Primary education, pupils in European Union
European Union: Primary education, pupils was 23.26 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
23.26 million
Change on year
unchanged
Rank
38th
of 45 groups
All-time high
32.14 million
in 1971
All-time low
23.03 million
in 2022
Years of data
55
1970–2024
Primary education, pupils in European Union, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
European Union recorded 23.26 million for primary education, pupils in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in European Union peaked at 32.14 million in 1971 and was at its lowest, 23.03 million, in 2022.
European Union ranks 38th 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 European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 26.06 million | — |
| 1971 | 32.14 million | +23.3% |
| 1972 | 32.06 million | -0.3% |
| 1973 | 31.61 million | -1.4% |
| 1974 | 31.60 million | -0.0% |
| 1975 | 31.30 million | -1.0% |
| 1976 | 31.11 million | -0.6% |
| 1977 | 30.85 million | -0.8% |
| 1978 | 30.71 million | -0.4% |
| 1979 | 30.57 million | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 30.38 million | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 30.56 million | +0.6% |
| 1982 | 30.22 million | -1.1% |
| 1983 | 30.02 million | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 29.77 million | -0.8% |
| 1985 | 29.53 million | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 29.51 million | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 29.30 million | -0.7% |
| 1988 | 28.91 million | -1.4% |
| 1989 | 28.10 million | -2.8% |
| 1990 | 27.84 million | -0.9% |
| 1991 | 27.17 million | -2.4% |
| 1992 | 26.79 million | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 26.73 million | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 26.67 million | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 26.54 million | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 26.99 million | +1.7% |
| 1997 | 26.97 million | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 26.94 million | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 26.54 million | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 26.06 million | -1.8% |
| 2001 | 25.55 million | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 25.04 million | -2.0% |
| 2003 | 24.65 million | -1.5% |
| 2004 | 24.30 million | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 24.17 million | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 23.97 million | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 23.93 million | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 23.74 million | -0.8% |
| 2009 | 23.57 million | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 23.43 million | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 23.40 million | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 23.35 million | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 23.78 million | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 23.80 million | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 24.01 million | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 24.17 million | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 24.49 million | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 24.51 million | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 24.47 million | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 23.30 million | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 23.18 million | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 23.03 million | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 23.26 million | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 23.26 million | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 30.80 million | 26.06 million | 32.14 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 29.63 million | 28.10 million | 30.56 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 26.92 million | 26.54 million | 27.84 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.50 million | 23.57 million | 26.06 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.94 million | 23.35 million | 24.51 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.21 million | 23.03 million | 23.30 million | 5 |
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)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.26 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0517 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 37.39 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 14.2% (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Population ages 15-64 63.3% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 1.89 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils in European Union?
- Primary education, pupils in European Union was 23.26 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 32.14 million in 1971.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.03 million in 2022.
- How does European Union rank for primary education, pupils?
- European Union ranks 38th out of 45 groups with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 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.