School age population, primary education, both sexes (number) in Belgium
Belgium: School age population, primary education, both sexes (number) was 790,278 in 2024. ▲ Rising
School age population, primary education, both sexes in Belgium, 2001–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 790,278 for school age population, primary education, both sexes in 2024.
The figure is down 0.9% on the previous year and up 5.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, primary education, both sexes in Belgium peaked at 807,065 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 712,894, in 2006.
That places Belgium 98th out of 222 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
School age population, primary education, both sexes (number) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 746,315 | — |
| 2002 | 741,069 | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 734,007 | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 725,073 | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 716,286 | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 712,894 | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 714,887 | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 716,811 | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 715,438 | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 715,751 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 726,832 | +1.5% |
| 2012 | 733,184 | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 740,507 | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 750,273 | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 765,431 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 781,327 | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 793,140 | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 801,203 | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 805,796 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 807,065 | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 803,784 | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 798,119 | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 797,575 | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 790,278 | -0.9% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 790,278 is above the median for high income countries, which is 215,283, 3.7× the median. (80 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 790,278 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 432,642, 1.8× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 724,753 | 712,894 | 746,315 | 9 |
| 2010s | 761,344 | 715,751 | 805,796 | 10 |
| 2020s | 799,364 | 790,278 | 807,065 | 5 |
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 school age population, primary education, both sexes in Belgium?
- School age population, primary education, both sexes in Belgium was 790,278 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 807,065 in 2020.
- What is the lowest school age population, primary education, both sexes recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 712,894 in 2006.
- How does Belgium rank for school age population, primary education, both sexes?
- Belgium ranks 98th out of 222 countries with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School age population, primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release