School enrollment, preprimary in Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America & Caribbean: School enrollment, preprimary was 75.6% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
School enrollment, preprimary in Latin America & Caribbean, 1970–2020
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school enrollment, preprimary in Latin America & Caribbean is 75.6%, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and up 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, preprimary in Latin America & Caribbean peaked at 76.8% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 8.6%, in 1970.
That places Latin America & Caribbean 12th out of 43 groups with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School enrollment, preprimary in Latin America & Caribbean, year by year
| Year | % gross | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8.6% | — |
| 1971 | 8.9% | +4.5% |
| 1972 | 9.4% | +5.0% |
| 1973 | 9.8% | +4.5% |
| 1974 | 10.4% | +5.8% |
| 1975 | 11.4% | +10.2% |
| 1976 | 12.9% | +13.2% |
| 1977 | 14.3% | +10.2% |
| 1978 | 15.3% | +7.6% |
| 1979 | 16.9% | +9.9% |
| 1980 | 18.0% | +6.9% |
| 1981 | 20.3% | +12.8% |
| 1982 | 23.2% | +14.0% |
| 1983 | 25.4% | +9.6% |
| 1984 | 28.0% | +10.1% |
| 1985 | 29.8% | +6.5% |
| 1986 | 32.1% | +7.9% |
| 1987 | 39.0% | +21.3% |
| 1988 | 39.5% | +1.2% |
| 1989 | 39.9% | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 43.4% | +8.8% |
| 1991 | 41.8% | -3.6% |
| 1992 | 44.0% | +5.2% |
| 1993 | 45.7% | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 46.5% | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 48.4% | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 49.9% | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 50.9% | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 52.4% | +3.0% |
| 1999 | 53.8% | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 55.2% | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 56.1% | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 56.6% | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 57.7% | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 58.9% | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 61.2% | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 63.5% | +3.8% |
| 2007 | 65.1% | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 67.4% | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 68.5% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 74.1% | +8.3% |
| 2011 | 76.3% | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 76.8% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 70.7% | -7.9% |
| 2014 | 72.5% | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 73.2% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 74.5% | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 75.7% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 76.1% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 76.4% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 75.6% | -1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.8% | 8.6% | 16.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 29.5% | 18.0% | 39.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 47.7% | 41.8% | 53.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 61.0% | 55.2% | 68.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.6% | 70.7% | 76.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 75.6% | 75.6% | 75.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Latin America & Caribbean
More education data for Latin America & Caribbean
- Population ages 15-64 67.7% (2025)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 3.34 million (2024)
- Population ages 0-14 22.1% (2025)
- School enrollment, primary 104.6% (2024)
- Primary education, teachers 3.34 million (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per capita 0.005 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, female 104.6% (2024)
- School enrollment, primary, male 104.6% (2024)
- Labor force, total, per capita 0.4876 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school enrollment, preprimary in Latin America & Caribbean?
- School enrollment, preprimary in Latin America & Caribbean was 75.6% in 2020, according to Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest school enrollment, preprimary recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The highest recorded value was 76.8% in 2012.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, preprimary recorded in Latin America & Caribbean?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.6% in 1970.
- How does Latin America & Caribbean rank for school enrollment, preprimary?
- Latin America & Caribbean ranks 12th out of 43 groups with data for 2020.
- Is school enrollment, preprimary rising or falling in Latin America & Caribbean?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Latin America & Caribbean data come from?
- The figures come from Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, preprimary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Preprimary education refers to programs at the initial stage of organized instruction, designed primarily to introduce very young children to a school-type environment and to provide a bridge between home and school.