95% of EU children in pre-primary education in 2024
In 2024, 95.0% of children between the age of 3 and the compulsory starting age for primary education in EU countries were in pre-primary education, up from 91.2% in 2014.
This brings the EU one step closer to achieving the goal set out in the European Education Area strategic framework, which aims to have at least 96% of children in early childhood education and care by 2030.
The highest participation rates among EU countries were reported by France (100%), Belgium (98.1%), Lithuania and Hungary (97.9% each).
In contrast, the lowest rates were recorded in Romania (76.5%), Slovakia (81.8%) and Czechia (86.4%).
Source dataset: educ_uoe_enra21
A sector powered by women
The overwhelming majority of teachers in pre-primary education in the EU, 95.1%, were women.
The highest shares of female teachers were found in Romania (99.7%), Slovakia (99.6%) and Hungary (99.5%). At the other end, but still with high shares, were the Netherlands (87.8%), France (91.6%) and Denmark (92.5%).
Source dataset: educ_uoe_perd03
For more information
- Statistics Explained article on early childhood education statistics
- Thematic section on education and training
- Database on education and training
- Education and training visualisations
- European Education Area strategic framework
Methodological note
- The early childhood education is monitored by applying the ISCED 2011 classification:
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