School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) in United States
United States: School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) was 72.4% in 2020. ▲ Rising
School enrollment, preprimary in United States, 1971–2020
Source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.
Analysis
United States recorded 72.4% for school enrollment, preprimary in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school enrollment, preprimary in United States peaked at 72.9% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 37.7%, in 1972.
United States ranks 91st of 197 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 30 years of available data.
School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) in United States, year by year
| Year | % gross | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 37.9% | — |
| 1972 | 37.7% | -0.4% |
| 1974 | 42.8% | +13.5% |
| 1976 | 51.8% | +20.8% |
| 1977 | 50.6% | -2.2% |
| 1978 | 48.3% | -4.5% |
| 1979 | 48.2% | -0.3% |
| 1980 | 48.6% | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 52.4% | +7.9% |
| 1982 | 52.7% | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 54.6% | +3.6% |
| 1984 | 56.6% | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 57.3% | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 61.2% | +6.8% |
| 1987 | 62.0% | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 61.7% | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 60.5% | -2.0% |
| 1990 | 61.0% | +0.8% |
| 1991 | 65.1% | +6.7% |
| 1995 | 69.6% | +7.0% |
| 1996 | 71.1% | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 70.5% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 71.5% | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 64.8% | -9.4% |
| 2015 | 72.0% | +11.2% |
| 2016 | 71.9% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 72.9% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 72.1% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 72.2% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 72.4% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 45.3% | 37.7% | 51.8% | 7 |
| 1980s | 56.8% | 48.6% | 62.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 66.7% | 61.0% | 71.1% | 4 |
| 2000s | 70.5% | 70.5% | 70.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 71.1% | 64.8% | 72.9% | 7 |
| 2020s | 72.4% | 72.4% | 72.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States
More education data for United States
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 96.21 (2022)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 96.02 (2022)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school enrollment, preprimary in United States?
- School enrollment, preprimary in United States was 72.4% 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 72.9% in 2017.
- What is the lowest school enrollment, preprimary recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.7% in 1972.
- How does United States rank for school enrollment, preprimary?
- United States ranks 91st out of 197 countries with data for 2020.
- Is school enrollment, preprimary rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.
Download this data
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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.