Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes was 18.62 million number in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Least developed countries, 1972–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 18.62 million number for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in 2019. That is the highest value across all 48 years on record.
The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 98.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Least developed countries peaked at 18.62 million number in 2019 and was at its lowest, 1.63 million number, in 1972.
Least developed countries ranks 28th of 43 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 Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 1.63 million number | — |
| 1973 | 1.67 million number | +2.3% |
| 1974 | 1.84 million number | +10.1% |
| 1975 | 2.01 million number | +9.4% |
| 1976 | 2.20 million number | +9.6% |
| 1977 | 2.40 million number | +9.0% |
| 1978 | 2.62 million number | +9.0% |
| 1979 | 2.83 million number | +8.1% |
| 1980 | 3.04 million number | +7.5% |
| 1981 | 3.27 million number | +7.8% |
| 1982 | 3.44 million number | +5.2% |
| 1983 | 3.59 million number | +4.2% |
| 1984 | 3.79 million number | +5.5% |
| 1985 | 3.99 million number | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 4.30 million number | +7.9% |
| 1987 | 4.58 million number | +6.4% |
| 1988 | 4.86 million number | +6.3% |
| 1989 | 4.81 million number | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 4.70 million number | -2.2% |
| 1991 | 4.60 million number | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 4.56 million number | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 4.48 million number | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 4.39 million number | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 4.30 million number | -2.2% |
| 1996 | 4.23 million number | -1.6% |
| 1997 | 3.99 million number | -5.7% |
| 1998 | 5.78 million number | +44.9% |
| 1999 | 5.76 million number | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 6.10 million number | +6.0% |
| 2001 | 6.50 million number | +6.5% |
| 2002 | 6.79 million number | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 7.10 million number | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 7.63 million number | +7.6% |
| 2005 | 8.58 million number | +12.4% |
| 2006 | 9.35 million number | +8.9% |
| 2007 | 8.17 million number | -12.6% |
| 2008 | 8.82 million number | +8.0% |
| 2009 | 9.38 million number | +6.4% |
| 2010 | 9.78 million number | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 11.43 million number | +16.9% |
| 2012 | 13.14 million number | +15.0% |
| 2013 | 14.14 million number | +7.7% |
| 2014 | 14.75 million number | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 15.50 million number | +5.1% |
| 2016 | 17.07 million number | +10.1% |
| 2017 | 18.13 million number | +6.3% |
| 2018 | 18.30 million number | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 18.62 million number | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.15 million number | 1.63 million number | 2.83 million number | 8 |
| 1980s | 3.97 million number | 3.04 million number | 4.86 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.68 million number | 3.99 million number | 5.78 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.84 million number | 6.10 million number | 9.38 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.09 million number | 9.78 million number | 18.62 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 25 Italy 1.49 million number compare
- 26 Egypt 1.48 million number compare
- 27 Tanzania, United Republic of 1.43 million number compare
- 28 Poland 1.36 million number compare
- 29 Spain 1.30 million number compare
- 30 Republic of Korea 1.26 million number compare
- 31 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 1.19 million number compare
More education data for Least developed countries
- Population ages 0-14 38.4% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 4.43 million (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 57.7% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 100.7% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.0037 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 4.43 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 99.3% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 102.0% (2024)
- Labor force, total, per capita 0.3712 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Least developed countries?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in Least developed countries was 18.62 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 18.62 million number in 2019.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.63 million number in 1972.
- How does Least developed countries rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- Least developed countries ranks 28th out of 43 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 98.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.