Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in France
France: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) was 4.13 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
4.13 million
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
41st
of 218 countries
All-time high
4.94 million
in 1971
All-time low
3.78 million
in 2004
Years of data
54
1971–2024
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in France, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
France recorded 4.13 million for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in 2024.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in France peaked at 4.94 million in 1971 and was at its lowest, 3.78 million, in 2004.
That places France 41st out of 218 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 4.94 million | — |
| 1972 | 4.85 million | -1.7% |
| 1973 | 4.76 million | -1.9% |
| 1974 | 4.72 million | -0.8% |
| 1975 | 4.67 million | -1.1% |
| 1976 | 4.60 million | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 4.57 million | -0.7% |
| 1978 | 4.62 million | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 4.65 million | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 4.65 million | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 4.61 million | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 4.54 million | -1.6% |
| 1983 | 4.39 million | -3.3% |
| 1984 | 4.26 million | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 4.13 million | -3.1% |
| 1986 | 4.12 million | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 4.12 million | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 4.15 million | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 4.18 million | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 4.16 million | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 4.15 million | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 4.11 million | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 4.06 million | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 4.08 million | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 4.07 million | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 4.07 million | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 4.00 million | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 3.98 million | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 3.94 million | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 3.88 million | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 3.84 million | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 3.81 million | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 3.79 million | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 3.78 million | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 4.02 million | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 4.05 million | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 4.11 million | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 4.14 million | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 4.15 million | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 4.16 million | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 4.17 million | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 4.16 million | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 4.17 million | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 4.19 million | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 4.26 million | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 4.28 million | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 4.31 million | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 4.30 million | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 4.30 million | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 4.28 million | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 4.26 million | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 4.21 million | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 4.18 million | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 4.13 million | -1.3% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 4.13 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 236,668, 17.4× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- France's 4.13 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 432,238, 9.5× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.71 million | 4.57 million | 4.94 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 4.31 million | 4.12 million | 4.65 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.06 million | 3.94 million | 4.16 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.96 million | 3.78 million | 4.15 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.23 million | 4.16 million | 4.31 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.21 million | 4.13 million | 4.28 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near France
More education data for France
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 457,956 (2019)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 43,533 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.19 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.14 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.27 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.13 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0602 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in France?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in France was 4.13 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 4.94 million in 1971.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.78 million in 2004.
- How does France rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- France ranks 41st out of 218 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release