Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) was 4.86 million in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
4.86 million
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
32nd
of 218 countries
All-time high
5.89 million
in 1973
All-time low
4.28 million
in 1985
Years of data
48
1971–2023
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 4.86 million for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in 2023.
That represents a change of up 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom peaked at 5.89 million in 1973 and was at its lowest, 4.28 million, in 1985.
That places United Kingdom 32nd out of 218 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 48 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 5.81 million | — |
| 1972 | 5.88 million | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 5.89 million | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 5.88 million | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 5.81 million | -1.1% |
| 1976 | 5.73 million | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 5.64 million | -1.5% |
| 1978 | 5.50 million | -2.5% |
| 1979 | 5.33 million | -3.1% |
| 1980 | 5.13 million | -3.6% |
| 1981 | 4.91 million | -4.3% |
| 1982 | 4.69 million | -4.5% |
| 1983 | 4.47 million | -4.6% |
| 1984 | 4.37 million | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 4.28 million | -2.1% |
| 1986 | 4.30 million | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 4.32 million | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 4.37 million | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 4.41 million | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 4.49 million | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 4.53 million | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 4.56 million | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 4.66 million | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 4.66 million | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 4.63 million | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 4.60 million | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 4.54 million | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 4.49 million | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 4.69 million | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 4.63 million | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 4.52 million | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 4.41 million | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 4.47 million | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 4.42 million | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 4.42 million | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 4.42 million | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 4.52 million | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 4.62 million | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 4.51 million | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 4.62 million | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 4.72 million | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 4.82 million | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 4.89 million | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 4.92 million | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 4.90 million | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 4.87 million | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 4.87 million | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 4.86 million | -0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 4.86 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 236,668, 20.6× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 4.86 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 432,238, 11.3× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.72 million | 5.33 million | 5.89 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 4.53 million | 4.28 million | 5.13 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.58 million | 4.49 million | 4.66 million | 5 |
| 2000s | 4.54 million | 4.41 million | 4.69 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.65 million | 4.42 million | 4.92 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.88 million | 4.86 million | 4.90 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More education data for United Kingdom
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom was 4.86 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 5.89 million in 1973.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.28 million in 1985.
- How does United Kingdom rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- United Kingdom ranks 32nd out of 218 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release