Primary education, pupils in United States
United States: Primary education, pupils was 23.83 million in 2023. ▼ Falling
Primary education, pupils in United States, 2014–2023
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary education, pupils in United States is 23.83 million, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and down 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary education, pupils in United States peaked at 25.12 million in 2017 and was at its lowest, 23.52 million, in 2022.
That places United States 6th out of 206 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Primary education, pupils in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 24.54 million | — |
| 2015 | 24.79 million | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 25.02 million | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 25.12 million | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 24.96 million | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 24.79 million | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 24.47 million | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 23.91 million | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 23.52 million | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 23.83 million | +1.3% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 23.83 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 236,668, 100.7× the median. (78 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 24.87 million | 24.54 million | 25.12 million | 6 |
| 2020s | 23.93 million | 23.52 million | 24.47 million | 4 |
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 primary education, pupils in United States?
- Primary education, pupils in United States was 23.83 million in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest primary education, pupils recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 25.12 million in 2017.
- What is the lowest primary education, pupils recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.52 million in 2022.
- How does United States rank for primary education, pupils?
- United States ranks 6th out of 206 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary education, pupils rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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.
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CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.