Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 5.89 million in 1973 and was at its lowest, 4.28 million, in 1985.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 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% |
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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.89 million in 1973.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.28 million in 1985.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 32nd out of 218 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 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 of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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