-related school disruptions throughout the year. Madagascar, for example, faced rounds of drought, tropical cyclones and floods affecting 280,000 students during the year.
In Spain, more than 500,000 students in the Valencian Community were affected by storms in March, followed by post-tropical Cyclone Gabrielle in September. For thousands of students across the rest of the country, extreme heat disrupted classes in May and June, and Storm Alice affected schooling in October. Learning losses and higher school dropout rates can reduce workforce productivity, slow economic growth and make it harder for countries to reduce poverty.
The report finds that inaction could result in a potential loss of at least US$200 billion in lifetime earnings for students who experienced climate-related school disruptions in 2025. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. d research that matter—daily or weekly. Girls are at greater risk of dropping out when climate hazards disrupt or close schools.
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