Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Kenya
Kenya: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes was 2.89 million in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
2.89 million
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
12th
of 214 countries
All-time high
3.20 million
in 2016
All-time low
537,878
in 1983
Years of data
34
1983–2023
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Kenya, 1983–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Kenya is 2.89 million, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and up 20.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Kenya peaked at 3.20 million in 2016 and was at its lowest, 537,878, in 1983.
Kenya ranks 12th of 214 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 537,878 | — |
| 1985 | 582,505 | +8.3% |
| 1986 | 657,688 | +12.9% |
| 1987 | 660,973 | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 801,368 | +21.2% |
| 1990 | 850,000 | +6.1% |
| 1991 | 908,966 | +6.9% |
| 1992 | 931,826 | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 924,094 | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 951,997 | +3.0% |
| 1995 | 988,800 | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 1.03 million | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 1.06 million | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 1.08 million | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 1.19 million | +10.3% |
| 2000 | 1.22 million | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 1.25 million | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 1.43 million | +14.7% |
| 2003 | 1.59 million | +11.1% |
| 2004 | 1.63 million | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 1.64 million | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 1.67 million | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 1.69 million | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 1.72 million | +1.7% |
| 2009 | 1.91 million | +11.3% |
| 2012 | 2.41 million | +25.7% |
| 2014 | 3.02 million | +25.5% |
| 2015 | 3.17 million | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 3.20 million | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 2.74 million | -14.4% |
| 2020 | 2.83 million | +3.4% |
| 2021 | 2.85 million | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 2.83 million | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 2.89 million | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 648,082 | 537,878 | 801,368 | 5 |
| 1990s | 991,762 | 850,000 | 1.19 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.58 million | 1.22 million | 1.91 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.91 million | 2.41 million | 3.20 million | 5 |
| 2020s | 2.85 million | 2.83 million | 2.89 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More education data for Kenya
- 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)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,021 tertiary education (2022)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0496 % change on previous year (2017)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 281,500 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre-primary education 3 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Kenya?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Kenya was 2.89 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 3.20 million in 2016.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 537,878 in 1983.
- How does Kenya rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- Kenya ranks 12th out of 214 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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 — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release