Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia
UNICEF: South Asia: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes was 53.53 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
53.53 million
Change on year
up 7.9%
Rank
36th
of 221 groups
All-time high
58.01 million
in 2019
All-time low
2.73 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
UNICEF: South Asia recorded 53.53 million for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in 2024.
That represents a change of up 7.9% on the previous year and down 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia peaked at 58.01 million in 2019 and was at its lowest, 2.73 million, in 1971.
UNICEF: South Asia ranks 36th of 221 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 46.83 million | — |
| 1971 | 2.73 million | -94.2% |
| 1972 | 2.84 million | +4.0% |
| 1973 | 2.95 million | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 47.17 million | +1501.0% |
| 1975 | 3.36 million | -92.9% |
| 1976 | 3.61 million | +7.4% |
| 1977 | 3.94 million | +9.2% |
| 1978 | 4.18 million | +6.0% |
| 1979 | 48.23 million | +1054.4% |
| 1980 | 48.47 million | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 5.14 million | -89.4% |
| 1982 | 5.30 million | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 5.78 million | +8.9% |
| 1984 | 6.05 million | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 6.47 million | +7.0% |
| 1986 | 7.04 million | +8.8% |
| 1987 | 7.42 million | +5.4% |
| 1988 | 7.89 million | +6.3% |
| 1989 | 7.88 million | -0.2% |
| 1990 | 7.78 million | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 7.94 million | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 7.84 million | -1.3% |
| 1993 | 7.84 million | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 8.28 million | +5.5% |
| 1995 | 8.43 million | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 8.41 million | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 8.58 million | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 52.04 million | +506.8% |
| 1999 | 51.88 million | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 51.85 million | -0.1% |
| 2001 | 52.15 million | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 50.97 million | -2.3% |
| 2003 | 50.43 million | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 51.15 million | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 52.24 million | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 54.06 million | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 54.74 million | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 55.16 million | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 54.47 million | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 55.08 million | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 56.68 million | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 56.30 million | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 56.77 million | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 56.15 million | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 56.18 million | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 56.22 million | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 57.08 million | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 57.01 million | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 58.01 million | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 56.62 million | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 49.86 million | -11.9% |
| 2022 | 41.84 million | -16.1% |
| 2023 | 49.63 million | +18.6% |
| 2024 | 53.53 million | +7.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 16.58 million | 2.73 million | 48.23 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.75 million | 5.14 million | 48.47 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.90 million | 7.78 million | 52.04 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 52.72 million | 50.43 million | 55.16 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 56.55 million | 55.08 million | 58.01 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.30 million | 41.84 million | 56.62 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near UNICEF: South Asia
- 33 Spain 1.11 million compare
- 34 Madagascar 1.05 million compare
- 35 Iran, Islamic Republic of 1.02 million compare
- 36 Kazakhstan 981,805 compare
- 37 Malaysia 936,008 compare
- 38 Morocco 913,017 compare
- 39 Korea 846,694 compare
More education data for UNICEF: South Asia
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), annual 7.86 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.6662 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.43 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate 2.87 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 84.88 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.1267 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), gaps filled 91.07 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, male (number), annual growth rate -1.39 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 53.53 million (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 26.43 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in UNICEF: South Asia was 53.53 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: South Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 58.01 million in 2019.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in UNICEF: South Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.73 million in 1971.
- How does UNICEF: South Asia rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- UNICEF: South Asia ranks 36th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in UNICEF: South Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this UNICEF: South Asia 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