Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in United States
United States: Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both was 3.89 million in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
3.89 million
Change on year
down 1.8%
World rank
6th
of 222 countries
All-time high
4.15 million
in 2014
All-time low
3.12 million
in 1980
Years of data
55
1970–2025
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in United States, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
United States recorded 3.89 million for population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in 2025.
The figure is down 1.8% on the previous year and down 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in United States peaked at 4.15 million in 2014 and was at its lowest, 3.12 million, in 1980.
United States ranks 6th of 222 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4.02 million | — |
| 1971 | 3.96 million | -1.4% |
| 1972 | 3.74 million | -5.7% |
| 1973 | 3.58 million | -4.1% |
| 1974 | 3.47 million | -3.3% |
| 1975 | 3.43 million | -1.0% |
| 1976 | 3.51 million | +2.4% |
| 1977 | 3.66 million | +4.2% |
| 1978 | 3.50 million | -4.4% |
| 1979 | 3.22 million | -8.0% |
| 1980 | 3.12 million | -3.1% |
| 1981 | 3.15 million | +0.9% |
| 1982 | 3.14 million | -0.3% |
| 1983 | 3.17 million | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 3.33 million | +4.9% |
| 1985 | 3.36 million | +0.9% |
| 1986 | 3.49 million | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 3.59 million | +2.9% |
| 1988 | 3.61 million | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 3.66 million | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 3.63 million | -0.8% |
| 1991 | 3.64 million | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 3.73 million | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 3.74 million | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 3.81 million | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 3.91 million | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 4.01 million | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 4.14 million | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 4.09 million | -1.4% |
| 1999 | 4.03 million | -1.4% |
| 2000 | 4.04 million | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 4.00 million | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 3.97 million | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 3.91 million | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 3.84 million | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 3.82 million | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 3.83 million | +0.2% |
| 2007 | 3.89 million | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 4.05 million | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 3.99 million | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 4.02 million | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 4.06 million | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 4.08 million | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 4.11 million | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 4.15 million | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 4.11 million | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 4.00 million | -2.8% |
| 2017 | 4.05 million | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 4.05 million | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 4.01 million | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 4.01 million | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 4.06 million | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 4.02 million | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 3.96 million | -1.6% |
| 2025 | 3.89 million | -1.8% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 3.89 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 40,266, 96.6× the median. (80 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.61 million | 3.22 million | 4.02 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.36 million | 3.12 million | 3.66 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.87 million | 3.63 million | 4.14 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.93 million | 3.82 million | 4.05 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.06 million | 4.00 million | 4.15 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.99 million | 3.89 million | 4.06 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States
More education data for United States
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0708 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in United States?
- Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both in United States was 3.89 million in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 4.15 million in 2014.
- What is the lowest population of the official entrance age to primary education, both recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.12 million in 1980.
- How does United States rank for population of the official entrance age to primary education, both?
- United States ranks 6th out of 222 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population of the official entrance age to primary education, both rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population of the official entrance age to primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release