Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) was 1.62 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom, 1976–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom stood at 1.62 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.9% on the previous year and up 28.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom peaked at 1.83 million in 2016 and was at its lowest, 571,545, in 1976.
United Kingdom ranks 24th of 214 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 571,545 | — |
| 1983 | 603,000 | +5.5% |
| 1984 | 649,000 | +7.6% |
| 1985 | 671,000 | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 665,000 | -0.9% |
| 1987 | 675,000 | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 695,000 | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 716,000 | +3.0% |
| 1990 | 763,000 | +6.6% |
| 1991 | 792,700 | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 810,600 | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 1.15 million | +42.1% |
| 1999 | 1.16 million | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 1.18 million | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 1.19 million | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 1.18 million | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 1.08 million | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 822,407 | -24.1% |
| 2005 | 977,448 | +18.9% |
| 2006 | 989,596 | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 1.00 million | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 1.11 million | +10.3% |
| 2009 | 1.12 million | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 1.18 million | +4.8% |
| 2011 | 1.25 million | +6.2% |
| 2012 | 1.28 million | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 1.26 million | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 1.43 million | +13.6% |
| 2015 | 1.67 million | +16.6% |
| 2016 | 1.83 million | +9.8% |
| 2017 | 1.76 million | -3.7% |
| 2018 | 1.76 million | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 1.73 million | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 1.73 million | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 1.64 million | -5.0% |
| 2022 | 1.64 million | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 1.62 million | -0.9% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 1.62 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 96,852, 16.7× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 1.62 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 181,903, 8.9× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes (number) (pre-primary) in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +42.1% | 810,600 | 1.15 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 571,545 | 571,545 | 571,545 | 1 |
| 1980s | 667,714 | 603,000 | 716,000 | 7 |
| 1990s | 934,638 | 763,000 | 1.16 million | 5 |
| 2000s | 1.07 million | 822,407 | 1.19 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.51 million | 1.18 million | 1.83 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.66 million | 1.62 million | 1.73 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More education data for United Kingdom
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom was 1.62 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 1.83 million in 2016.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 571,545 in 1976.
- How does United Kingdom rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- United Kingdom ranks 24th out of 214 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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