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School Phone Bans by Country: The Full 2026 List
As of September 2026, 114 education systems, 58 percent of countries, have a national ban on phones in schools. Here is the full list by region, with the status, year and scope of each country's policy.
UNESCO's Global Education Monitoring Report tracker, updated in September 2026, counts 114 education systems, 58 percent of countries, with a national ban on phones in schools. Below is every country we track, grouped by region, with its status, the year the rule took effect or is expected, and what it covers. Of the 83 countries and jurisdictions on our list, 53 have a national ban, 12 have regional or partial bans, 12 rely on national guidance and 6 are considering a law.
Europe
France: national ban since 2018 in primary schools and collèges. An August 2026 law extends it to lycées from 2026.
Italy: national ban, 2024 to 2025. A ministerial circular covers all grades, including upper secondary.
Netherlands: national guidance since 2024, followed by nearly every school under an agreement with the government.
Finland: national ban since 2025. The law restricts phones during lessons.
Sweden: national ban from August 2026. Phones are collected for the whole day in compulsory school.
Denmark: national ban from autumn 2026, covering the folkeskole and after-school clubs.
Greece: national ban since 2024. Phones stay in bags for the whole school day.
Ireland: national guidance since 2025. Primary schools ban phones, and secondary schools restrict them, with government funding for pouches.
Belgium: regional rules from 2025. The Flemish, French and German-speaking communities each set their own ban.
Austria: national ban since May 2025, up to grade 8.
Portugal: national ban since 2025 for grades 1 to 6, including breaks, with an extension to grade 9 announced.
Hungary: national ban since 2024. Phones are handed in for the whole day.
Latvia: national ban since 2024, expanded in 2026 to grades 1 to 9. Phones are allowed only from grade 10.
Poland: national ban from September 2026 in primary schools and preschools, including breaks.
Luxembourg: national ban since 2025. Primary schools all day, secondary schools during class.
Bulgaria: in-class ban since 2016. A full-day ban was proposed in 2026 but has not been confirmed as passed.
Spain: regional bans since 2024. Every region restricts phones, at least in primary school.
Slovenia: national ban since 2025 in primary schools. Secondary schools set their own rules.
Cyprus: national ban since 2024 in secondary schools during school hours.
Slovakia: national ban since January 2025 across all schools.
Croatia: national ban from 2026. Primary schools all day, secondary schools during lessons.
Iceland: national ban from August 2026 in primary schools, including breaks and meals.
Georgia: national ban from September 2026. All schools store phones and smartwatches.
England: statutory national ban under the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, expected from September 2026.
Scotland: national guidance since 2024, with a June 2026 consultation on legislation.
Wales: national guidance only. The government rejected a national ban in January 2026.
Northern Ireland: national guidance since 2024 asking schools to restrict phones during the school day.
Albania: national ban since 2018 by ministry order to school directors.
Turkey: national ban since 2023 on phones in classrooms, reaffirmed for 2026-27.
Germany: regional bans from 2022 to 2026. Eight of the 16 states have bans.
Switzerland: regional bans that vary by canton, including Nidwalden, Valais and Geneva.
Estonia: national guidance since 2024-25. Every school must set its own phone rules.
Lithuania: national guidance since 2025. Every school must adopt a phone policy.
Norway: national recommendation since 2024. The prime minister announced a stricter ban in 2026.
Serbia: national guidance since 2023, with a draft law under consultation.
Romania: law under consideration, expected for 2026-27. The Senate has passed it and the lower house has not yet voted.
Czech Republic: law under consideration. The government approved a draft bill for September 2027.
Ukraine: law under consideration. Bill 15105 was sent back for revision.
The Americas
United States: no federal law, but state bans since 2023. 28 states and Washington DC require bell-to-bell restrictions.
Canada: provincial bans since 2024 to 2025, including Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, plus Newfoundland and Labrador for K-6.
Mexico: national ban from 3 November 2026. Phones are banned from preschool to secondary school and limited in high school.
Brazil: national ban since 2025, covering classrooms and breaks in all basic education.
Chile: national ban since March 2026. A total ban in preschool, and a ban with exceptions in primary and secondary.
Peru: national ban from October 2026 under Law 32385, covering public and private schools.
Bolivia: national ban since 2026 in all schools. Phones are stored during class.
Ecuador: national ban since 2025 from kindergarten to grade 10. High school students may use phones only for teaching.
Costa Rica: national ban since February 2026 in classrooms. Phones are allowed at breaks.
Dominican Republic: national ban since 2026 in preschool, with restrictions in primary.
Argentina: provincial bans from 2025 to 2026, including Buenos Aires province, the City of Buenos Aires, Neuquén and Salta.
Colombia: national guidelines since 2026, plus city rules in Bogotá.
El Salvador: classroom restriction announced in 2025 but not formally published.
Uruguay: law under consideration. A bill passed the lower house in February 2026 and awaits the Senate.
Panama: law under consideration. Bill 434 passed its first debate.
Oceania
Australia: state bans from 2020 to 2024. All eight states and territories ban phones in government schools.
New Zealand: national ban since 2024. Phones are away all day in all state schools.
Fiji: under consideration. The ministry is drafting an ICT policy, with no date set.
Asia
China: national ban since 2021 in primary and secondary schools. Phones need parental consent to come to school.
South Korea: national ban since 2026 on classroom use from kindergarten to grade 12, set in law.
Singapore: national ban since 2026 in secondary schools for the whole school day, including recess.
Indonesia: national ban since 2026 through a regulation and a ministry circular.
Philippines: national ban since 2026 under DepEd Order 006. No phones in class.
Malaysia: national ban since 2018. Students may not bring phones.
Vietnam: national ban in class since 2020. Phones are used only for learning, with permission.
Bangladesh: national classroom ban since 2011.
Maldives: national ban since 2026. No phones up to grade 10; grades 11 and 12 use lockers.
Kazakhstan: national ban on phones in lessons. A ban during breaks is under debate.
Uzbekistan: national ban since 2012 in schools and universities.
Mongolia: national ban since 2018 in schools and kindergartens.
Taiwan: school-enforced ban since 2026. A law lets schools restrict phones in class.
Japan: national guidance since 2020. Phones may be brought to school but not used there.
India: regional rules since 2025. Delhi High Court guidelines apply, and a total ban was rejected.
Pakistan: regional ban since 2019 for under-16s in Punjab province.
Thailand: regional ban since 2026 in Bangkok's 437 city schools.
Middle East
Israel: national ban since 2026 in primary schools, with no use on school premises.
United Arab Emirates: national ban since 2025 in public schools, enforced with inspections and confiscation.
Saudi Arabia: national ban on student phones since 2021.
Africa
Egypt: national ban since 2023 in all pre-university schools during instruction.
Morocco: national classroom ban since 2018, for students and teachers.
Kenya: national ban on student phones in schools since 2008.
Ghana: national ban in senior high schools.
Uganda: national ban for secondary school students.
Rwanda: national ban since 2018 in primary and secondary schools.
Nigeria: state bans, including Anambra and Benue.
The pattern is clear. A rule that started as classroom guidance in a handful of countries is now a full-day legal requirement in much of the world, and every new law leaves schools with the same practical question: where do the phones go? Lockable pouches answer it without collecting or storing anything, because students keep their own phone, locked, until they tap it on a magnetic base at the end of the day. Before The Internet sells lockable phone pouches to schools outright. You pay once, the pouches and unlocking bases belong to the school, and there is no subscription, lease or per-student annual licence. Send us your student numbers and any written quote you already have, and we will beat it.
Frequently asked questions
How many countries ban phones in schools?
UNESCO's Global Education Monitoring Report counted 114 education systems, or 58 percent of countries, with a national ban on phones in schools as of September 2026. Many more have regional bans or national guidance.
Which countries ban phones in schools for the whole day?
Full-day bans include Sweden, Greece, Hungary, Poland (primary), Portugal (grades 1 to 6), Iceland (primary), Croatia (primary), Singapore (secondary), New Zealand, Brazil and England under its 2026 law, among others.
Which countries are considering a school phone ban?
Romania, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Uruguay, Panama and Fiji had bills or policies under consideration as of 2026, and Scotland was consulting on legislation.
Related reading
School phone bans by US state · School cellphone bans in Canada · Why schools ban phones
Written by the team at Before The Internet, a Toronto-based phone-free company that rents lockable phone pouches for events across North America and sells them to schools and venues worldwide, shipping purchases to any country.
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