Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in OECD members
OECD members: Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes was 36.99 million number in 2019. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in OECD members, 1970–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in OECD members is 36.99 million number, measured in 2019.
That represents a change of down 2.3% on the previous year and up 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in OECD members peaked at 37.85 million number in 2018 and was at its lowest, 18.49 million number, in 1970.
That places OECD members 15th out of 43 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 50 years of available data.
Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in OECD members, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 18.49 million number | — |
| 1971 | 19.39 million number | +4.9% |
| 1972 | 19.36 million number | -0.1% |
| 1973 | 19.88 million number | +2.7% |
| 1974 | 20.59 million number | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 21.36 million number | +3.7% |
| 1976 | 22.06 million number | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 22.13 million number | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 21.95 million number | -0.8% |
| 1979 | 22.04 million number | +0.4% |
| 1980 | 22.17 million number | +0.6% |
| 1981 | 22.74 million number | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 23.07 million number | +1.5% |
| 1983 | 23.62 million number | +2.4% |
| 1984 | 24.20 million number | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 24.74 million number | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 25.57 million number | +3.4% |
| 1987 | 25.94 million number | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 26.14 million number | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 26.19 million number | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 26.43 million number | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 27.04 million number | +2.3% |
| 1992 | 27.46 million number | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 27.99 million number | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 28.59 million number | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 29.00 million number | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 29.66 million number | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 30.02 million number | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 31.10 million number | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 31.05 million number | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 31.04 million number | -0.0% |
| 2001 | 30.99 million number | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 30.88 million number | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 30.97 million number | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 30.93 million number | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 31.90 million number | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 32.47 million number | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 32.93 million number | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 33.35 million number | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 33.53 million number | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 34.70 million number | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 35.39 million number | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 36.03 million number | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 36.38 million number | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 36.77 million number | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 37.10 million number | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 37.56 million number | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 37.79 million number | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 37.85 million number | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 36.99 million number | -2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 20.72 million number | 18.49 million number | 22.13 million number | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.44 million number | 22.17 million number | 26.19 million number | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.83 million number | 26.43 million number | 31.10 million number | 10 |
| 2000s | 31.90 million number | 30.88 million number | 33.53 million number | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.66 million number | 34.70 million number | 37.85 million number | 10 |
Countries ranked near OECD members
More education data for OECD members
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 6.28 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 16.4% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 64.5% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 100.7% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 6.28 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.0045 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 100.4% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 100.9% (2024)
- Labor force, total 709.91 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in OECD members?
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes in OECD members was 36.99 million number in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in OECD members?
- The highest recorded value was 37.85 million number in 2018.
- What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in OECD members?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.49 million number in 1970.
- How does OECD members rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes?
- OECD members ranks 15th out of 43 groups with data for 2019.
- Is enrolment in pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in OECD members?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this OECD members 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.