Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in North America
North America: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes was 8.79 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in North America, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
North America recorded 8.79 million number for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.5% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in North America peaked at 9.09 million number in 1997 and was at its lowest, 4.49 million number, in 1972.
That places North America 36th out of 45 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 50 years of available data.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in North America, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4.75 million number | — |
| 1971 | 4.65 million number | -2.1% |
| 1972 | 4.49 million number | -3.6% |
| 1973 | 4.62 million number | +3.0% |
| 1974 | 4.75 million number | +2.8% |
| 1975 | 5.16 million number | +8.6% |
| 1976 | 5.54 million number | +7.4% |
| 1977 | 5.41 million number | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 5.18 million number | -4.3% |
| 1979 | 5.18 million number | -0.0% |
| 1980 | 5.18 million number | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 5.56 million number | +7.4% |
| 1982 | 5.61 million number | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 5.85 million number | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 6.11 million number | +4.5% |
| 1985 | 6.25 million number | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 6.73 million number | +7.6% |
| 1987 | 6.95 million number | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 7.05 million number | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 7.05 million number | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 7.22 million number | +2.4% |
| 1991 | 7.77 million number | +7.7% |
| 1992 | 8.05 million number | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 8.29 million number | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 8.53 million number | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 8.73 million number | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 8.98 million number | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 9.09 million number | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 8.92 million number | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 8.68 million number | -2.7% |
| 2000 | 8.60 million number | -1.0% |
| 2001 | 8.53 million number | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 8.41 million number | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 8.34 million number | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 8.35 million number | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 8.49 million number | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 8.59 million number | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 8.66 million number | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 8.65 million number | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 8.69 million number | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 8.73 million number | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 8.84 million number | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 8.96 million number | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 8.96 million number | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 9.01 million number | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 8.91 million number | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 8.92 million number | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 9.01 million number | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 8.93 million number | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 8.79 million number | -1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.97 million number | 4.49 million number | 5.54 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.23 million number | 5.18 million number | 7.05 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.43 million number | 7.22 million number | 9.09 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.53 million number | 8.34 million number | 8.69 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.91 million number | 8.73 million number | 9.01 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near North America
- 33 Sudan 1.07 million number compare
- 34 Malaysia 1.00 million number compare
- 35 Kazakhstan 985,721 number compare
- 36 Nepal 958,127 number compare
- 37 Madagascar 901,960 number compare
- 38 Uzbekistan 874,385 number compare
- 39 South Africa 824,169 number compare
More education data for North America
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 2.04 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 28.14 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 16.9% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0687 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.2703 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 26.20 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 64.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in North America?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in North America was 8.79 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 9.09 million number in 1997.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.49 million number in 1972.
- How does North America rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- North America ranks 36th out of 45 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North America 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.