Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Australia
Australia: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes was 609,231 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
609,231
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
48th
of 214 countries
All-time high
609,231
in 2024
All-time low
156,641
in 1984
Years of data
49
1971–2024
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Australia, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Australia recorded 609,231 for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in 2024. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 70.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Australia peaked at 609,231 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 156,641, in 1984.
Australia ranks 48th of 214 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 184,381 | — |
| 1974 | 182,545 | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 186,652 | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 203,146 | +8.8% |
| 1977 | 203,114 | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 195,348 | -3.8% |
| 1979 | 173,521 | -11.2% |
| 1980 | 165,742 | -4.5% |
| 1981 | 160,580 | -3.1% |
| 1982 | 158,188 | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 158,468 | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 156,641 | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 161,974 | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 168,448 | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 172,815 | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 175,079 | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 179,344 | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 180,470 | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 180,809 | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 181,358 | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 182,269 | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 186,163 | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 243,800 | +31.0% |
| 1996 | 200,500 | -17.8% |
| 1997 | 207,000 | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 272,996 | +31.9% |
| 2002 | 263,541 | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 211,627 | -19.7% |
| 2004 | 214,059 | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 221,672 | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 212,998 | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 212,402 | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 215,526 | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 219,741 | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 218,387 | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 273,564 | +25.3% |
| 2012 | 320,254 | +17.1% |
| 2013 | 334,387 | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 357,052 | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 393,403 | +10.2% |
| 2016 | 533,825 | +35.7% |
| 2017 | 528,373 | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 533,835 | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 539,365 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 529,233 | -1.9% |
| 2021 | 546,629 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 588,248 | +7.6% |
| 2023 | 592,906 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 609,231 | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 189,815 | 173,521 | 203,146 | 7 |
| 1980s | 165,728 | 156,641 | 179,344 | 10 |
| 1990s | 195,296 | 180,470 | 243,800 | 8 |
| 2000s | 227,174 | 211,627 | 272,996 | 9 |
| 2010s | 403,244 | 218,387 | 539,365 | 10 |
| 2020s | 573,249 | 529,233 | 609,231 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More education data for Australia
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) 6.79 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 79,796 (1997)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 23,978 (1997)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 1.05 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 6.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 781,455 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) 7.12 % change on previous year (2024)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Australia?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Australia was 609,231 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 609,231 in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 156,641 in 1984.
- How does Australia rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- Australia ranks 48th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 70.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release