School Uniforms by Country 2024

Although school uniforms have been a hot topic of global discussion for many years, their implementation is still fairly common worldwide because of the potential benefits they bring to the table.

The requirement of school uniforms is frequently linked to a reduction in peer pressure and bullying, increased affordability for families, improved learning, better attendance, and higher graduation rates. Uniforms can also help eliminate distractions and put the focus back on education.

However, the prevalence of school uniforms can vary greatly from one country to another. Here’s a look at the differences, as well as a few related factors.

Global Differences in School Uniform Prevalence

Although some nations mandate the wearing of school uniforms while others allow students to wear clothing of their choice, uniform use still occurs in countries all over the world in 2023.

Mixed Implementation in the West

Western countries are generally the most likely to have mixed approaches to school uniforms. For example, uniforms are still widely required at private schools in the United States but not necessarily public schools.

School uniforms are also part of longstanding educational traditions in many Western countries, including but not limited to Ireland, Great Britain, Malta, and multiple other nations across Europe. They are common in all of these countries and may be mandated in certain regions.

Common Implementation in Asia

In many Asian countries, school uniforms carry strong associations with culturally significant concepts like discipline, identity, and time-honored tradition. They are highly prevalent in countries like Japan, Korea, and China for that reason.

Mandatory Implementation in Parts of Latin America

Although this isn’t the case across the entirety of Latin America, school uniforms are sometimes mandatory in countries in this part of the world. In nations where this is the case, the uniforms tend to be relatively simple to ensure they’re relatively easy to access and afford.

Implementation of school uniforms tends to be mixed across additional parts of the world, including in many African countries.

Factors Linked to Global School Uniform Prevalence

Multiple factors both affect and are affected by the prevalence of options like school uniforms in different countries. For example, countries where discipline and cohesive group identity are valued and encouraged are more likely to widely implement school uniforms.

A country’s policies on school uniforms can also definitely have an impact on educational access, with the use of uniforms linked to greater equity within the system.

Country	School Uniforms Required	Comments
Afghanistan	Varied	In the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Afghan schoolgirls were required to wear white headscarves and black knee-length dresses over leggings. In 2017, President Ashraf Ghani blocked a directive by the Ministry of Education obliging girls aged 12 and over to wear floor-length tunics.
Albania	Yes	School uniforms have been compulsory in Albanian high schools since 2009.
Algeria	Yes	Algerian primary school students are obliged to wear an apron over their clothes. These are colour-coded by gender: blue for boys, pink for girls.
American Samoa	Yes	All public school students in American Samoa wear school uniforms.
Andorra	No	School uniforms are not generally worn in Andorra. Their use is confined to the principality’s international schools.
Angola	Yes	Uniforms are required in Angolan public and private schools.
Anguilla	Yes	Anguillan schools oblige students to wear uniforms.
Antigua and Barbuda	Yes	School uniforms are ubiquitous in Antiguan and Barbudan schools. In 2004, the School Uniform Grant Programme was introduced to help citizens meet the associated costs.
Argentina	Yes	Argentinian primary school students have traditionally worn white smocks as uniforms. Teacher Matilde Filgueiras pioneered the garment's design in 1915, which were made mandatory nationwide in 1942.
Armenia	No	In the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, students wore school uniform. Since independence in 1991, their use has largely declined in Armenian public schools.
Aruba	Yes	Aruban schools generally oblige students to wear uniform polo shirts, while pants and skirts must meet certain requirements. In September 2021, students at Colegio Arubano successfully protested against changes to the school dress code they felt were overly restrictive.
Australia	Varied	In Australia, each school or school system can set its own uniform policy. Wearing a uniform is compulsory in most Australian private and all Catholic schools, as well as in most public schools, as well as primary schools. Uniforms usually have a colour scheme based on the school colours.
Austria	No	Austrian public schools do not generally employ dress codes.
Azerbaijan	Yes	School uniforms are mandatory across the Azerbaijani public school system.
Bahamas	Yes	As a former British colony, school uniforms are worn throughout Bahamian public and private schools.
Bahrain	Yes	Uniforms are mandatory in all Bahraini public schools. Prior to 2011, this only applied to girls' schools and boys' elementaries. In January 2011, the Ministry of Education announced uniforms would be required in boys' middle and high schools in the subsequent academic year.
Bangladesh	Yes	School uniforms are mandatory in all public and private schools (up to 12th standard) in Bangladesh.
Barbados	Yes	School uniforms are mandatory in Bajan schools.
Belarus	Yes	In August 2022, education minister Andrei Ivanyets announced plans for every Belarusian school to have its own compulsory school uniform by 2023.
Belgium	No	As of 2018, less than ten Belgian schools (principally Catholic institutions) enforced compulsory school uniform policies.
Belize	Yes	School uniform is mandatory in Belizean schools. Traditionally, many students' uniforms were custom-made by local seamstresses and tailors.
Benin	Yes	School uniform is ubiquitous in Beninese schools. In June 2018, Minister of Secondary Education Mahougnon Kakpo announced khaki-colored uniforms would be worn by students in both public and private secondary schools.
Bermuda	Yes	As a British Overseas Territory, schools uniforms are ubiquitous in Bermudan schools.
Bhutan	Yes	Bhutanese schoolchildren wear uniforms based on the country's national dress: gho for male students and kira for female students.
Bolivia	Yes	Schools uniforms are worn in most Bolivian schools. However, schools cannot legally stop students who refuse to wear uniform from attending classes.
Bosnia and Herzegovina	No	As of 2013, several primary schools in Republika Srpska regions had introduced uniforms, consisting of logoed T-shirts and sweatshirts.
Botswana	Yes	School uniforms are widespread in Botswanan schools. In October 2021, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry announced a ban on the importation of school uniform.
Brazil	No	There is no legal requirement for school uniforms in Brazil. On a state-by-state or city-by-city basis, governments may issue uniforms to public school pupils but may not require their use. Private schools are free to set their own uniform policy.
British Virgin Islands	Yes	Both public high schools on the British Virgin Islands, Elmore Stoutt High School and The Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies, enforce uniform policies.
Brunei	Yes	School uniforms are worn in Bruneian public and religious schools.
Bulgaria	No	School uniform is not widely worn in Bulgarian public schools, although several schools adopted compulsory uniform policies in the 2010s.
Burkina Faso	Yes	Uniforms are compulsory in all Burkinabè public and private schools.
Burundi	Yes	School uniforms are compulsory for school children in Burundi. Burundi, like most African countries, has a compulsory school uniform policy. Burundi's school uniform policy dates back to the colonial days.
Cambodia	Yes	In Cambodia, students of all ages (pre-school to college) wear school uniforms. The uniforms differ by school and age level.
Cameroon	Yes	School uniforms are worn universally in Cameroonian schools.
Canada	No	In Canada, English language schools in the province of Quebec is the only segment where school uniforms is most common. Within the English school system of Quebec, almost all schools from elementary to high school have mandatory school uniforms. French school, which represents the majority in the province, generally do not have uniforms except for a minority of private schools.
Cape Verde	Yes	School uniform is worn in Cape Verdean schools from pre-school through secondary school.
Cayman Islands	Yes	All Caymanian primary and high schools, whether government-funded or private, have specified school uniforms, as well as shoe and hat policies.
Central African Republic	Yes	In April 1979, Bokassa I ordered the arrest of a group of students protesting the extravagant cost of their mandatory school uniforms, over 100 of whom were later murdered. Public anger over the massacre contributed to Bokassa's subsequent overthrow in September 1980. As of 2006, school uniforms are widely worn in Central African secondary schools.
Chad	Yes	A school uniform prescribed by the Ministry of National Education is compulsory in Chadian public and private schools.
Chile	Yes	In Chile, most schools have a uniform. Until 1930, it was uncommon for students to wear a uniform. Under the government of Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, all students became obliged to wear a school uniform. During the administration of Eduardo Frei Montalva, a unified uniform was introduced for all public and private schools and other education centers.
China	Yes	Uniforms are a common part of the schools in China. Almost all secondary schools as well as some elementary schools require students to wear uniforms.
Colombia	Yes	In Colombia, all students are required to wear uniforms in public and private schools.
Comoros	Yes	Comorian schools require uniforms.
Cook Islands	Yes	Owing to its British colonial heritage, schools in the Cook Islands require uniforms.
Costa Rica	Yes	School uniform is mandatory in Costa Rica from pre-school through secondary school.
Croatia	No	In Croatian schools, children generally do not wear uniforms. Their use is confined to independent schools, such as those operated by the parent-run Rino Institut.
Cuba	Yes	All Cuban school students are obliged to wear uniforms.
Curacao	Yes	School uniforms are compulsory in Curaçaoan public schools.
Cyprus	Yes	Uniforms are compulsory in Cypriot schools.
Czech Republic	No	School uniforms are not in use in Czech public schools but are in several private schools.
Denmark	No	Herlufsholm School is the only school in Denmark with a compulsory school uniform.
Djibouti	Yes	Uniform is compulsory in Djiboutian schools. In 2020, presidential decree N° 267/2018 imposed a standardised beige uniform in all high schools.
Dominica	Yes	Uniform is mandatory in Dominican schools. When the island's schools were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, education minister Octavia Alfred announced students would be obliged to wear their uniforms while participating in online classes.
Dominican Republic	Yes	School uniform is mandatory in Dominican public schools.
DR Congo	Yes	School uniform is compulsory in Congolese schools. Controversially, many schools oblige to students' parents to buy uniforms directly from the institutions.
Ecuador	Yes	School uniforms are mandatory in Ecuadorian public schools. In April 2018, the Ministry of Education ruled skirts cannot be made compulsory for female students.
Egypt	Yes	In the late 20th century, Egyptian schoolgirls predominantly wore an "apron" (Arabic: المريلة almarilati) - a type of smock - while their male peers wore shirts and pants. More recently, unisex polo shirts and pants have grown in popularity.
El Salvador	Yes	In El Salvador, all students from public schools and private schools are required to wear uniforms.
Equatorial Guinea	Yes	All Equatoguinean school students must wear uniforms.
Eritrea	Yes	School uniforms are mandatory in Eritrea.
Estonia	Varied	In the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, mandatory school uniforms were introduced in the late 1950s. Uniforms were initially abandoned at the end of the 1980s but had already come back into use in some schools by the mid-1990s. This trend continued into the 2010s.
Eswatini	Yes	School uniforms are compulsory in all Emaswati schools. In July 2000, Senator Majahenkhaba Dlamini instructed the education minister to issue a directive compelling schoolgirls aged eleven and older to wear knee-length uniform skirts, ostensibly to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Ethiopia	Yes	Uniforms are compulsory in Ethiopian schools.
Fiji	Yes	Uniform is compulsory in Fijian public schools. In January 2022, the Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts relaxed this rule for the first three months of the academic year.
Finland	Yes	In the mid-20th century, the former Hallituskatu Girls' School enforced a compulsory school uniform. According to the Board of Education, under current Finnish law, public school students cannot be obliged to wear school uniforms.
France	No	Uniforms have not been enforced in French schools, a few exceptions (such as Maison d'éducation de la Légion d'honneur, les Écoles TUNON, and Vatel).
French Guiana	Yes	French Guianan schools enforce a standardised uniform of colored T-shirts and blue pants.
French Polynesia	Varied	In 2012, French Polynesia's Minister of Education Tauhiti Nena ordered the overseas collectivity's public schools to adopt mandatory uniform policies. The following October, the Court of Administrative Law annulled the order, by which stage 24 schools had adopted uniform policies. As of August 2015, 13 schools retained these policies.
Gabon	Yes	School uniforms are widely worn in Gabon. A ban on Gabonese schools compelling students to buy uniforms directly from the institutions has led to some students making their own uniforms.
Gambia	Yes	All pupils attending Gambians schools are required to wear uniforms
Georgia	No	School uniforms are not widely worn in Georgian schools.
Germany	No	There is no tradition of wearing school uniforms in Germany, and today, almost all students of state schools, private schools or universities do not wear school uniforms.
Ghana	Yes	All children have to wear school uniforms in Ghana.
Greece	No	Uniforms ceased to be worn in Greek public schools in 1982. Their use is now confined to certain private and international schools.
Grenada	Yes	Uniforms are worn in all Grenadian public schools. The Grenadian government runs an annual School Uniform Voucher Programme to help students' families meet the associated costs.
Guadeloupe	Yes	Use of uniforms and dress codes have become widespread in Guadeloupean schools.
Guam	Yes	Since 2008, Board Policy 401 has made school uniform mandatory in all Guam Department of Education public schools.
Guatemala	Varied	In 2008, Álvaro Colom prohibited the enforcement of mandatory school uniform policies in Guatemalan public schools. However, the use of school uniform remains widespread.
Guinea	Yes	School uniforms are worn in Guinean public schools.
Guyana	Yes	Guyana has a long history of school uniforms being compulsory. Students attending public and private schools up to the secondary level are required to wear them. In some instances, this extends to those attending classes on Saturdays and during periods when schools are officially closed. The Guyanese government dispenses grants to assist students with uniform costs.
Haiti	Yes	School uniforms are compulsory in Haitian schools.
Honduras	Yes	On 18 March 2014, the National Congress of Honduras approved a decree introducing a single uniform of white shirts and blue pants or skirts in all Honduran public schools.
Hong Kong	Yes	The vast majority of schools in the former British colony adopted uniforms similar to that of British schools, while Catholic schools in Hong Kong usually follow the tradition of Catholic school uniforms.
Hungary	No	School uniforms are not currently worn in Hungarian public schools.
Iceland	Varied	School uniforms are worn in some Icelandic primary schools.
India	Yes	Uniforms are compulsory in India in both public and private schools.
Indonesia	Yes	In Indonesia, national school uniforms are mandatory for every student during Monday to Thursday.
Iran	Yes	Iranian schools generally employ uniform policies but students cannot legally be compelled to wear them.
Iraq	Yes	School uniforms are worn in Iraqi public schools.
Ireland	Yes	In Ireland, almost all primary and secondary schools require students to wear a uniform.
Israel	Varied	According to former Education Minister Limor Livnat, about 1,400 Israeli public schools require pupils to wear uniforms. School uniforms used to be the norm in the state's early days, but have since fallen out of favor. However, in recent years, the number of schools using school uniforms has been increasing once more.
Italy	No	In Italy, school uniforms are uncommon, partially because child uniforms are associated with the era of Benito Mussolini before World War II when children were placed according to their age into Italian Fascist youth movements and had to wear uniforms inside and outside school.
Ivory Coast	Yes	In October 2003, the Ivorian government abolished the compulsory wearing of school uniforms in all schools. By 2012, compulsory school uniforms had been re-implemented.
Japan	Yes	Japan introduced school uniforms in the late 19th century. Today, school uniforms are almost universal in the public and private school systems. They are also used in some women's colleges.
Jordan	Yes	Uniforms are compulsory in Jordanian public schools.
Kazakhstan	Yes	Uniforms are worn in Kazakhstani schools. In January 2017, the Ministry of Education announced a ban on the wearing of religious symbols in schools.
Kenya	Yes	School uniforms are generally compulsory in Kenyan public primary and secondary schools.
Kiribati	Yes	Uniforms are worn in I-Kiribati schools.
Kuwait	Yes	Most schools in Kuwait have a uniform.
Kyrgyzstan	Yes	The first recorded use of school uniform in Kyrgyz schools was in 1918. In the Kyrgyz Republic, school uniforms are worn by students throughout the public education system.
Laos	Yes	School uniforms are worn in Laotian schools.
Latvia	Varied	On 11 November 1928, a standardised school uniform was introduced across all Latvian schools: for girls, a dark blue dress with a white collar and dark apron; for boys, a dark suit with a high collar. Uniforms continued to be mandatory throughout the Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic era. After largely falling out of use following independence, many schools have readopted uniform policies in the early 21st century.
Lebanon	Yes	In Lebanon, most schools adopt school uniforms. They are usually composed of a shirt (usually with a pattern) and/or a polo shirt, a jumper, skirts for girls and trousers for boys. Some public schools do not require school uniforms.
Lesotho	Yes	In Lesotho school uniforms are still compulsory. Many poor families can not afford them, which is one of the reasons for the high dropout rate in primary schools.
Liberia	Yes	Uniforms are compulsory in Liberian schools. In October 2021, the Ministry of Education rebuked certain private and faith-based schools for compelling students to purchase uniforms directly from the institutions.
Libya	Yes	Uniforms are worn in Libyan schools.
Liechtenstein	No	School uniforms are not widely worn in Liechtenstein.
Luxembourg	No	Luxembourg has no history of school uniforms in its public and private school systems.
Macau	Yes	School uniforms are worn in Macanese schools from kindergarten onwards.
Madagascar	Yes	Malagasy public and private schools require uniforms.
Malawi	Yes	In Malawi, school uniform is widespread but not necessarily compulsory. The UNICEF-backed government scheme Social Cash Transfer Programme frequently subsidizes the cost of uniform.
Malaysia	Yes	In Malaysia, school uniforms (Malay: Pakaian Seragam Sekolah) are compulsory for all students who attend public schools.
Maldives	Yes	School uniforms are widely worn in the Maldives.
Mali	No	Unlike most African countries, uniforms are not mandatory in Malian public schools. However, they are compulsory in private schools.
Malta	Yes	Children in Malta are obliged to wear school uniforms.
Marshall Islands	Yes	Marshallese schoolchildren wear uniforms.
Martinique	Varied	As of 2014, a third of the 345 schools on the French overseas department Martinique impose a non-compulsory uniform policy.
Mauritania	Yes	In August 2021, education minister Maa El-ainine Ould Eyih announced a compulsory uniform would be imposed in all Mauritanian public schools.
Mauritius	Yes	School uniforms in Mauritius are generally compulsory. Mauritius being a former British colony, has been using the system from back then. The students have to wear uniforms from primary school until higher secondary level. However, there are a few private schools that are based on the French system and do not require the student to wear school uniform.
Mexico	Yes	In Mexico, students from all public primary and secondary schools, and some public high schools are required to wear uniform.
Micronesia	Varied	The use of school uniforms is sporadic in Micronesian public schools.
Moldova	Yes	In 2018, the Democratic Party of Moldova called for all Moldovan schools to adopt school uniform policies. The Ministry of Education backed the call but stressed uniforms could not be made mandatory.
Monaco	Yes	School uniform has been compulsory in Monegasque primary schools since 2019.
Mongolia	Yes	In Mongolia, school uniforms are widespread in the public school system.
Montenegro	No	School uniforms are not widely worn in Montenegro.
Montserrat	Yes	Students attending Montserrat Secondary School, the island’s only high school, wear uniforms.
Morocco	Yes	Historically, Moroccan primary and secondary schools students have worn the "apron" (Arabic: المريلة almarilati).
Mozambique	Yes	Mozambican schools require students to wear uniforms.
Myanmar	Yes	School uniforms are mandatory throughout public schools in Myanmar, from kindergarten until the 10th standard. The current uniform rule, known as the "White-Green", was mandated on 14 February 1966.
Namibia	Yes	School uniforms are common in almost every school in Namibia, both private and state.
Nauru	Yes	Nauruan schools require students to wear uniforms.
Nepal	Yes	School uniforms are compulsory in Nepal in both public and private schools.
Netherlands	No	School uniforms are very rare in the Dutch education system. Their use is confined to international and private schools.
New Caledonia	Yes	In 2017, uniform polo shirts were made compulsory for students attending all 96 primary schools in New Caledonia's South Province.
New Zealand	Yes	Traditionally, many New Zealand intermediate and high schools, and state-integrated and private primary schools, have followed the British system of school uniforms.
Nicaragua	Yes	On 18 September 1979, an administrative decree introduced a mandatory uniform of white shirts and blue pants or skirts in all Nicaraguan public and private schools.
Niger	Yes	Uniforms are worn widely in Nigerien schools.
Nigeria	Yes	School uniforms are used in Nigeria for all public and private schools from nursery school through primary and secondary school. This originally came with the introduction of western education by Christian missionaries and the tradition continued during the colonial era up till the current era of independence. Some schools have so-called mufti days where this requirement is voided.
Niue	Yes	Niue's sole primary and secondary schools both require uniforms.
North Korea	Yes	All North Korean students in schools are required to wear uniforms. Makeup is prohibited until graduation from high school.
North Macedonia	Varied	In September 2014, school uniform was made compulsory for all elementary students in the Municipality of Aerodrom in Skopje. Several secondary schools in Skopje also enforce uniform policies.
Northern Mariana Islands	Yes	In 2009, Hopwood Middle School on Saipan introduced a mandatory school uniform, requiring students to wear blue or gold shirts.
Norway	No	School uniforms are generally absent from the Norwegian education system, except in certain international schools.
Oman	Yes	In March 2019, the Ministry of Education announced Omani public school students would be required to wear dishdashas for the 2019/2020 academic year.
Pakistan	Yes	The school uniforms are compulsory in most schools in Pakistan. Both the public and the private schools have mandated uniforms.
Palau	Yes	School uniform is compulsory for Palauan schoolchildren.
Palestine	Varied	In 2019, the Hamas administration in Gaza imposed a new dress code on schoolgirls aged under 17. The previous public school uniform of a skirt and a denim shirt was replaced by black or navy abayas, plain colored shoes and headscarves.
Panama	Yes	School uniform is mandatory in Panamanian schools. A Ministry of Education decree temporarily relaxing these rules for the 2022 academic year caused controversy, with parents fearing it would lead to a rise in bullying.
Papua New Guinea	Yes	Papua New Guinean schools generally require uniforms.
Paraguay	Yes	Paraguayan schools started to introduce uniforms at the end of the 19th century.
Peru	Yes	School uniforms are used in Peru. Almost all private schools, especially the British ones, use schools uniforms.
Philippines	Yes	School uniforms, are commonplace in public schools and required in private schools. Some private schools allow civilian clothing on special days, typically parties, school holidays or last day of school before a break.
Poland	No	School uniforms are not compulsory in Poland and absent from the vast majority of Polish schools.
Portugal	No	Students are required to wear uniforms at most Portuguese private schools, especially those in Lisbon and Porto. Use in state schools is rare.
Puerto Rico	Yes	In Puerto Rico, the Department of Education requires all students to wear school uniforms, with only medical exemptions.
Qatar	Yes	Qatari public and private schools require students to wear uniform.
Republic of the Congo	Yes	In October 2016, the Ministry of Education instituted a standardised uniform in all public and private schools across the Republic of the Congo.
Reunion	Yes	As of 2012, Collège Sainte-Geneviève in Saint-André is the only Réunionese school to operate a uniform policy: students are obliged to wear logoed white T-shirts.
Romania	No	School uniforms were introduced to Romania in 1897 by academician Theodor Costescu when they worn by students in Turnu Severin. Its use broadened in tandem with Spiru Haret's educational reforms in the 1900s. Uniforms fell out of favour somewhat in the 1990s due to their association with the Socialist Republic of Romania.
Russia	No	Each school can now choose its own uniform. Also, there are many instances in which schools do not enforce the rules on school uniform. Generally, schools without school uniforms enforce dress-code, with "business-casual" style of clothes.
Rwanda	Yes	Most Rwandan schools enforce a uniform policies.
Saint Barthelemy	Yes	Collège Mireille-Choisy, Saint Barthélemy's only public secondary school, enforces a dress code requiring students to wear a logoed T-shirt and prohibiting certain types of legwear and footwear.
Saint Kitts and Nevis	Yes	School uniform is mandatory in Kittian and Nevisian schools. The government operates a School Uniform Assistance Programme to help citizens meet the associated costs.
Saint Lucia	Yes	School uniforms are worn in Saint Lucian schools.
Saint Martin	Yes	Uniforms are worn in Saint-Martinois schools.
Samoa	Yes	School uniforms are mandatory in Samoan schools.
Sao Tome and Principe	Yes	São Toméan schools require students to wear uniforms.
Saudi Arabia	Varied	In August 2015, ahead of the 2015-16 academic year, new standardised uniforms were introduced for all girls studying in Saudi public schools, Quran memorization schools and schools for illiterate adult women.
Senegal	Yes	In 2021, the Senegalese government announced plans to generalise the wearing of compulsory school uniforms in all public and private schools by 2023.
Serbia	No	In September 2017, at least 100 primary schools had adopted school uniforms. Since then, the municipality of Medijana has annually provided cohorts of new primary school students with uniforms at the start of the academic year.
Seychelles	Yes	Uniforms are compulsory in Seychellois schools.
Sierra Leone	Yes	Uniforms are prevalent in Sierra Leonean schools.
Sint Maarten	Yes	School uniforms are compulsory in Sint Maarten schools.
Slovakia	No	In Slovakia, use of school uniforms is confined to private and international schools.
Slovenia	No	Since 1991, use of school uniform in Slovenia has been limited to private institutions, such as British International School of Ljubljana.
Solomon Islands	Yes	Solomon Islander schoolchildren wear uniforms.
Somalia	Yes	In the Somali Democratic Republic era, uniforms were worn widely in Somali schools.
South Africa	Yes	As in many other former British colonies, most South African private and public schools have a uniform, and it is compulsory in all public schools and in the vast majority of private schools for children above pre-school level.
South Korea	Varied	Almost all South Korean secondary students wear a uniform called "gyobok". The majority of elementary schools, except some private ones, do not have uniforms; however, the uniform is strictly monitored from the start of middle school and up.
South Sudan	Yes	Students are required to wear uniforms in many schools across South Sudan.
Spain	No	In Spain, the use of school uniforms is not compulsory in public schools at any specific point.
Sri Lanka	Yes	It is mandatory for Sri Lankan school students to wear a uniform regardless of them attending a government, semi-government or private school.
Sudan	Yes	Sudanese schoolchildren are required to wear uniforms.
Suriname	Yes	School uniform is compulsory in Surinamese schools.
Sweden	No	Uniforms are exceptionally rare in Swedish schools, being limited to independent and international schools such as Sigtunaskolan Humanistiska Läroverket and the Nordic International School.
Switzerland	No	In Switzerland, use of school uniforms is limited to international and other private schools.
Syria	Yes	Up until 2003, public school students in Ba'ath Party-governed Syria wore military khaki-coloured uniforms. In April 2003, the Ministry of Education announced plans to replace these with unified blue uniforms for all elementary students; pink and blue uniforms for intermediate schools students; and gray, blue and pink uniforms for secondary school students. In September 2003, the new uniforms were implemented as planned.
Taiwan	Yes	As Taiwan experienced a long period of Japanese colonial rule, it is influenced by Japanese culture and the uniform style can be said to be close. However the school uniforms in the two countries are not identical. There are a total of 471 Taiwanese high schools. All schools have two sets of uniforms, a summer uniform and a uniform for winter.
Tajikistan	Yes	School uniforms are worn in Tajikistani public schools.
Tanzania	Yes	School uniforms are a mandatory requirement in Tanzanian schools.
Thailand	Yes	Uniforms are compulsory for all students with very few variations from the standard model throughout the public and private school systems, including colleges and universities.
Togo	Yes	Upon independence in 1960, Togolese public schools retained the mandatory khaki-coloured uniforms that were introduced during French colonial rule.
Tokelau	Yes	All three schools in Tokelau enforce uniform policies.
Tonga	Yes	In Tonga all schools require a uniform.
Trinidad and Tobago	Yes	School uniforms are worn in all Trinidadian and Tobagonian public schools.
Tunisia	Varied	As of 2017, Tunisian public high schools enforce dress codes which apply exclusively to female students, obliging them to wear long blue gilets.
Turkey	Yes	School uniforms were officially abolished on 27 November 2012.
Turkmenistan	Yes	Uniforms are compulsory in Turkmenstani schools.
Turks and Caicos Islands	Yes	School uniforms are worn by students at all levels throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Tuvalu	Yes	Section 10.2.1 of Tuvalu's National Education Policy obliges all children attending public schools to wear the approved national school uniform.
Uganda	Yes	Most Ugandan public and private schools have uniforms from kindergarten through secondary school.
Ukraine	No	In June 2019, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repealed a 1996 decree that had obliged Ukrainian secondary school students to wear compulsory uniforms.
United Arab Emirates	Yes	Uniforms are compulsory in many schools across the United Arab Emirates.
United Kingdom	Varied	While school uniform is common in the United Kingdom, there is no legislation enforcing it in any of the three separate legal jurisdictions of England & Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and enforcement of school uniform policy and dress codes is generally for individual schools to determine.
United States	No	Public schools in the United States do not require uniforms. More traditional private schools and other specialized schools sometimes require an informal uniform, called a standardized dress code. Policy regarding school-appropriate dress, and the extent of enforcement, will vary by school and school district. Progressive private schools do not require school uniforms.
United States Virgin Islands	Yes	Schools on the United States Virgin Islands require uniforms.
Uruguay	Yes	Uniforms are compulsory in all Uruguayan public schools.
Uzbekistan	Yes	In August 2017, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed the introduction of a standardized compulsory uniform across all Uzbek public primary and secondary schools.
Vanuatu	Yes	School uniforms are widely worn in Ni-Vanuatu schools.
Venezuela	Yes	School uniforms are used in Venezuela. By Venezuelan decree, uniforms are required at all schools in all grades.
Vietnam	Yes	Most schools in Vietnam require uniforms. The rules on uniforms vary between schools and areas.
Yemen	Yes	Uniforms are worn in Yemeni schools.
Zambia	Yes	School uniforms are ubiquitous across Zambian government and private schools.
Zimbabwe	Yes	School uniforms are worn in most Zimbabwean schools, but these policies are not legally mandated.

Country

School Uniforms Required

Comments

Afghanistan

Varied

In the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Afghan schoolgirls were required to wear white headscarves and black knee-length dresses over leggings. In 2017, President Ashraf Ghani blocked a directive by the Ministry of Education obliging girls aged 12 and over to wear floor-length tunics.

Albania

Yes

School uniforms have been compulsory in Albanian high schools since 2009.

Algeria

Yes

Algerian primary school students are obliged to wear an apron over their clothes. These are colour-coded by gender: blue for boys, pink for girls.

American Samoa

Yes

All public school students in American Samoa wear school uniforms.

Andorra

School uniforms are not generally worn in Andorra. Their use is confined to the principality’s international schools.

Angola

Yes

Uniforms are required in Angolan public and private schools.

Anguilla

Yes

Anguillan schools oblige students to wear uniforms.

Antigua and Barbuda

Yes

School uniforms are ubiquitous in Antiguan and Barbudan schools. In 2004, the School Uniform Grant Programme was introduced to help citizens meet the associated costs.

Argentina

Yes

Argentinian primary school students have traditionally worn white smocks as uniforms. Teacher Matilde Filgueiras pioneered the garment's design in 1915, which were made mandatory nationwide in 1942.

Armenia

In the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, students wore school uniform. Since independence in 1991, their use has largely declined in Armenian public schools.

Aruba

Yes

Aruban schools generally oblige students to wear uniform polo shirts, while pants and skirts must meet certain requirements. In September 2021, students at Colegio Arubano successfully protested against changes to the school dress code they felt were overly restrictive.

Australia

Varied

In Australia, each school or school system can set its own uniform policy. Wearing a uniform is compulsory in most Australian private and all Catholic schools, as well as in most public schools, as well as primary schools. Uniforms usually have a colour scheme based on the school colours.

Austria

Austrian public schools do not generally employ dress codes.

Azerbaijan

Yes

School uniforms are mandatory across the Azerbaijani public school system.

Bahamas

Yes

As a former British colony, school uniforms are worn throughout Bahamian public and private schools.

Bahrain

Yes

Uniforms are mandatory in all Bahraini public schools. Prior to 2011, this only applied to girls' schools and boys' elementaries. In January 2011, the Ministry of Education announced uniforms would be required in boys' middle and high schools in the subsequent academic year.

Bangladesh

Yes

School uniforms are mandatory in all public and private schools (up to 12th standard) in Bangladesh.

Barbados

Yes

School uniforms are mandatory in Bajan schools.

Belarus

Yes

In August 2022, education minister Andrei Ivanyets announced plans for every Belarusian school to have its own compulsory school uniform by 2023.

Belgium

As of 2018, less than ten Belgian schools (principally Catholic institutions) enforced compulsory school uniform policies.

Belize

Yes

School uniform is mandatory in Belizean schools. Traditionally, many students' uniforms were custom-made by local seamstresses and tailors.

Benin

Yes

School uniform is ubiquitous in Beninese schools. In June 2018, Minister of Secondary Education Mahougnon Kakpo announced khaki-colored uniforms would be worn by students in both public and private secondary schools.

Bermuda

Yes

As a British Overseas Territory, schools uniforms are ubiquitous in Bermudan schools.

Bhutan

Yes

Bhutanese schoolchildren wear uniforms based on the country's national dress: gho for male students and kira for female students.

Bolivia

Yes

Schools uniforms are worn in most Bolivian schools. However, schools cannot legally stop students who refuse to wear uniform from attending classes.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

As of 2013, several primary schools in Republika Srpska regions had introduced uniforms, consisting of logoed T-shirts and sweatshirts.

Botswana

Yes

School uniforms are widespread in Botswanan schools. In October 2021, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry announced a ban on the importation of school uniform.

Brazil

There is no legal requirement for school uniforms in Brazil. On a state-by-state or city-by-city basis, governments may issue uniforms to public school pupils but may not require their use. Private schools are free to set their own uniform policy.

British Virgin Islands

Yes

Both public high schools on the British Virgin Islands, Elmore Stoutt High School and The Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies, enforce uniform policies.

Brunei

Yes

School uniforms are worn in Bruneian public and religious schools.

Bulgaria

School uniform is not widely worn in Bulgarian public schools, although several schools adopted compulsory uniform policies in the 2010s.

Burkina Faso

Yes

Uniforms are compulsory in all Burkinabè public and private schools.

Burundi

Yes

School uniforms are compulsory for school children in Burundi. Burundi, like most African countries, has a compulsory school uniform policy. Burundi's school uniform policy dates back to the colonial days.

Cambodia

Yes

In Cambodia, students of all ages (pre-school to college) wear school uniforms. The uniforms differ by school and age level.

Cameroon

Yes

School uniforms are worn universally in Cameroonian schools.

Canada

In Canada, English language schools in the province of Quebec is the only segment where school uniforms is most common. Within the English school system of Quebec, almost all schools from elementary to high school have mandatory school uniforms. French school, which represents the majority in the province, generally do not have uniforms except for a minority of private schools.

Cape Verde

Yes

School uniform is worn in Cape Verdean schools from pre-school through secondary school.

Cayman Islands

Yes

All Caymanian primary and high schools, whether government-funded or private, have specified school uniforms, as well as shoe and hat policies.

Central African Republic

Yes

In April 1979, Bokassa I ordered the arrest of a group of students protesting the extravagant cost of their mandatory school uniforms, over 100 of whom were later murdered. Public anger over the massacre contributed to Bokassa's subsequent overthrow in September 1980. As of 2006, school uniforms are widely worn in Central African secondary schools.

Chad

Yes

A school uniform prescribed by the Ministry of National Education is compulsory in Chadian public and private schools.

Chile

Yes

In Chile, most schools have a uniform. Until 1930, it was uncommon for students to wear a uniform. Under the government of Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, all students became obliged to wear a school uniform. During the administration of Eduardo Frei Montalva, a unified uniform was introduced for all public and private schools and other education centers.

China

Yes

Uniforms are a common part of the schools in China. Almost all secondary schools as well as some elementary schools require students to wear uniforms.

Colombia

Yes

In Colombia, all students are required to wear uniforms in public and private schools.

Comoros

Yes

Comorian schools require uniforms.

Cook Islands

Yes

Owing to its British colonial heritage, schools in the Cook Islands require uniforms.

Costa Rica

Yes

School uniform is mandatory in Costa Rica from pre-school through secondary school.

Croatia

In Croatian schools, children generally do not wear uniforms. Their use is confined to independent schools, such as those operated by the parent-run Rino Institut.

Cuba

Yes

All Cuban school students are obliged to wear uniforms.

Curacao

Yes

School uniforms are compulsory in Curaçaoan public schools.

Cyprus

Yes

Uniforms are compulsory in Cypriot schools.

Czech Republic

School uniforms are not in use in Czech public schools but are in several private schools.

Denmark

Herlufsholm School is the only school in Denmark with a compulsory school uniform.

Djibouti

Yes

Uniform is compulsory in Djiboutian schools. In 2020, presidential decree N° 267/2018 imposed a standardised beige uniform in all high schools.

Dominica

Yes

Uniform is mandatory in Dominican schools. When the island's schools were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, education minister Octavia Alfred announced students would be obliged to wear their uniforms while participating in online classes.

Dominican Republic

Yes

School uniform is mandatory in Dominican public schools.

DR Congo

Yes

School uniform is compulsory in Congolese schools. Controversially, many schools oblige to students' parents to buy uniforms directly from the institutions.

Ecuador

Yes

School uniforms are mandatory in Ecuadorian public schools. In April 2018, the Ministry of Education ruled skirts cannot be made compulsory for female students.

Egypt

Yes

In the late 20th century, Egyptian schoolgirls predominantly wore an "apron" (Arabic: المريلة almarilati) - a type of smock - while their male peers wore shirts and pants. More recently, unisex polo shirts and pants have grown in popularity.

El Salvador

Yes

In El Salvador, all students from public schools and private schools are required to wear uniforms.

Equatorial Guinea

Yes

All Equatoguinean school students must wear uniforms.

Eritrea

Yes

School uniforms are mandatory in Eritrea.

Estonia

Varied

In the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, mandatory school uniforms were introduced in the late 1950s. Uniforms were initially abandoned at the end of the 1980s but had already come back into use in some schools by the mid-1990s. This trend continued into the 2010s.

Eswatini

Yes

School uniforms are compulsory in all Emaswati schools. In July 2000, Senator Majahenkhaba Dlamini instructed the education minister to issue a directive compelling schoolgirls aged eleven and older to wear knee-length uniform skirts, ostensibly to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Ethiopia

Yes

Uniforms are compulsory in Ethiopian schools.

Fiji

Yes

Uniform is compulsory in Fijian public schools. In January 2022, the Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts relaxed this rule for the first three months of the academic year.

Finland

Yes

In the mid-20th century, the former Hallituskatu Girls' School enforced a compulsory school uniform. According to the Board of Education, under current Finnish law, public school students cannot be obliged to wear school uniforms.

France

Uniforms have not been enforced in French schools, a few exceptions (such as Maison d'éducation de la Légion d'honneur, les Écoles TUNON, and Vatel).

French Guiana

Yes

French Guianan schools enforce a standardised uniform of colored T-shirts and blue pants.

French Polynesia

Varied

In 2012, French Polynesia's Minister of Education Tauhiti Nena ordered the overseas collectivity's public schools to adopt mandatory uniform policies. The following October, the Court of Administrative Law annulled the order, by which stage 24 schools had adopted uniform policies. As of August 2015, 13 schools retained these policies.

Gabon

Yes

School uniforms are widely worn in Gabon. A ban on Gabonese schools compelling students to buy uniforms directly from the institutions has led to some students making their own uniforms.

Gambia

Yes

All pupils attending Gambians schools are required to wear uniforms

Georgia

School uniforms are not widely worn in Georgian schools.

Germany

There is no tradition of wearing school uniforms in Germany, and today, almost all students of state schools, private schools or universities do not wear school uniforms.

Ghana

Yes

All children have to wear school uniforms in Ghana.

Greece

Uniforms ceased to be worn in Greek public schools in 1982. Their use is now confined to certain private and international schools.

Grenada

Yes

Uniforms are worn in all Grenadian public schools. The Grenadian government runs an annual School Uniform Voucher Programme to help students' families meet the associated costs.

Guadeloupe

Yes

Use of uniforms and dress codes have become widespread in Guadeloupean schools.

Guam

Yes

Since 2008, Board Policy 401 has made school uniform mandatory in all Guam Department of Education public schools.

Guatemala

Varied

In 2008, Álvaro Colom prohibited the enforcement of mandatory school uniform policies in Guatemalan public schools. However, the use of school uniform remains widespread.

Guinea

Yes

School uniforms are worn in Guinean public schools.

Guyana

Yes

Guyana has a long history of school uniforms being compulsory. Students attending public and private schools up to the secondary level are required to wear them. In some instances, this extends to those attending classes on Saturdays and during periods when schools are officially closed. The Guyanese government dispenses grants to assist students with uniform costs.

Haiti

Yes

School uniforms are compulsory in Haitian schools.

Honduras

Yes

On 18 March 2014, the National Congress of Honduras approved a decree introducing a single uniform of white shirts and blue pants or skirts in all Honduran public schools.

Hong Kong

Yes

The vast majority of schools in the former British colony adopted uniforms similar to that of British schools, while Catholic schools in Hong Kong usually follow the tradition of Catholic school uniforms.

Hungary

School uniforms are not currently worn in Hungarian public schools.

Iceland

Varied

School uniforms are worn in some Icelandic primary schools.

India

Yes

Uniforms are compulsory in India in both public and private schools.

Indonesia

Yes

In Indonesia, national school uniforms are mandatory for every student during Monday to Thursday.

Iran

Yes

Iranian schools generally employ uniform policies but students cannot legally be compelled to wear them.

Iraq

Yes

School uniforms are worn in Iraqi public schools.

Ireland

Yes

In Ireland, almost all primary and secondary schools require students to wear a uniform.

Israel

Varied

According to former Education Minister Limor Livnat, about 1,400 Israeli public schools require pupils to wear uniforms. School uniforms used to be the norm in the state's early days, but have since fallen out of favor. However, in recent years, the number of schools using school uniforms has been increasing once more.

Italy

In Italy, school uniforms are uncommon, partially because child uniforms are associated with the era of Benito Mussolini before World War II when children were placed according to their age into Italian Fascist youth movements and had to wear uniforms inside and outside school.

Ivory Coast

Yes

In October 2003, the Ivorian government abolished the compulsory wearing of school uniforms in all schools. By 2012, compulsory school uniforms had been re-implemented.

Japan

Yes

Japan introduced school uniforms in the late 19th century. Today, school uniforms are almost universal in the public and private school systems. They are also used in some women's colleges.

Jordan

Yes

Uniforms are compulsory in Jordanian public schools.

Kazakhstan

Yes

Uniforms are worn in Kazakhstani schools. In January 2017, the Ministry of Education announced a ban on the wearing of religious symbols in schools.

Kenya

Yes

School uniforms are generally compulsory in Kenyan public primary and secondary schools.

Kiribati

Yes

Uniforms are worn in I-Kiribati schools.

Kuwait

Yes

Most schools in Kuwait have a uniform.

Kyrgyzstan

Yes

The first recorded use of school uniform in Kyrgyz schools was in 1918. In the Kyrgyz Republic, school uniforms are worn by students throughout the public education system.

Laos

Yes

School uniforms are worn in Laotian schools.

Latvia

Varied

On 11 November 1928, a standardised school uniform was introduced across all Latvian schools: for girls, a dark blue dress with a white collar and dark apron; for boys, a dark suit with a high collar. Uniforms continued to be mandatory throughout the Latvian Socialist Soviet Republic era. After largely falling out of use following independence, many schools have readopted uniform policies in the early 21st century.

Lebanon

Yes

In Lebanon, most schools adopt school uniforms. They are usually composed of a shirt (usually with a pattern) and/or a polo shirt, a jumper, skirts for girls and trousers for boys. Some public schools do not require school uniforms.

Lesotho

Yes

In Lesotho school uniforms are still compulsory. Many poor families can not afford them, which is one of the reasons for the high dropout rate in primary schools.

Liberia

Yes

Uniforms are compulsory in Liberian schools. In October 2021, the Ministry of Education rebuked certain private and faith-based schools for compelling students to purchase uniforms directly from the institutions.

Libya

Yes

Uniforms are worn in Libyan schools.

Liechtenstein

School uniforms are not widely worn in Liechtenstein.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg has no history of school uniforms in its public and private school systems.

Macau

Yes

School uniforms are worn in Macanese schools from kindergarten onwards.

Madagascar

Yes

Malagasy public and private schools require uniforms.

Malawi

Yes

In Malawi, school uniform is widespread but not necessarily compulsory. The UNICEF-backed government scheme Social Cash Transfer Programme frequently subsidizes the cost of uniform.

Malaysia

Yes

In Malaysia, school uniforms (Malay: Pakaian Seragam Sekolah) are compulsory for all students who attend public schools.

Maldives

Yes

School uniforms are widely worn in the Maldives.

Mali

Unlike most African countries, uniforms are not mandatory in Malian public schools. However, they are compulsory in private schools.

Malta

Yes

Children in Malta are obliged to wear school uniforms.

Marshall Islands

Yes

Marshallese schoolchildren wear uniforms.

Martinique

Varied

As of 2014, a third of the 345 schools on the French overseas department Martinique impose a non-compulsory uniform policy.

Mauritania

Yes

In August 2021, education minister Maa El-ainine Ould Eyih announced a compulsory uniform would be imposed in all Mauritanian public schools.

Mauritius

Yes

School uniforms in Mauritius are generally compulsory. Mauritius being a former British colony, has been using the system from back then. The students have to wear uniforms from primary school until higher secondary level. However, there are a few private schools that are based on the French system and do not require the student to wear school uniform.

Mexico

Yes

In Mexico, students from all public primary and secondary schools, and some public high schools are required to wear uniform.

Micronesia

Varied

The use of school uniforms is sporadic in Micronesian public schools.

Moldova

Yes

In 2018, the Democratic Party of Moldova called for all Moldovan schools to adopt school uniform policies. The Ministry of Education backed the call but stressed uniforms could not be made mandatory.

Monaco

Yes

School uniform has been compulsory in Monegasque primary schools since 2019.

Mongolia

Yes

In Mongolia, school uniforms are widespread in the public school system.

Montenegro

School uniforms are not widely worn in Montenegro.

Montserrat

Yes

Students attending Montserrat Secondary School, the island’s only high school, wear uniforms.

Morocco

Yes

Historically, Moroccan primary and secondary schools students have worn the "apron" (Arabic: المريلة almarilati).

Mozambique

Yes

Mozambican schools require students to wear uniforms.

Myanmar

Yes

School uniforms are mandatory throughout public schools in Myanmar, from kindergarten until the 10th standard. The current uniform rule, known as the "White-Green", was mandated on 14 February 1966.

Namibia

Yes

School uniforms are common in almost every school in Namibia, both private and state.

Nauru

Yes

Nauruan schools require students to wear uniforms.

Nepal

Yes

School uniforms are compulsory in Nepal in both public and private schools.

Netherlands

School uniforms are very rare in the Dutch education system. Their use is confined to international and private schools.

New Caledonia

Yes

In 2017, uniform polo shirts were made compulsory for students attending all 96 primary schools in New Caledonia's South Province.

New Zealand

Yes

Traditionally, many New Zealand intermediate and high schools, and state-integrated and private primary schools, have followed the British system of school uniforms.

Nicaragua

Yes

On 18 September 1979, an administrative decree introduced a mandatory uniform of white shirts and blue pants or skirts in all Nicaraguan public and private schools.

Niger

Yes

Uniforms are worn widely in Nigerien schools.

Nigeria

Yes

School uniforms are used in Nigeria for all public and private schools from nursery school through primary and secondary school. This originally came with the introduction of western education by Christian missionaries and the tradition continued during the colonial era up till the current era of independence. Some schools have so-called mufti days where this requirement is voided.

Niue

Yes

Niue's sole primary and secondary schools both require uniforms.

North Korea

Yes

All North Korean students in schools are required to wear uniforms. Makeup is prohibited until graduation from high school.

North Macedonia

Varied

In September 2014, school uniform was made compulsory for all elementary students in the Municipality of Aerodrom in Skopje. Several secondary schools in Skopje also enforce uniform policies.

Northern Mariana Islands

Yes

In 2009, Hopwood Middle School on Saipan introduced a mandatory school uniform, requiring students to wear blue or gold shirts.

Norway

School uniforms are generally absent from the Norwegian education system, except in certain international schools.

Oman

Yes

In March 2019, the Ministry of Education announced Omani public school students would be required to wear dishdashas for the 2019/2020 academic year.

Pakistan

Yes

The school uniforms are compulsory in most schools in Pakistan. Both the public and the private schools have mandated uniforms.

Palau

Yes

School uniform is compulsory for Palauan schoolchildren.

Palestine

Varied

In 2019, the Hamas administration in Gaza imposed a new dress code on schoolgirls aged under 17. The previous public school uniform of a skirt and a denim shirt was replaced by black or navy abayas, plain colored shoes and headscarves.

Panama

Yes

School uniform is mandatory in Panamanian schools. A Ministry of Education decree temporarily relaxing these rules for the 2022 academic year caused controversy, with parents fearing it would lead to a rise in bullying.

Papua New Guinea

Yes

Papua New Guinean schools generally require uniforms.

Paraguay

Yes

Paraguayan schools started to introduce uniforms at the end of the 19th century.

Peru

Yes

School uniforms are used in Peru. Almost all private schools, especially the British ones, use schools uniforms.

Philippines

Yes

School uniforms, are commonplace in public schools and required in private schools. Some private schools allow civilian clothing on special days, typically parties, school holidays or last day of school before a break.

Poland

School uniforms are not compulsory in Poland and absent from the vast majority of Polish schools.

Portugal

Students are required to wear uniforms at most Portuguese private schools, especially those in Lisbon and Porto. Use in state schools is rare.

Puerto Rico

Yes

In Puerto Rico, the Department of Education requires all students to wear school uniforms, with only medical exemptions.

Qatar

Yes

Qatari public and private schools require students to wear uniform.

Republic of the Congo

Yes

In October 2016, the Ministry of Education instituted a standardised uniform in all public and private schools across the Republic of the Congo.

Reunion

Yes

As of 2012, Collège Sainte-Geneviève in Saint-André is the only Réunionese school to operate a uniform policy: students are obliged to wear logoed white T-shirts.

Romania

School uniforms were introduced to Romania in 1897 by academician Theodor Costescu when they worn by students in Turnu Severin. Its use broadened in tandem with Spiru Haret's educational reforms in the 1900s. Uniforms fell out of favour somewhat in the 1990s due to their association with the Socialist Republic of Romania.

Russia

Each school can now choose its own uniform. Also, there are many instances in which schools do not enforce the rules on school uniform. Generally, schools without school uniforms enforce dress-code, with "business-casual" style of clothes.

Rwanda

Yes

Most Rwandan schools enforce a uniform policies.

Saint Barthelemy

Yes

Collège Mireille-Choisy, Saint Barthélemy's only public secondary school, enforces a dress code requiring students to wear a logoed T-shirt and prohibiting certain types of legwear and footwear.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Yes

School uniform is mandatory in Kittian and Nevisian schools. The government operates a School Uniform Assistance Programme to help citizens meet the associated costs.

Saint Lucia

Yes

School uniforms are worn in Saint Lucian schools.

Saint Martin

Yes

Uniforms are worn in Saint-Martinois schools.

Samoa

Yes

School uniforms are mandatory in Samoan schools.

Sao Tome and Principe

Yes

São Toméan schools require students to wear uniforms.

Saudi Arabia

Varied

In August 2015, ahead of the 2015-16 academic year, new standardised uniforms were introduced for all girls studying in Saudi public schools, Quran memorization schools and schools for illiterate adult women.

Senegal

Yes

In 2021, the Senegalese government announced plans to generalise the wearing of compulsory school uniforms in all public and private schools by 2023.

Serbia

In September 2017, at least 100 primary schools had adopted school uniforms. Since then, the municipality of Medijana has annually provided cohorts of new primary school students with uniforms at the start of the academic year.

Seychelles

Yes

Uniforms are compulsory in Seychellois schools.

Sierra Leone

Yes

Uniforms are prevalent in Sierra Leonean schools.

Sint Maarten

Yes

School uniforms are compulsory in Sint Maarten schools.

Slovakia

In Slovakia, use of school uniforms is confined to private and international schools.

Slovenia

Since 1991, use of school uniform in Slovenia has been limited to private institutions, such as British International School of Ljubljana.

Solomon Islands

Yes

Solomon Islander schoolchildren wear uniforms.

Somalia

Yes

In the Somali Democratic Republic era, uniforms were worn widely in Somali schools.

South Africa

Yes

As in many other former British colonies, most South African private and public schools have a uniform, and it is compulsory in all public schools and in the vast majority of private schools for children above pre-school level.

South Korea

Varied

Almost all South Korean secondary students wear a uniform called "gyobok". The majority of elementary schools, except some private ones, do not have uniforms; however, the uniform is strictly monitored from the start of middle school and up.

South Sudan

Yes

Students are required to wear uniforms in many schools across South Sudan.

Spain

In Spain, the use of school uniforms is not compulsory in public schools at any specific point.

Sri Lanka

Yes

It is mandatory for Sri Lankan school students to wear a uniform regardless of them attending a government, semi-government or private school.

Sudan

Yes

Sudanese schoolchildren are required to wear uniforms.

Suriname

Yes

School uniform is compulsory in Surinamese schools.

Sweden

Uniforms are exceptionally rare in Swedish schools, being limited to independent and international schools such as Sigtunaskolan Humanistiska Läroverket and the Nordic International School.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, use of school uniforms is limited to international and other private schools.

Syria

Yes

Up until 2003, public school students in Ba'ath Party-governed Syria wore military khaki-coloured uniforms. In April 2003, the Ministry of Education announced plans to replace these with unified blue uniforms for all elementary students; pink and blue uniforms for intermediate schools students; and gray, blue and pink uniforms for secondary school students. In September 2003, the new uniforms were implemented as planned.

Taiwan

Yes

As Taiwan experienced a long period of Japanese colonial rule, it is influenced by Japanese culture and the uniform style can be said to be close. However the school uniforms in the two countries are not identical. There are a total of 471 Taiwanese high schools. All schools have two sets of uniforms, a summer uniform and a uniform for winter.

Tajikistan

Yes

School uniforms are worn in Tajikistani public schools.

Tanzania

Yes

School uniforms are a mandatory requirement in Tanzanian schools.

Thailand

Yes

Uniforms are compulsory for all students with very few variations from the standard model throughout the public and private school systems, including colleges and universities.

Togo

Yes

Upon independence in 1960, Togolese public schools retained the mandatory khaki-coloured uniforms that were introduced during French colonial rule.

Tokelau

Yes

All three schools in Tokelau enforce uniform policies.

Tonga

Yes

In Tonga all schools require a uniform.

Trinidad and Tobago

Yes

School uniforms are worn in all Trinidadian and Tobagonian public schools.

Tunisia

Varied

As of 2017, Tunisian public high schools enforce dress codes which apply exclusively to female students, obliging them to wear long blue gilets.

Turkey

Yes

School uniforms were officially abolished on 27 November 2012.

Turkmenistan

Yes

Uniforms are compulsory in Turkmenstani schools.

Turks and Caicos Islands

Yes

School uniforms are worn by students at all levels throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Tuvalu

Yes

Section 10.2.1 of Tuvalu's National Education Policy obliges all children attending public schools to wear the approved national school uniform.

Uganda

Yes

Most Ugandan public and private schools have uniforms from kindergarten through secondary school.

Ukraine

In June 2019, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repealed a 1996 decree that had obliged Ukrainian secondary school students to wear compulsory uniforms.

United Arab Emirates

Yes

Uniforms are compulsory in many schools across the United Arab Emirates.

United Kingdom

Varied

While school uniform is common in the United Kingdom, there is no legislation enforcing it in any of the three separate legal jurisdictions of England & Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and enforcement of school uniform policy and dress codes is generally for individual schools to determine.

United States

Public schools in the United States do not require uniforms. More traditional private schools and other specialized schools sometimes require an informal uniform, called a standardized dress code. Policy regarding school-appropriate dress, and the extent of enforcement, will vary by school and school district. Progressive private schools do not require school uniforms.

United States Virgin Islands

Yes

Schools on the United States Virgin Islands require uniforms.

Uruguay

Yes

Uniforms are compulsory in all Uruguayan public schools.

Uzbekistan

Yes

In August 2017, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed the introduction of a standardized compulsory uniform across all Uzbek public primary and secondary schools.

Vanuatu

Yes

School uniforms are widely worn in Ni-Vanuatu schools.

Venezuela

Yes

School uniforms are used in Venezuela. By Venezuelan decree, uniforms are required at all schools in all grades.

Vietnam

Yes

Most schools in Vietnam require uniforms. The rules on uniforms vary between schools and areas.

Yemen

Yes

Uniforms are worn in Yemeni schools.