Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Romania
Romania: Share of children in primary school age who are in school was 84.4% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Romania, 1820–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Romania recorded 84.4% for share of children in primary school age who are in school in 2023.
The figure is down 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of children in primary school age who are in school in Romania peaked at 100.0% in 1935 and was at its lowest, 1.8%, in 1820.
That places Romania 171st out of 209 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom 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 Romania, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 1.8% | — |
| 1825 | 2.1% | +16.3% |
| 1830 | 2.4% | +15.9% |
| 1835 | 2.8% | +16.3% |
| 1840 | 3.2% | +16.1% |
| 1845 | 3.8% | +15.7% |
| 1850 | 4.3% | +16.0% |
| 1855 | 5.0% | +15.6% |
| 1860 | 5.8% | +15.5% |
| 1865 | 6.7% | +15.5% |
| 1870 | 7.7% | +15.2% |
| 1875 | 8.9% | +15.1% |
| 1880 | 10.2% | +14.8% |
| 1885 | 12.5% | +21.9% |
| 1890 | 17.2% | +38.0% |
| 1895 | 22.8% | +32.3% |
| 1900 | 55.6% | +144.4% |
| 1905 | 41.6% | -25.1% |
| 1910 | 76.4% | +83.5% |
| 1915 | 54.7% | -28.3% |
| 1920 | 65.0% | +18.7% |
| 1925 | 71.7% | +10.4% |
| 1930 | 78.6% | +9.5% |
| 1935 | 100.0% | +27.3% |
| 1940 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 77.6% | -22.4% |
| 1950 | 78.8% | +1.6% |
| 1955 | 64.7% | -17.9% |
| 1960 | 83.1% | +28.4% |
| 1965 | 86.5% | +4.1% |
| 1970 | 95.0% | +9.8% |
| 1975 | 90.7% | -4.5% |
| 1980 | 86.5% | -4.7% |
| 2001 | 99.4% | +14.9% |
| 2002 | 98.6% | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 95.7% | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 94.7% | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 92.8% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 93.8% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 93.7% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 96.7% | +3.2% |
| 2009 | 98.8% | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 97.6% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 95.8% | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 93.7% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 92.1% | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 91.1% | -1.2% |
| 2017 | 90.6% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 91.6% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 92.4% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 91.7% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 90.4% | -1.4% |
| 2022 | 84.4% | -6.7% |
| 2023 | 84.4% | +0.0% |
Romania compared with similar countries
- Romania's 84.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 98.2%, 86% of the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Romania's 84.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 98.6%, 86% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Romania 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | +144.4% | 22.8% | 55.6% |
| 1910 | +83.5% | 41.6% | 76.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820s | 1.9% | 1.8% | 2.1% | 2 |
| 1830s | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.8% | 2 |
| 1840s | 3.5% | 3.2% | 3.8% | 2 |
| 1850s | 4.7% | 4.3% | 5.0% | 2 |
| 1860s | 6.3% | 5.8% | 6.7% | 2 |
| 1870s | 8.3% | 7.7% | 8.9% | 2 |
| 1880s | 11.3% | 10.2% | 12.5% | 2 |
| 1890s | 20.0% | 17.2% | 22.8% | 2 |
| 1900s | 48.6% | 41.6% | 55.6% | 2 |
| 1910s | 65.5% | 54.7% | 76.4% | 2 |
| 1920s | 68.4% | 65.0% | 71.7% | 2 |
| 1930s | 89.3% | 78.6% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1940s | 88.8% | 77.6% | 100.0% | 2 |
| 1950s | 71.8% | 64.7% | 78.8% | 2 |
| 1960s | 84.8% | 83.1% | 86.5% | 2 |
| 1970s | 92.8% | 90.7% | 95.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 86.5% | 86.5% | 86.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 96.0% | 92.8% | 99.4% | 9 |
| 2010s | 93.1% | 90.6% | 97.6% | 8 |
| 2020s | 87.7% | 84.4% | 91.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Romania
More education data for Romania
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 125,405 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 14,415 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 267,679 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 254,147 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.43 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 873,154 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.7448 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0458 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of children in primary school age who are in school in Romania?
- Share of children in primary school age who are in school in Romania was 84.4% 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 Romania?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 1935.
- What is the lowest share of children in primary school age who are in school recorded in Romania?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.8% in 1820.
- How does Romania rank for share of children in primary school age who are in school?
- Romania ranks 171st out of 209 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of children in primary school age who are in school rising or falling in Romania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Romania 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.