Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Italy
Italy: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) was 2.63 million in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
2.63 million
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
58th
of 218 countries
All-time high
4.97 million
in 1973
All-time low
2.63 million
in 2023
Years of data
53
1971–2023
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Italy, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Italy stood at 2.63 million. That is the lowest value across all 53 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.2% on the previous year and down 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Italy peaked at 4.97 million in 1973 and was at its lowest, 2.63 million, in 2023.
That places Italy 58th out of 218 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 53 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Italy, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 4.86 million | — |
| 1972 | 4.93 million | +1.4% |
| 1973 | 4.97 million | +1.0% |
| 1974 | 4.97 million | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 4.93 million | -0.8% |
| 1976 | 4.83 million | -1.9% |
| 1977 | 4.74 million | -2.0% |
| 1978 | 4.65 million | -1.8% |
| 1979 | 4.56 million | -1.9% |
| 1980 | 4.51 million | -1.2% |
| 1981 | 4.42 million | -1.9% |
| 1982 | 4.33 million | -2.0% |
| 1983 | 4.20 million | -3.0% |
| 1984 | 4.06 million | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 3.90 million | -3.9% |
| 1986 | 3.70 million | -5.1% |
| 1987 | 3.52 million | -5.0% |
| 1988 | 3.37 million | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 3.24 million | -3.9% |
| 1990 | 3.14 million | -3.0% |
| 1991 | 3.06 million | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 3.00 million | -1.7% |
| 1993 | 2.96 million | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 2.86 million | -3.3% |
| 1995 | 2.82 million | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 2.82 million | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 2.81 million | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 2.82 million | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 2.88 million | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 2.84 million | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 2.81 million | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 2.79 million | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 2.78 million | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 2.77 million | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 2.77 million | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 2.79 million | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 2.82 million | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 2.83 million | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 2.82 million | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 2.82 million | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 2.83 million | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 2.82 million | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 2.86 million | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 2.86 million | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 2.86 million | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 2.83 million | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 2.90 million | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 2.87 million | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 2.83 million | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 2.76 million | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 2.67 million | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 2.63 million | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 2.63 million | -0.2% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 2.63 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 236,668, 11.1× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Italy's 2.63 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 432,238, 6.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.83 million | 4.56 million | 4.97 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 3.93 million | 3.24 million | 4.51 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.92 million | 2.81 million | 3.14 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.80 million | 2.77 million | 2.84 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.85 million | 2.82 million | 2.90 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.67 million | 2.63 million | 2.76 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More education data for Italy
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 423,797 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 6,592 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 667,641 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 620,157 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.63 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.167 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0445 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Italy?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Italy was 2.63 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 4.97 million in 1973.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.63 million in 2023.
- How does Italy rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Italy ranks 58th out of 218 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Italy 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