Theoretical duration of early childhood education (years) by country
February 2026 Data Release
Countries reporting
207
Highest
7 years
Estonia
Lowest
1 years
Tanzania
Median
4 years
Years covered
56
1970–2025
Data points
4,977
What the numbers show
Theoretical duration of early childhood education (years) is currently reported for 207 countries. The highest value is 7 years in Estonia; the lowest is 1 years in Tanzania.
The median across all reporting countries is 4 years, and the mean is 4.04 years.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 7.
Over the past decade 15 countries rose and 3 fell. The largest increase was in Ireland (up 400.0%), and the largest decrease in Tanzania (down 50.0%).
Theoretical duration of early childhood education (years) (duration): full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Estonia | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Guatemala | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Croatia | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Hungary | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Indonesia | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Liechtenstein | 7 years | 2025 | up 250.0% | volatile |
| 1 | Lithuania | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 1 | El Salvador | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | South Africa | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | United Arab Emirates | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 10 | Argentina | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Austria | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Belgium | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Bahrain | 6 years | 2025 | up 20.0% | rising |
| 10 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 6 years | 2025 | up 20.0% | rising |
| 10 | Brazil | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 10 | Canada | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 10 | Chile | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Colombia | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 10 | Costa Rica | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Cuba | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Curacao | 6 years | 2025 | up 200.0% | volatile |
| 10 | Cyprus | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 10 | Germany | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Denmark | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Spain | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Finland | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Georgia | 6 years | 2025 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 10 | Equatorial Guinea | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 10 | Greece | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Haiti | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Iceland | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Israel | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Jamaica | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Kyrgyzstan | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 10 | Cambodia | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 10 | South Korea | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Laos | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Latvia | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Moldova | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Mexico | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 10 | Mauritania | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Nicaragua | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 10 | Norway | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Oman | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Panama | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Peru | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Puerto Rico | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Qatar | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 10 | Romania | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 10 | Russia | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Singapore | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | San Marino | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 10 | Serbia | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 10 | Sweden | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Turkey | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Uruguay | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Vietnam | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 10 | Yemen | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Aruba | 5 years | 2025 | up 150.0% | rising |
| 61 | Albania | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Antigua and Barbuda | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Australia | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Azerbaijan | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Barbados | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Dominica | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 61 | United Kingdom | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Ghana | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Gambia | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Grenada | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 61 | Ireland | 5 years | 2025 | up 400.0% | volatile |
| 61 | Kazakhstan | 5 years | 2025 | down 16.7% | falling |
| 61 | Morocco | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | North Macedonia | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 61 | Myanmar | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Montenegro | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 61 | Nigeria | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | New Zealand | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Paraguay | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Sierra Leone | 5 years | 2025 | up 66.7% | rising |
| 61 | Slovenia | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 61 | Thailand | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Turkmenistan | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Ukraine | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Venezuela | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | British Virgin Islands | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 61 | Montserrat | 5 years | 2025 | up 150.0% | rising |
| 89 | Bulgaria | 4 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 89 | Belarus | 4 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 89 | Cayman Islands | 4 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 89 | Gibraltar | 4 years | 2025 | up 300.0% | volatile |
| 89 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 4 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 89 | Saint Lucia | 4 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 89 | Maldives | 4 years | 2025 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 89 | Marshall Islands | 4 years | 2025 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 89 | Mongolia | 4 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 89 | Papua New Guinea | 4 years | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 89 | Poland | 4 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 89 | North Korea | 4 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 89 | Saudi Arabia | 4 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 89 | Tajikistan | 4 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 89 | Uzbekistan | 4 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 89 | Zambia | 4 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 89 | Niue | 4 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Angola | 3 years | 2025 | up 200.0% | rising |
| 106 | Andorra | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Armenia | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 106 | Burundi | 3 years | 2025 | up 50.0% | falling |
| 106 | Burkina Faso | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Bangladesh | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Brunei | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Bhutan | 3 years | 2025 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 106 | Botswana | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Central African Republic | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | China | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 106 | Cote d'Ivoire | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Congo | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Comoros | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Cape Verde | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Czechia | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Dominican Republic | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Ecuador | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 106 | Ethiopia | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Fiji | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | France | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Micronesia (country) | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Gabon | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Guinea | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Guinea-Bissau | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Hong Kong | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 106 | Honduras | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | India | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Italy | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Japan | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 106 | Kenya | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Kiribati | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Lebanon | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Liberia | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Lesotho | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Macao | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Monaco | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Madagascar | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Mali | 3 years | 2025 | down 25.0% | falling |
| 106 | Mozambique | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Mauritius | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Malawi | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Niger | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Netherlands | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 106 | Nauru | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Palau | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Rwanda | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 106 | Senegal | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 106 | Solomon Islands | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Somalia | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | South Sudan | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Sao Tome and Principe | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 106 | Slovakia | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Eswatini | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Syria | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Chad | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Togo | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | East Timor | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 106 | Tunisia | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Tuvalu | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 106 | Uganda | 3 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Benin | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Bahamas | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Belize | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Bolivia | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Switzerland | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Cameroon | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Djibouti | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Egypt | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Eritrea | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Guyana | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Iraq | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Jordan | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Kuwait | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Libya | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Sri Lanka | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 168 | Malta | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Malaysia | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Namibia | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 168 | Nepal | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 168 | Pakistan | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 168 | Palestine | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Sudan | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Suriname | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Seychelles | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 168 | Tonga | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Trinidad and Tobago | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Vanuatu | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Samoa | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Zimbabwe | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Anguilla | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Cook Islands | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Tokelau | 2 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 202 | Afghanistan | 1 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 202 | Bermuda | 1 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 202 | Algeria | 1 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 202 | Iran | 1 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 202 | Philippines | 1 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 202 | Tanzania | 1 years | 2025 | down 50.0% | falling |
About this data
February 2026 Data Release