Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia
WB: Europe & Central Asia: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes was 28.71 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
28.71 million
Change on year
up 3.1%
Rank
59th
of 221 groups
All-time high
28.71 million
in 2024
All-time low
20.14 million
in 1971
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia stood at 28.71 million. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and up 10.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia peaked at 28.71 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 20.14 million, in 1971.
WB: Europe & Central Asia ranks 59th of 221 groups on this measure, 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 WB: Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 21.61 million | — |
| 1971 | 20.14 million | -6.8% |
| 1972 | 20.39 million | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 20.80 million | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 21.64 million | +4.0% |
| 1975 | 22.03 million | +1.8% |
| 1976 | 22.25 million | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 23.29 million | +4.7% |
| 1978 | 23.48 million | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 23.68 million | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 24.18 million | +2.1% |
| 1981 | 26.11 million | +8.0% |
| 1982 | 23.44 million | -10.2% |
| 1983 | 22.87 million | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 23.02 million | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 23.05 million | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 26.91 million | +16.8% |
| 1987 | 23.15 million | -14.0% |
| 1988 | 23.19 million | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 27.81 million | +19.9% |
| 1990 | 27.93 million | +0.4% |
| 1991 | 27.64 million | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 27.21 million | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 26.70 million | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 25.23 million | -5.5% |
| 1995 | 24.08 million | -4.6% |
| 1996 | 21.88 million | -9.1% |
| 1997 | 21.49 million | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 21.22 million | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 21.00 million | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 20.91 million | -0.4% |
| 2001 | 20.87 million | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 20.88 million | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 20.89 million | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 20.78 million | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 21.21 million | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 21.48 million | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 21.81 million | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 22.42 million | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 22.87 million | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 23.47 million | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 24.25 million | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 25.05 million | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 25.29 million | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 25.97 million | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 26.72 million | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 27.29 million | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 27.63 million | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 28.08 million | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 28.44 million | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 28.68 million | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 27.80 million | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 28.30 million | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 27.85 million | -1.6% |
| 2024 | 28.71 million | +3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 21.93 million | 20.14 million | 23.68 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.37 million | 22.87 million | 27.81 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.44 million | 21.00 million | 27.93 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.41 million | 20.78 million | 22.87 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.22 million | 23.47 million | 28.44 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.27 million | 27.80 million | 28.71 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near WB: Europe & Central Asia
- 56 Romania 521,826 compare
- 57 Netherlands 487,792 compare
- 58 Sweden 458,336 compare
- 59 Sri Lanka 439,099 compare
- 60 Papua New Guinea 434,899 compare
- 61 Belgium 431,997 compare
- 62 Saudi Arabia 430,399 compare
More education data for WB: Europe & Central Asia
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 25.45 million (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 3.52 million (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.2954 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 83.79 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -0.058 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 26.90 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate -0.0467 % change on previous year (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 492,126 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 14.94 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 13.77 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in WB: Europe & Central Asia was 28.71 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 28.71 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.14 million in 1971.
- How does WB: Europe & Central Asia rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- WB: Europe & Central Asia ranks 59th out of 221 groups with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in WB: Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this WB: Europe & Central 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