Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Portugal
Portugal: Share of children in primary school age who are in school was 99.5% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Portugal, 1820–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of children in primary school age who are in school in Portugal is 99.5%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children in primary school age who are in school in Portugal peaked at 100.0% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 3.1%, in 1820.
That places Portugal 27th out of 209 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Portugal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 3.1% | — |
| 1825 | 3.7% | +20.1% |
| 1830 | 4.5% | +20.5% |
| 1835 | 5.3% | +20.0% |
| 1840 | 6.4% | +20.0% |
| 1845 | 7.7% | +19.6% |
| 1850 | 9.2% | +19.3% |
| 1855 | 13.5% | +47.5% |
| 1860 | 17.9% | +32.1% |
| 1865 | 22.2% | +24.4% |
| 1870 | 26.5% | +19.5% |
| 1875 | 32.5% | +22.4% |
| 1880 | 38.4% | +18.3% |
| 1885 | 44.4% | +15.5% |
| 1890 | 41.8% | -5.8% |
| 1895 | 39.3% | -6.1% |
| 1900 | 36.7% | -6.5% |
| 1905 | 38.0% | +3.4% |
| 1910 | 39.2% | +3.3% |
| 1915 | 40.5% | +3.2% |
| 1920 | 41.8% | +3.1% |
| 1925 | 43.0% | +3.0% |
| 1930 | 55.3% | +28.5% |
| 1935 | 54.9% | -0.7% |
| 1940 | 65.9% | +20.0% |
| 1945 | 66.1% | +0.4% |
| 1950 | 77.2% | +16.8% |
| 1955 | 92.7% | +20.0% |
| 1960 | 99.0% | +6.8% |
| 1965 | 77.0% | -22.2% |
| 1970 | 83.0% | +7.8% |
| 1975 | 87.0% | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 97.0% | +11.5% |
| 2001 | 99.7% | +2.8% |
| 2002 | 100.0% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 99.9% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 99.9% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 99.8% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 99.9% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 99.7% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 99.2% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 99.9% | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 100.0% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 99.8% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 99.8% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 99.2% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 98.1% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 97.5% | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 97.5% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 98.0% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 99.0% | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 99.8% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 99.9% | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 99.8% | -0.1% |
| 2023 | 99.5% | -0.3% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 99.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 98.2%, 1.0× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 99.5% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 98.6%, 1.0× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Portugal changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1855 | +47.5% | 9.2% | 13.5% |
| 1860 | +32.1% | 13.5% | 17.9% |
| 1930 | +28.5% | 43.0% | 55.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 2 |
| 1830s | 4.9% | 4.5% | 5.3% | 2 |
| 1840s | 7.0% | 6.4% | 7.7% | 2 |
| 1850s | 11.3% | 9.2% | 13.5% | 2 |
| 1860s | 20.0% | 17.9% | 22.2% | 2 |
| 1870s | 29.5% | 26.5% | 32.5% | 2 |
| 1880s | 41.4% | 38.4% | 44.4% | 2 |
| 1890s | 40.5% | 39.3% | 41.8% | 2 |
| 1900s | 37.3% | 36.7% | 38.0% | 2 |
| 1910s | 39.9% | 39.2% | 40.5% | 2 |
| 1920s | 42.4% | 41.8% | 43.0% | 2 |
| 1930s | 55.1% | 54.9% | 55.3% | 2 |
| 1940s | 66.0% | 65.9% | 66.1% | 2 |
| 1950s | 85.0% | 77.2% | 92.7% | 2 |
| 1960s | 88.0% | 77.0% | 99.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 85.0% | 83.0% | 87.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 97.0% | 97.0% | 97.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 99.8% | 99.2% | 100.0% | 9 |
| 2010s | 98.9% | 97.5% | 100.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 99.7% | 99.5% | 99.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More education data for Portugal
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 82,664 (2018)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 11,380 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 136,282 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 128,743 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 741,752 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 598,661 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0566 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children in primary school age who are in school in Portugal?
- Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Portugal was 99.5% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 2011.
- What is the lowest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.1% in 1820.
- How does Portugal rank for share of children in primary school age who are in school?
- Portugal ranks 27th out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of children in primary school age who are in school rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of children in primary school age who are in school. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of children of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.