School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes was 1.49 million in 2024. ▲ Rising
School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom, 2000–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom is 1.49 million, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and down 6.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom peaked at 1.62 million in 2016 and was at its lowest, 1.34 million, in 2006.
That places United Kingdom 48th out of 222 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.45 million | — |
| 2001 | 1.45 million | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 1.43 million | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 1.40 million | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 1.38 million | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 1.35 million | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 1.34 million | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 1.37 million | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 1.41 million | +2.8% |
| 2009 | 1.44 million | +2.6% |
| 2010 | 1.49 million | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 1.53 million | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 1.57 million | +2.3% |
| 2013 | 1.58 million | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 1.60 million | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 1.62 million | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 1.62 million | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 1.59 million | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 1.56 million | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 1.55 million | -0.8% |
| 2020 | 1.53 million | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 1.50 million | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 1.48 million | -1.5% |
| 2023 | 1.48 million | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 1.49 million | +0.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.40 million | 1.34 million | 1.45 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.57 million | 1.49 million | 1.62 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.50 million | 1.48 million | 1.53 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More education data for United Kingdom
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.37 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.0164 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0346 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.49 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate -0.0369 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0364 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.49 % change on previous year (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 281,128 (2023)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -0.4388 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom?
- School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes in United Kingdom was 1.49 million in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 1.62 million in 2016.
- What is the lowest school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.34 million in 2006.
- How does United Kingdom rank for school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes?
- United Kingdom ranks 48th out of 222 countries with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, pre-primary education, both sexes rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School age population, pre-primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 25 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release