Primary education, pupils in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Primary education, pupils was 52.35 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
52.35 million
Change on year
down 0.1%
Rank
35th
of 45 groups
All-time high
62.06 million
in 1971
All-time low
48.60 million
in 2010
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Primary education, pupils in Europe & Central Asia, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
Europe & Central Asia recorded 52.35 million for primary education, pupils in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 62.06 million in 1971 and was at its lowest, 48.60 million, in 2010.
Europe & Central Asia ranks 35th of 45 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils in Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 54.62 million | — |
| 1971 | 62.06 million | +13.6% |
| 1972 | 61.51 million | -0.9% |
| 1973 | 60.65 million | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 60.17 million | -0.8% |
| 1975 | 59.36 million | -1.3% |
| 1976 | 58.92 million | -0.8% |
| 1977 | 58.34 million | -1.0% |
| 1978 | 58.09 million | -0.4% |
| 1979 | 58.11 million | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 59.02 million | +1.6% |
| 1981 | 56.73 million | -3.9% |
| 1982 | 58.01 million | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 57.89 million | -0.2% |
| 1984 | 58.15 million | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 58.00 million | -0.2% |
| 1986 | 57.07 million | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 58.24 million | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 58.70 million | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 56.40 million | -3.9% |
| 1990 | 57.11 million | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 56.95 million | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 56.75 million | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 56.78 million | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 56.70 million | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 56.28 million | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 57.62 million | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 57.49 million | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 57.24 million | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 56.25 million | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 54.83 million | -2.5% |
| 2001 | 53.81 million | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 52.91 million | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 51.81 million | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 52.37 million | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 51.09 million | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 50.17 million | -1.8% |
| 2007 | 49.58 million | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 49.17 million | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 48.66 million | -1.0% |
| 2010 | 48.60 million | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 48.74 million | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 48.89 million | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 48.86 million | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 49.14 million | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 49.71 million | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 50.52 million | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 51.36 million | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 52.27 million | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 52.84 million | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 52.10 million | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 52.20 million | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 52.26 million | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 52.38 million | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 52.35 million | -0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 59.18 million | 54.62 million | 62.06 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 57.82 million | 56.40 million | 59.02 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 56.91 million | 56.25 million | 57.62 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 51.44 million | 48.66 million | 54.83 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 50.09 million | 48.60 million | 52.84 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 52.26 million | 52.10 million | 52.38 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
More education data for Europe & Central Asia
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 83.79 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 52.35 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0527 % change on previous year (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 64.3% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.52 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0564 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 17.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils in Europe & Central Asia?
- Primary education, pupils in Europe & Central Asia was 52.35 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 62.06 million in 1971.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.60 million in 2010.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for primary education, pupils?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 35th out of 45 groups with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Primary education, pupils. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.