Primary education, pupils in France
France: Primary education, pupils was 4.13 million in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
4.13 million
Change on year
down 1.3%
World rank
41st
of 206 countries
All-time high
4.94 million
in 1971
All-time low
3.78 million
in 2004
Years of data
54
1971–2024
Primary education, pupils in France, 1971–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
In 2024, primary education, pupils in France stood at 4.13 million.
The figure is down 1.3% on the previous year and down 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in France peaked at 4.94 million in 1971 and was at its lowest, 3.78 million, in 2004.
France ranks 41st of 206 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Primary education, pupils in France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 4.94 million | — |
| 1972 | 4.85 million | -1.7% |
| 1973 | 4.76 million | -1.9% |
| 1974 | 4.72 million | -0.8% |
| 1975 | 4.67 million | -1.1% |
| 1976 | 4.60 million | -1.5% |
| 1977 | 4.57 million | -0.7% |
| 1978 | 4.62 million | +1.1% |
| 1979 | 4.65 million | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 4.65 million | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 4.61 million | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 4.54 million | -1.6% |
| 1983 | 4.39 million | -3.3% |
| 1984 | 4.26 million | -2.9% |
| 1985 | 4.13 million | -3.1% |
| 1986 | 4.12 million | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 4.12 million | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 4.15 million | +0.8% |
| 1989 | 4.18 million | +0.6% |
| 1990 | 4.16 million | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 4.15 million | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 4.11 million | -0.9% |
| 1993 | 4.06 million | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 4.08 million | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 4.07 million | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 4.07 million | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 4.00 million | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 3.98 million | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 3.94 million | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 3.88 million | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 3.84 million | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 3.81 million | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 3.79 million | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 3.78 million | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 4.02 million | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 4.05 million | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 4.11 million | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 4.14 million | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 4.15 million | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 4.16 million | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 4.17 million | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 4.16 million | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 4.17 million | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 4.19 million | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 4.26 million | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 4.28 million | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 4.31 million | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 4.30 million | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 4.30 million | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 4.28 million | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 4.26 million | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 4.21 million | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 4.18 million | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 4.13 million | -1.3% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 4.13 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 236,668, 17.4× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- France's 4.13 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 432,238, 9.5× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.71 million | 4.57 million | 4.94 million | 9 |
| 1980s | 4.31 million | 4.12 million | 4.65 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.06 million | 3.94 million | 4.16 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.96 million | 3.78 million | 4.15 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.23 million | 4.16 million | 4.31 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.21 million | 4.13 million | 4.28 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near France
More education data for France
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 457,956 (2019)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 43,533 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.19 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.14 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.27 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.13 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0602 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary education, pupils in France?
- Primary education, pupils in France was 4.13 million in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 4.94 million in 1971.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.78 million in 2004.
- How does France rank for primary education, pupils?
- France ranks 41st out of 206 countries with data for 2024.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France 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.