Percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private was 59.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1976–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 59.1%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 11.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 59.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 5.2%, in 1985.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 50th out of 211 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 5.4% | — |
| 1985 | 5.2% | -3.3% |
| 1986 | 5.3% | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 5.5% | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 5.8% | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 6.1% | +6.8% |
| 1990 | 6.0% | -1.9% |
| 1991 | 6.0% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 6.1% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 6.1% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 6.0% | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 6.0% | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 6.2% | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 6.6% | +7.8% |
| 2004 | 8.5% | +28.5% |
| 2006 | 29.0% | +240.4% |
| 2008 | 29.5% | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 28.1% | -4.5% |
| 2010 | 21.0% | -25.5% |
| 2011 | 28.8% | +37.5% |
| 2012 | 37.5% | +29.9% |
| 2013 | 52.9% | +41.2% |
| 2014 | 30.2% | -43.0% |
| 2015 | 49.3% | +63.3% |
| 2016 | 47.6% | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 48.8% | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 53.1% | +8.7% |
| 2019 | 55.2% | +3.9% |
| 2020 | 55.6% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 57.0% | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 58.4% | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 59.1% | +1.2% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 59.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.6%, 1.9× the median. (77 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 59.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 14.0%, 4.2× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | +240.4% | 8.5% | 29.0% |
| 2015 | +63.3% | 30.2% | 49.3% |
| 2014 | -43.0% | 52.9% | 30.2% |
| 2013 | +41.2% | 37.5% | 52.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.4% | 5.4% | 5.4% | 1 |
| 1980s | 5.6% | 5.2% | 6.1% | 5 |
| 1990s | 6.1% | 6.0% | 6.1% | 4 |
| 2000s | 15.0% | 6.0% | 29.5% | 8 |
| 2010s | 42.4% | 21.0% | 55.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 57.5% | 55.6% | 59.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 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)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 59.1% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 59.1% in 2023.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.2% in 1985.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 50th out of 211 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private institutions, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 32 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release