Proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education was 80.0% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1995–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 80.0% for proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education in 2023.
That represents a change of up 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 82.6% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 53.3%, in 1995.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 5th out of 25 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 53.3% | — |
| 2003 | 74.4% | +39.6% |
| 2007 | 78.7% | +5.7% |
| 2011 | 77.5% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 79.9% | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 82.6% | +3.5% |
| 2023 | 80.0% | -3.1% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 80.0% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 72.2%, 1.1× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 80.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 72.5%, 1.1× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 53.3% | 53.3% | 53.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 76.6% | 74.4% | 78.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 80.0% | 77.5% | 82.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 80.0% | 80.0% | 80.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 80.0% 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 82.6% in 2019.
- What is the lowest proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 53.3% in 1995.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 5th out of 25 countries with data for 2023.
- Is proportion of children/young people at the age of primary education rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release