Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) was 6.40 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in United Kingdom, 1971–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in United Kingdom is 6.40 million, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and down 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in United Kingdom peaked at 6.56 million in 2014 and was at its lowest, 4.15 million, in 1971.
That places United Kingdom 20th out of 219 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 52 years of available data.
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 4.15 million | — |
| 1972 | 4.28 million | +3.1% |
| 1973 | 4.42 million | +3.4% |
| 1974 | 4.83 million | +9.1% |
| 1975 | 4.99 million | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 5.15 million | +3.3% |
| 1977 | 5.29 million | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 5.34 million | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 5.38 million | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 5.36 million | -0.4% |
| 1981 | 5.34 million | -0.3% |
| 1982 | 5.33 million | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 5.30 million | -0.6% |
| 1984 | 5.17 million | -2.3% |
| 1985 | 5.02 million | -2.9% |
| 1986 | 4.88 million | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 4.69 million | -3.9% |
| 1988 | 4.51 million | -3.8% |
| 1989 | 4.37 million | -3.2% |
| 1990 | 4.28 million | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 4.34 million | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 4.43 million | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 4.87 million | +9.8% |
| 1994 | 4.94 million | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 4.99 million | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 5.00 million | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 4.98 million | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 5.01 million | +0.7% |
| 1999 | 5.20 million | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 5.31 million | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 5.38 million | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 5.52 million | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 5.54 million | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 5.71 million | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 5.76 million | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 5.36 million | -7.0% |
| 2007 | 5.31 million | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 5.36 million | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 5.43 million | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 5.54 million | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 5.00 million | -9.7% |
| 2012 | 4.85 million | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 6.50 million | +34.0% |
| 2014 | 6.56 million | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 6.37 million | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 6.39 million | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 6.17 million | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 6.14 million | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 6.13 million | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 6.20 million | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 6.30 million | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 6.40 million | +1.5% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 6.40 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 307,015, 20.8× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 6.40 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 543,350, 11.8× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +34.0% | 4.85 million | 6.50 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.87 million | 4.15 million | 5.38 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 5.00 million | 4.37 million | 5.36 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.80 million | 4.28 million | 5.20 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.47 million | 5.31 million | 5.76 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.95 million | 4.85 million | 6.56 million | 9 |
| 2020s | 6.26 million | 6.13 million | 6.40 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 secondary education, both sexes in United Kingdom?
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in United Kingdom was 6.40 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 6.56 million in 2014.
- What is the lowest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.15 million in 1971.
- How does United Kingdom rank for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes?
- United Kingdom ranks 20th out of 219 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
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CSV · JSON — 52 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release