Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) in Belgium
Belgium: Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) was 1.18 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Belgium, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2023, enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Belgium stood at 1.18 million.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Belgium peaked at 1.22 million in 2008 and was at its lowest, 723,703, in 1971.
That places Belgium 66th out of 219 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 51 years of available data.
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 723,703 | — |
| 1972 | 752,093 | +3.9% |
| 1973 | 769,865 | +2.4% |
| 1974 | 784,654 | +1.9% |
| 1975 | 788,773 | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 795,203 | +0.8% |
| 1977 | 811,608 | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 832,600 | +2.6% |
| 1979 | 840,326 | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 839,002 | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 835,524 | -0.4% |
| 1982 | 835,177 | -0.0% |
| 1983 | 818,611 | -2.0% |
| 1984 | 825,108 | +0.8% |
| 1985 | 827,839 | +0.3% |
| 1986 | 824,997 | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 812,991 | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 805,647 | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 794,023 | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 781,488 | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 769,438 | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 765,672 | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 1.04 million | +35.9% |
| 1994 | 1.05 million | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 1.06 million | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 1.06 million | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 1.03 million | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 1.06 million | +2.3% |
| 2001 | 1.13 million | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 1.15 million | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 1.18 million | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 1.14 million | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 1.20 million | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 1.22 million | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 1.22 million | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 1.22 million | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 1.21 million | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 1.20 million | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 1.19 million | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 1.19 million | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 1.21 million | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 1.21 million | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 1.22 million | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 1.20 million | -1.8% |
| 2017 | 1.19 million | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 1.18 million | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 1.19 million | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 1.17 million | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 1.13 million | -3.7% |
| 2022 | 1.15 million | +1.8% |
| 2023 | 1.18 million | +2.6% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 1.18 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 307,015, 3.9× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 1.18 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 543,350, 2.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) in Belgium changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +35.9% | 765,672 | 1.04 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 788,758 | 723,703 | 840,326 | 9 |
| 1980s | 821,892 | 794,023 | 839,002 | 10 |
| 1990s | 945,612 | 765,672 | 1.06 million | 8 |
| 2000s | 1.17 million | 1.06 million | 1.22 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.20 million | 1.18 million | 1.22 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.16 million | 1.13 million | 1.18 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 63 Tajikistan 1.29 million compare
- 64 Senegal 1.28 million compare
- 65 Burkina Faso 1.19 million compare
- 67 Cambodia 1.17 million compare
- 68 Sierra Leone 1.16 million compare
- 69 Malawi 1.16 million compare
More education data for Belgium
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 137,795 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 17,384 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 221,494 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 210,503 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.18 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 814,388 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1356 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0691 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Belgium?
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Belgium was 1.18 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 1.22 million in 2008.
- What is the lowest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 723,703 in 1971.
- How does Belgium rank for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes?
- Belgium ranks 66th out of 219 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 51 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release