Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) in Netherlands
Netherlands: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) was 487,792 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Netherlands, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Netherlands is 487,792, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Netherlands peaked at 529,767 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 338,721, in 1988.
Netherlands ranks 57th of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 491,732 | — |
| 1972 | 491,505 | -0.0% |
| 1973 | 495,061 | +0.7% |
| 1974 | 505,989 | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 513,606 | +1.5% |
| 1976 | 518,890 | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 498,831 | -3.9% |
| 1978 | 465,992 | -6.6% |
| 1979 | 438,175 | -6.0% |
| 1980 | 418,499 | -4.5% |
| 1981 | 409,576 | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 399,769 | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 398,804 | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 396,946 | -0.5% |
| 1985 | 399,453 | +0.6% |
| 1986 | 359,130 | -10.1% |
| 1987 | 350,908 | -2.3% |
| 1988 | 338,721 | -3.5% |
| 1989 | 342,369 | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 350,696 | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 360,880 | +2.9% |
| 1992 | 367,602 | +1.9% |
| 1993 | 368,473 | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 373,164 | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 385,483 | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 394,937 | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 394,374 | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 529,767 | +34.3% |
| 2012 | 521,985 | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 521,306 | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 511,789 | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 511,579 | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 511,240 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 504,272 | -1.4% |
| 2018 | 475,053 | -5.8% |
| 2019 | 477,805 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 485,481 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 487,104 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 480,025 | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 487,792 | +1.6% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 487,792 is above the median for high income countries, which is 96,852, 5.0× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 487,792 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 181,903, 2.7× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) in Netherlands changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +34.3% | 394,374 | 529,767 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 491,087 | 438,175 | 518,890 | 9 |
| 1980s | 381,418 | 338,721 | 418,499 | 10 |
| 1990s | 374,451 | 350,696 | 394,937 | 8 |
| 2010s | 507,200 | 475,053 | 529,767 | 9 |
| 2020s | 485,100 | 480,025 | 487,792 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More education data for Netherlands
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 118,472 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 23,856 (1985)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 247,743 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 240,049 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.14 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.0937 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.064 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Netherlands?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Netherlands was 487,792 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 529,767 in 2011.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 338,721 in 1988.
- How does Netherlands rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- Netherlands ranks 57th out of 214 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Netherlands 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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CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release