Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Primary education, pupils, gaps filled was 4.86 million in 2023. ▼ Falling
Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived).
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary education, pupils, gaps filled in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 4.86 million, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils, gaps filled in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 5.89 million in 1973 and was at its lowest, 4.28 million, in 1985.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 32nd of 206 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 48 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 5.81 million | — |
| 1972 | 5.88 million | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 5.89 million | +0.1% |
| 1974 | 5.88 million | -0.2% |
| 1975 | 5.81 million | -1.1% |
| 1976 | 5.73 million | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 5.64 million | -1.5% |
| 1978 | 5.50 million | -2.5% |
| 1979 | 5.33 million | -3.1% |
| 1980 | 5.13 million | -3.6% |
| 1981 | 4.91 million | -4.3% |
| 1982 | 4.69 million | -4.5% |
| 1983 | 4.47 million | -4.6% |
| 1984 | 4.37 million | -2.4% |
| 1985 | 4.28 million | -2.1% |
| 1986 | 4.30 million | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 4.32 million | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 4.37 million | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 4.41 million | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 4.49 million | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 4.53 million | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 4.56 million | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 4.66 million | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 4.66 million | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 4.63 million | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 4.60 million | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 4.54 million | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 4.49 million | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 4.69 million | +4.4% |
| 2005 | 4.63 million | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 4.52 million | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 4.41 million | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 4.47 million | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 4.42 million | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 4.42 million | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 4.42 million | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 4.52 million | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 4.62 million | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 4.51 million | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 4.62 million | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 4.72 million | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 4.82 million | +2.1% |
| 2018 | 4.89 million | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 4.92 million | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 4.90 million | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 4.87 million | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 4.87 million | -0.0% |
| 2023 | 4.86 million | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5.72 million | 5.33 million | 5.89 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 4.53 million | 4.28 million | 5.13 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.58 million | 4.49 million | 4.66 million | 5 |
| 2000s | 4.54 million | 4.41 million | 4.69 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.65 million | 4.42 million | 4.92 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.88 million | 4.86 million | 4.90 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 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)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.37 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.0164 % change on previous year (2023)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils, gaps filled in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 4.86 million in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils, gaps filled recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.89 million in 1973.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils, gaps filled recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.28 million in 1985.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for primary education, pupils, gaps filled?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 32nd out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary education, pupils, gaps filled rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Primary education, pupils, gaps filled. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 48 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Primary education, pupils with 569 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.
Computed from
- Primary education, pupils Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Primary education, pupils with 569 missing years estimated by linear interpolation between the nearest real observations. Only gaps of 4 years or fewer are filled, and never beyond the first or last actual measurement — these are filled holes, not forecasts.