Enrolment in pre-primary education, female in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Enrolment in pre-primary education, female was 790,556 in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
790,556
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
23rd
of 208 countries
All-time high
893,596
in 2016
All-time low
278,910
in 1976
Years of data
37
1976–2023

Enrolment in pre-primary education, female in United Kingdom, 1976–2023

200.0k400.0k600.0k800.0k1976199920231976: 278.9k1983: 293.0k1984: 316.0k1985: 311.0k1986: 315.0k1987: 330.0k1988: 340.0k1989: 350.0k1990: 374.0k1991: 388.1k1992: 396.5k1998: 561.7k1999: 563.6k2000: 577.5k2001: 578.4k2002: 576.7k2003: 530.2k2004: 402.0k2005: 483.6k2006: 490.0k2007: 497.6k2008: 546.1k2009: 551.2k2010: 585.3k2011: 611.0k2012: 628.4k2013: 599.9k2014: 698.1k2015: 797.8k2016: 893.6k2017: 860.0k2018: 860.9k2019: 843.2k2020: 843.1k2021: 800.7k2022: 798.0k2023: 790.6k

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for enrolment in pre-primary education, female in United Kingdom is 790,556, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and up 31.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in pre-primary education, female in United Kingdom peaked at 893,596 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 278,910, in 1976.

That places United Kingdom 23rd out of 208 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.

Enrolment in pre-primary education, female in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number) in United Kingdom, 1976 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1976 278,910
1983 293,000 +5.1%
1984 316,000 +7.8%
1985 311,000 -1.6%
1986 315,000 +1.3%
1987 330,000 +4.8%
1988 340,000 +3.0%
1989 350,000 +2.9%
1990 374,000 +6.9%
1991 388,100 +3.8%
1992 396,500 +2.2%
1998 561,743 +41.7%
1999 563,568 +0.3%
2000 577,464 +2.5%
2001 578,365 +0.2%
2002 576,697 -0.3%
2003 530,248 -8.1%
2004 401,960 -24.2%
2005 483,616 +20.3%
2006 490,049 +1.3%
2007 497,600 +1.5%
2008 546,074 +9.7%
2009 551,160 +0.9%
2010 585,283 +6.2%
2011 610,956 +4.4%
2012 628,380 +2.9%
2013 599,923 -4.5%
2014 698,114 +16.4%
2015 797,788 +14.3%
2016 893,596 +12.0%
2017 860,028 -3.8%
2018 860,911 +0.1%
2019 843,221 -2.1%
2020 843,142 -0.0%
2021 800,658 -5.0%
2022 798,010 -0.3%
2023 790,556 -0.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 278,910 278,910 278,910 1
1980s 322,143 293,000 350,000 7
1990s 456,782 374,000 563,568 5
2000s 523,323 401,960 578,365 10
2010s 737,820 585,283 893,596 10
2020s 808,092 790,556 843,142 4

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 20 Colombia 937,684 compare
  2. 21 Ghana 913,117 compare
  3. 22 Tanzania 824,648 compare
  4. 24 Venezuela 788,599 compare
  5. 25 Argentina 773,753 compare
  6. 26 Peru 745,341 compare

See the full ranking of 429 places →

More education data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in pre-primary education, female in United Kingdom?
Enrolment in pre-primary education, female in United Kingdom was 790,556 in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in pre-primary education, female recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 893,596 in 2016.
What is the lowest enrolment in pre-primary education, female recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 278,910 in 1976.
How does United Kingdom rank for enrolment in pre-primary education, female?
United Kingdom ranks 23rd out of 208 countries with data for 2023.
Is enrolment in pre-primary education, female rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is up 31.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in pre-primary education, female in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-pre-primary-education-female-number-2/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
429 places, 16,912 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release