Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean

UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes was 20.88 million in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
20.88 million
Change on year
down 1.9%
Rank
82nd
of 221 groups
All-time high
22.14 million
in 2019
All-time low
2.14 million
in 1972
Years of data
55
1970–2024

Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean, 1970–2024

05.0M10.0M15.0M20.0M197019972024

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2024, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean stood at 20.88 million.

That represents a change of down 1.9% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean peaked at 22.14 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 2.14 million, in 1972.

That places UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean 82nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.

Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean, 1970 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1970 6.24 million
1971 3.01 million -51.9%
1972 2.14 million -29.0%
1973 5.20 million +143.4%
1974 2.34 million -54.9%
1975 2.75 million +17.5%
1976 3.14 million +13.9%
1977 3.46 million +10.4%
1978 3.76 million +8.5%
1979 6.82 million +81.5%
1980 4.39 million -35.7%
1981 5.04 million +15.0%
1982 5.88 million +16.5%
1983 6.84 million +16.3%
1984 7.35 million +7.5%
1985 8.00 million +8.9%
1986 8.72 million +9.0%
1987 10.96 million +25.7%
1988 11.08 million +1.0%
1989 11.28 million +1.8%
1990 11.92 million +5.7%
1991 12.20 million +2.4%
1992 12.86 million +5.4%
1993 13.29 million +3.3%
1994 13.55 million +2.0%
1995 14.03 million +3.5%
1996 14.50 million +3.3%
1997 15.09 million +4.1%
1998 14.66 million -2.8%
1999 15.24 million +3.9%
2000 15.63 million +2.6%
2001 15.85 million +1.4%
2002 15.93 million +0.5%
2003 16.18 million +1.6%
2004 16.52 million +2.1%
2005 17.15 million +3.8%
2006 17.66 million +3.0%
2007 18.28 million +3.5%
2008 18.96 million +3.7%
2009 19.20 million +1.3%
2010 19.05 million -0.8%
2011 19.19 million +0.7%
2012 19.46 million +1.4%
2013 20.08 million +3.2%
2014 20.48 million +2.0%
2015 20.69 million +1.0%
2016 20.81 million +0.6%
2017 21.14 million +1.6%
2018 21.47 million +1.5%
2019 22.14 million +3.1%
2020 21.69 million -2.1%
2021 20.53 million -5.3%
2022 20.94 million +2.0%
2023 21.29 million +1.7%
2024 20.88 million -1.9%

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean 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.

YearChange FromTo
1973 +143.4% 2.14 million 5.20 million
1979 +81.5% 3.76 million 6.82 million
1974 -54.9% 5.20 million 2.34 million
1971 -51.9% 6.24 million 3.01 million
1980 -35.7% 6.82 million 4.39 million
1972 -29.0% 3.01 million 2.14 million

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 3.89 million 2.14 million 6.82 million 10
1980s 7.95 million 4.39 million 11.28 million 10
1990s 13.73 million 11.92 million 15.24 million 10
2000s 17.13 million 15.63 million 19.20 million 10
2010s 20.45 million 19.05 million 22.14 million 10
2020s 21.07 million 20.53 million 21.69 million 5

Countries ranked near UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean

  1. 79 United Arab Emirates 244,466 compare
  2. 80 Burundi 233,262 compare
  3. 81 Lao People's Democratic Republic 232,166 compare
  4. 82 Togo 230,771 compare
  5. 83 Bulgaria 216,857 compare
  6. 84 Paraguay 216,627 compare
  7. 85 Honduras 213,519 compare

See the full ranking of 435 places →

More education data for UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean

All data for UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean?
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean was 20.88 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean?
The highest recorded value was 22.14 million in 2019.
What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean?
The lowest recorded value was 2.14 million in 1972.
How does UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean ranks 82nd out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean 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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Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-pre-primary-education-both-sexes-number-2/unicef-latin-america-and-caribbean/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
435 places, 18,608 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release