Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America & Caribbean: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes was 21.88 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Latin America & Caribbean recorded 21.88 million number for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in 2019. That is the highest value across all 50 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 13.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean peaked at 21.88 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 1.85 million number, in 1970.
Latin America & Caribbean ranks 23rd of 45 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.85 million number | — |
| 1971 | 1.97 million number | +6.1% |
| 1972 | 2.09 million number | +6.4% |
| 1973 | 2.21 million number | +5.7% |
| 1974 | 2.37 million number | +7.0% |
| 1975 | 2.64 million number | +11.5% |
| 1976 | 3.02 million number | +14.6% |
| 1977 | 3.36 million number | +11.0% |
| 1978 | 3.66 million number | +9.0% |
| 1979 | 4.08 million number | +11.5% |
| 1980 | 4.42 million number | +8.4% |
| 1981 | 5.08 million number | +14.9% |
| 1982 | 5.92 million number | +16.4% |
| 1983 | 6.61 million number | +11.7% |
| 1984 | 7.40 million number | +11.9% |
| 1985 | 7.97 million number | +7.7% |
| 1986 | 8.78 million number | +10.2% |
| 1987 | 10.79 million number | +22.9% |
| 1988 | 11.03 million number | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 11.23 million number | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 12.30 million number | +9.5% |
| 1991 | 12.19 million number | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 12.86 million number | +5.5% |
| 1993 | 13.38 million number | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 13.63 million number | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 14.11 million number | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 14.57 million number | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 14.86 million number | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 15.56 million number | +4.7% |
| 1999 | 15.53 million number | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 16.52 million number | +6.3% |
| 2001 | 16.51 million number | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 16.60 million number | +0.5% |
| 2003 | 16.80 million number | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 17.37 million number | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 17.87 million number | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 18.17 million number | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 18.38 million number | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 19.06 million number | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 19.31 million number | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 19.15 million number | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 19.30 million number | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 19.55 million number | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 20.13 million number | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 20.54 million number | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 20.71 million number | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 20.84 million number | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 21.20 million number | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 21.32 million number | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 21.88 million number | +2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.73 million number | 1.85 million number | 4.08 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.92 million number | 4.42 million number | 11.23 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.90 million number | 12.19 million number | 15.56 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 17.66 million number | 16.51 million number | 19.31 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.46 million number | 19.15 million number | 21.88 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean
- 20 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1.76 million number compare
- 21 Colombia 1.74 million number compare
- 22 Argentina 1.69 million number compare
- 23 Peru 1.68 million number compare
- 24 Türkiye 1.50 million number compare
- 25 Italy 1.49 million number compare
- 26 Egypt 1.48 million number compare
More education data for Latin America & Caribbean
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.34 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 63.30 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 61.44 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1923 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0928 units per person (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 67.7% (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 22.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Latin America & Caribbean was 21.88 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 21.88 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.85 million number in 1970.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- Latin America & Caribbean ranks 23rd out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Latin America & 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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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.