School uniform is a practice that dates to the 16th century in England. Charity schools such Christ's Hospital, founded in 1552 in London, were among the first schools to use a uniform for their students.see The earliest documented proof of institutionalised use of a standard academic dress dates back to 1222 when the Archbishop of Canterbury ordered wearing of the cappa clausa.
The practice of wearing school uniform has been adopted by many other countries, and is now common in many parts of the world. Uniforms can be regarded as promoting social equality among students and an esprit de corps, but have also been criticised for promoting a form of uniformity characteristic of militarism.
The decision as to whether to implement school uniform policy or not is a controversial one and also polarised in societies and countries. In countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa as well as a number of Asian nations, school children have to wear approved school uniforms that conform to the uniform policy of their school. In modern Europe, Britain, Malta and Ireland stand out as the only countries where school uniform is widely adopted by state schools and generally supported by local and national governments, although there is no legislation governing school uniform in the UK. There are some independent schools and state schools that do not have school uniforms: their pupils are at liberty to dress in a way considered to be appropriate by the school.
Afghanistan
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 School uniforms have been compulsory in Albanian high schools since 2009.
Algeria
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.
Andorra
School uniforms are not generally worn in Andorra. Their use is confined to the principality's international schools.
Angola
Uniforms are required in Angolan public and private schools.
Anguilla
Anguillan schools oblige students to wear uniforms.
Antigua and Barbuda
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
Argentinian primary school students have traditionally worn white smocks as uniforms. Teacher pioneered the garment's design in 1915, which were made mandatory nationwide in 1942.
Aruba
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.
Armenia
In the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, students wore school uniform. Since independence in 1991, their use has largely declined in Armenian public schools.
Australia
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. Uniform and appearance are generally strictly enforced in private and Catholic schools, though less so in public schools, which generally allow their students a reasonable amount of leeway. Most, if not all, private schools have the school logo incorporated in the uniform ensemble, typically on the tie and the blazer breast pocket.
For boys, the uniforms generally include a button-up or polo shirt with either shorts (especially for summer wear) or long trousers, usually in grey or navy blue or the school colour. Some schools allow boys to wear shorts only in younger years, and they must wear long trousers once they are a senior (17–18). At others, even older boys wear shorts in summer due to the heat.See e.g. School uniform price list making a distinction between summer uniform and winter uniform. Where short trousers are to be worn, socks in school colours (more commonly white) are often required. Girls' uniforms generally include a checkered or striped dress (usually sleeveless or short-sleeved) worn over a blouse for summer and, in most secondary schools, girls wear a skirt as well as a button-up or polo shirt in winter with a blazer and tie. In a number of schools, girls are also permitted to wear a button-up or polo shirt and dark trousers.
In public schools, the uniform is usually a polo shirt for juniors and a different one for seniors and trousers or skirt. This set may be complemented by a school tie and, typically, a v-neck jumper (pullover or sweater) or a blazer. In the summer, boys usually do not wear ties, jumpers, or blazers. Instead, they wear a short-sleeved version of the shirt and short trousers. A neck-tie, blazer, and hat are also common in private and Catholic schools.
In most high schools a PE uniform is the norm for sports days only. At many high schools, children are required to change into and out of their PE uniform around the PE lesson. The PE uniform usually consists of shorts and a polo shirt, as well as a light weatherproof rain jacket (mainly at private or Catholic schools), usually made of polyester, for winter and wet weather and sometimes a netball skirt for girls. It is common for students in their final year of primary school or secondary school to have their own jersey, jumper or jacket to denote their final-year status.
Christmas Island
School uniform is compulsory at Christmas Island District High School, the island's only secondary school.
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
School uniform is compulsory at Cocos Islands District High School, the territory's only secondary school.
Norfolk Island
School uniform is compulsory at Norfolk Island Central School, the island's only school.
Austria
Austrian public schools do not generally employ dress codes.
Azerbaijan
School uniforms are mandatory across the Azerbaijani public school system.
Bahamas
School uniforms are worn throughout Bahamian public and private school systems.
Bahrain
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
School uniforms are mandatory in all public and private schools (up to 12th standard) in Bangladesh. While the colour and exact cut of the uniform depend on school regulations and policies, male students in Bangladesh are usually expected to wear full/half sleeve shirts with trousers and female students are expected to wear skirts/trousers with shirts or salwar kameez with belts and dupattas.
The uniform rule only applies to students of primary, secondary, and higher secondary education. Although there are no uniforms for university students in Bangladesh, they are expected to follow the respective dress codes of their institutions.
The rationale behind the uniform policy of Bangladesh is that the authorities want to protect the students from class stratification that can become apparent when students are given the choice to dress as they like. In addition, authorities believe that students should not misuse their time in trying to dress up for school.
Barbados School uniforms are mandatory in Bajan schools.
Belarus
In August 2022, education minister announced plans for every Belarusian school to have its own compulsory school uniform by 2023. In 2024, select schools in Minsk participated in a pilot scheme for a standardised school uniform. Since 15 April 2025, each school in Belarus has been obligated to choose a uniform from a list of brands which are part of the state-owned Bellegprom concern.
Belgium
As of 2018, less than ten Belgian schools (principally Catholic institutions such as Collège Saint-Benoît de Maredsous) enforced compulsory school uniform policies.
Belize
School uniform is mandatory in Belizean schools. Traditionally, many students' uniforms were custom-made by local seamstresses and tailors.
Benin
School uniform is ubiquitous in Beninese schools. In June 2018, Minister of Secondary Education Mahougnon Kakpo announced khaki-coloured uniforms would be worn by students in both public and private secondary schools.
Bermuda
As a British Overseas Territory, schools uniforms are ubiquitous in Bermudan schools.
Bhutan
Bhutanese schoolchildren wear uniforms based on the country's national dress: gho for male students and kira for female students.
Bolivia
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
In the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, some schools enforced a mandatory uniform consisting of a navy blue "apron".
As of 2013, several primary schools in Republika Srpska regions had introduced uniforms, consisting of logoed T-shirts and sweatshirts.
Botswana
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.
Brazilian school uniforms can vary widely by school. There are many schools that opt for a more elegant outfit, while others opt for a simpler one (social shirt, shorts). In this country, where schools have set a uniform, it is the student's obligation to wear it.
Most schools in Brazil choose the use of uniforms. The average Brazilian school uniform for boys is a T-shirt with the school's logo, sweatpants or Bermuda shorts and a sweatshirt or hoodie. The uniform for girls is very similar, but instead leggings or short shorts are worn, although ballerina pants are also popular. Girls may also wear mini-skirts/skirts. Most schools require trainers.
British Virgin Islands
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
School uniforms are worn in Bruneian public and religious schools.
Boys: shirt, pants, songkok Girls: Baju kurung, hijab
Bulgaria
School uniform is not widely worn in Bulgarian public schools, although several schools adopted compulsory uniform policies in the 2010s.
Burkina Faso
Uniforms are compulsory in all Burkinabè public and private schools.
Burundi
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. During those days, chiefs' sons wore a white uniform and all other children wore khaki. The uniform policy is still in force in Burundi to date. However, schools decide on what uniform the pupils wear. It is also argued that the cost of buying the school uniform and poverty, especially in the rural areas, negatively affect school enrollment.
Cambodia