Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) in Belgium
Belgium: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) was 431,997 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
431,997
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
61st
of 214 countries
All-time high
462,831
in 2014
All-time low
367,245
in 1989
Years of data
51
1971–2023
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Belgium, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Belgium stood at 431,997.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and down 5.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Belgium peaked at 462,831 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 367,245, in 1989.
Belgium ranks 61st of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 458,702 | — |
| 1972 | 449,351 | -2.0% |
| 1973 | 440,340 | -2.0% |
| 1974 | 439,504 | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 438,932 | -0.1% |
| 1976 | 437,838 | -0.2% |
| 1977 | 425,480 | -2.8% |
| 1978 | 404,229 | -5.0% |
| 1979 | 391,705 | -3.1% |
| 1980 | 384,152 | -1.9% |
| 1981 | 383,955 | -0.1% |
| 1982 | 386,100 | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 387,926 | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 391,204 | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 394,027 | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 391,848 | -0.6% |
| 1987 | 379,893 | -3.1% |
| 1988 | 371,509 | -2.2% |
| 1989 | 367,245 | -1.1% |
| 1990 | 369,683 | +0.7% |
| 1991 | 374,343 | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 398,005 | +6.3% |
| 1993 | 410,183 | +3.1% |
| 1994 | 421,409 | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 429,726 | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 428,134 | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 399,443 | -6.7% |
| 2000 | 400,421 | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 400,805 | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 401,034 | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 401,975 | +0.2% |
| 2004 | 399,437 | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 412,041 | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 411,712 | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 411,951 | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 416,891 | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 424,853 | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 434,262 | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 444,960 | +2.5% |
| 2012 | 452,309 | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 456,989 | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 462,831 | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 461,070 | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 459,576 | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 455,934 | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 450,052 | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 445,795 | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 441,569 | -0.9% |
| 2021 | 431,555 | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 432,236 | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 431,997 | -0.1% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 431,997 is above the median for high income countries, which is 96,852, 4.5× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 431,997 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 181,903, 2.4× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 431,787 | 391,705 | 458,702 | 9 |
| 1980s | 383,786 | 367,245 | 394,027 | 10 |
| 1990s | 403,866 | 369,683 | 429,726 | 8 |
| 2000s | 408,112 | 399,437 | 424,853 | 10 |
| 2010s | 452,378 | 434,262 | 462,831 | 10 |
| 2020s | 434,339 | 431,555 | 441,569 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More education data for Belgium
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 137,795 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 17,384 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 221,494 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 210,503 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.18 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 814,388 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1356 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0691 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Belgium?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Belgium was 431,997 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 462,831 in 2014.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 367,245 in 1989.
- How does Belgium rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- Belgium ranks 61st out of 214 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium 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.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release