Proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education in Belgium
Belgium: Proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education was 72.2% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education in Belgium, 2003–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education in Belgium stood at 72.2%. That is the lowest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of down 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education in Belgium peaked at 87.8% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 72.2%, in 2023.
Belgium ranks 11th of 25 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education in Belgium, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 87.8% | — |
| 2011 | 87.7% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 86.6% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 79.1% | -8.6% |
| 2023 | 72.2% | -8.7% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 72.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 72.5%, 100% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 72.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 72.2%, 1.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 87.8% | 87.8% | 87.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 84.4% | 79.1% | 87.7% | 3 |
| 2020s | 72.2% | 72.2% | 72.2% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More education data for Belgium
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 137,795 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 17,384 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 221,494 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 210,503 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.18 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 814,388 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1356 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0691 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education in Belgium?
- Proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education in Belgium was 72.2% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 87.8% in 2003.
- What is the lowest proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 72.2% in 2023.
- How does Belgium rank for proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education?
- Belgium ranks 11th out of 25 countries with data for 2023.
- Is proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education prepared for the future in mathematics, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release