Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Australia
Australia: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes was 533,835 number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Australia, 1971–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Australia recorded 533,835 number for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in 2018. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 147.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Australia peaked at 533,835 number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 156,641 number, in 1984.
That places Australia 49th out of 199 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Australia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 184,381 number | — |
| 1974 | 182,545 number | -1.0% |
| 1975 | 186,652 number | +2.2% |
| 1976 | 203,146 number | +8.8% |
| 1977 | 203,114 number | -0.0% |
| 1978 | 195,348 number | -3.8% |
| 1979 | 173,521 number | -11.2% |
| 1980 | 165,742 number | -4.5% |
| 1981 | 160,580 number | -3.1% |
| 1982 | 158,188 number | -1.5% |
| 1983 | 158,468 number | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 156,641 number | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 161,974 number | +3.4% |
| 1986 | 168,448 number | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 172,815 number | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 175,079 number | +1.3% |
| 1989 | 179,344 number | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 180,470 number | +0.6% |
| 1991 | 180,809 number | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 181,358 number | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 182,269 number | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 186,163 number | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 243,800 number | +31.0% |
| 1996 | 200,500 number | -17.8% |
| 1997 | 207,000 number | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 272,996 number | +31.9% |
| 2002 | 263,541 number | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 211,627 number | -19.7% |
| 2004 | 214,059 number | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 221,672 number | +3.6% |
| 2006 | 212,998 number | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 212,402 number | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 215,526 number | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 219,741 number | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 218,387 number | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 273,564 number | +25.3% |
| 2012 | 320,254 number | +17.1% |
| 2013 | 334,387 number | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 357,052 number | +6.8% |
| 2015 | 393,403 number | +10.2% |
| 2016 | 533,825 number | +35.7% |
| 2017 | 528,373 number | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 533,835 number | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 189,815 number | 173,521 number | 203,146 number | 7 |
| 1980s | 165,728 number | 156,641 number | 179,344 number | 10 |
| 1990s | 195,296 number | 180,470 number | 243,800 number | 8 |
| 2000s | 227,174 number | 211,627 number | 272,996 number | 9 |
| 2010s | 388,120 number | 218,387 number | 533,835 number | 9 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More education data for Australia
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,024 tertiary education (2024)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0494 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 105,469 (1999)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre-primary education 2 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Australia?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Australia was 533,835 number in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 533,835 number in 2018.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 156,641 number in 1984.
- How does Australia rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- Australia ranks 49th out of 199 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 147.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia 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
Total number of students enrolled in public and private pre-primary education institutions (ISCED 0.2) regardless of age. Within ISCED 0, early childhood educational development programmes are targeted at children aged 0 to 2 years; and pre-primary education programmes are targeted at children aged 3 years until the age to start ISCED 1.