Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) in Canada
Canada: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) was 564,540 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Canada, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Canada stood at 564,540.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Canada peaked at 578,025 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 336,845, in 1972.
That places Canada 54th out of 214 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 350,242 | — |
| 1972 | 336,845 | -3.8% |
| 1973 | 341,270 | +1.3% |
| 1974 | 349,198 | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 384,919 | +10.2% |
| 1976 | 398,476 | +3.5% |
| 1977 | 393,147 | -1.3% |
| 1978 | 377,841 | -3.9% |
| 1979 | 377,025 | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 378,690 | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 397,266 | +4.9% |
| 1982 | 391,969 | -1.3% |
| 1983 | 400,219 | +2.1% |
| 1984 | 402,264 | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 413,674 | +2.8% |
| 1986 | 422,085 | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 430,128 | +1.9% |
| 1988 | 440,623 | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 452,230 | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 475,000 | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 472,802 | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 486,609 | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 482,446 | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 491,140 | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 502,300 | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 509,589 | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 576,808 | +13.2% |
| 2020 | 578,025 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 537,021 | -7.1% |
| 2022 | 558,510 | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 564,540 | +1.1% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 564,540 is above the median for high income countries, which is 96,852, 5.8× the median. (78 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 367,663 | 336,845 | 398,476 | 9 |
| 1980s | 412,915 | 378,690 | 452,230 | 10 |
| 1990s | 488,555 | 472,802 | 509,589 | 7 |
| 2010s | 576,808 | 576,808 | 576,808 | 1 |
| 2020s | 559,524 | 537,021 | 578,025 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More education data for Canada
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 133,275 (1996)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2011)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 291,075 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 273,465 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.70 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.43 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0607 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Canada?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Canada was 564,540 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 578,025 in 2020.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 336,845 in 1972.
- How does Canada rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- Canada ranks 54th out of 214 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada 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
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release