School-age population (pre-primary level) in North Macedonia
North Macedonia: School-age population (pre-primary level) was 57,771 in 2025. ▼ Falling
School-age population in North Macedonia, 1970–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2025, school-age population in North Macedonia stood at 57,771. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school-age population in North Macedonia peaked at 155,135 in 1981 and was at its lowest, 57,771, in 2025.
That places North Macedonia 63rd out of 72 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 56 years of available data.
School-age population (pre-primary level) in North Macedonia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 149,651 | — |
| 1971 | 149,876 | +0.2% |
| 1972 | 150,252 | +0.3% |
| 1973 | 149,807 | -0.3% |
| 1974 | 149,700 | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 150,129 | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 151,177 | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 151,855 | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 152,704 | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 154,095 | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 154,834 | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 155,135 | +0.2% |
| 1982 | 154,464 | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 152,920 | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 151,279 | -1.1% |
| 1985 | 150,066 | -0.8% |
| 1986 | 149,358 | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 147,864 | -1.0% |
| 1988 | 146,407 | -1.0% |
| 1989 | 145,716 | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 144,708 | -0.7% |
| 1991 | 145,137 | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 142,018 | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 137,919 | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 134,933 | -2.2% |
| 1995 | 135,581 | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 136,579 | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 137,177 | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 137,023 | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 135,001 | -1.5% |
| 2000 | 121,895 | -9.7% |
| 2001 | 119,206 | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 114,682 | -3.8% |
| 2003 | 103,489 | -9.8% |
| 2004 | 101,244 | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 99,649 | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 96,899 | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 95,974 | -1.0% |
| 2008 | 69,153 | -27.9% |
| 2009 | 68,329 | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 67,339 | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 66,734 | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 67,325 | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 68,432 | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 70,084 | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 69,953 | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 69,894 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 68,705 | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 69,490 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 69,050 | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 68,881 | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 67,057 | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 63,754 | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 60,468 | -5.2% |
| 2024 | 59,326 | -1.9% |
| 2025 | 57,771 | -2.6% |
North Macedonia compared with similar countries
- North Macedonia's 57,771 is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 261,773, 22% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
- North Macedonia's 57,771 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 217,062, 27% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where School-age population (pre-primary level) in North Macedonia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | -27.9% | 95,974 | 69,153 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 150,925 | 149,651 | 154,095 | 10 |
| 1980s | 150,804 | 145,716 | 155,135 | 10 |
| 1990s | 138,608 | 134,933 | 145,137 | 10 |
| 2000s | 99,052 | 68,329 | 121,895 | 10 |
| 2010s | 68,701 | 66,734 | 70,084 | 10 |
| 2020s | 62,876 | 57,771 | 68,881 | 6 |
Countries ranked near North Macedonia
More education data for North Macedonia
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 96.47 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 96.21 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 18,794 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 15,086 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 13,978 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 150,231 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 105,461 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.8051 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school-age population in North Macedonia?
- School-age population in North Macedonia was 57,771 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest school-age population recorded in North Macedonia?
- The highest recorded value was 155,135 in 1981.
- What is the lowest school-age population recorded in North Macedonia?
- The lowest recorded value was 57,771 in 2025.
- How does North Macedonia rank for school-age population?
- North Macedonia ranks 63rd out of 72 countries with data for 2025.
- Is school-age population rising or falling in North Macedonia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North Macedonia data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of School-age population (pre-primary level). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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