Persistence to last grade of primary, total in European Union
European Union: Persistence to last grade of primary, total was 97.7% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Persistence to last grade of primary, total in European Union, 1970–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % of cohort.
Analysis
European Union recorded 97.7% for persistence to last grade of primary, total in 2023. That is the highest value across all 54 years on record.
The figure is up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, persistence to last grade of primary, total in European Union peaked at 97.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 92.2%, in 1971.
That places European Union 5th out of 45 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Persistence to last grade of primary, total in European Union, year by year
| Year | % of cohort | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 92.2% | — |
| 1971 | 92.2% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 92.6% | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 92.7% | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 92.8% | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 93.2% | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 93.8% | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 94.4% | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 94.4% | -0.0% |
| 1979 | 94.5% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 94.9% | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 95.2% | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 94.9% | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 95.3% | +0.4% |
| 1984 | 95.9% | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 96.0% | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 95.3% | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 94.9% | -0.4% |
| 1988 | 95.2% | +0.4% |
| 1989 | 95.2% | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 95.5% | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 95.7% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 95.7% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 96.0% | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 95.4% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 96.5% | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 95.7% | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 95.2% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 96.6% | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 96.5% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 96.7% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 96.8% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 96.9% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 97.2% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 97.3% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 97.1% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 96.9% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 96.7% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 96.8% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 96.7% | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 96.8% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 96.7% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 96.5% | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 96.7% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 96.9% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 97.1% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 97.1% | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 97.5% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 97.5% | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 97.6% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 97.6% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 97.6% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 97.7% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 97.7% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 93.3% | 92.2% | 94.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 95.3% | 94.9% | 96.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 95.9% | 95.2% | 96.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 96.9% | 96.7% | 97.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 97.0% | 96.5% | 97.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 97.6% | 97.6% | 97.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More education data for European Union
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 14.2% (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 63.3% (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 37.39 million (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0517 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 1.89 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.26 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is persistence to last grade of primary, total in European Union?
- Persistence to last grade of primary, total in European Union was 97.7% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest persistence to last grade of primary, total recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 97.7% in 2023.
- What is the lowest persistence to last grade of primary, total recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 92.2% in 1971.
- How does European Union rank for persistence to last grade of primary, total?
- European Union ranks 5th out of 45 groups with data for 2023.
- Is persistence to last grade of primary, total rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Persistence to last grade of primary, total (% of cohort). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Persistence to last grade of primary is the percentage of children enrolled in the first grade of primary school who eventually reach the last grade of primary education. The estimate is based on the reconstructed cohort method.