Belgium's primary education, pupils was 814,388 in 2023, the latest year in the World Bank's World Development Indicators. That is up 6.58% from 764,137 in 2013 (0.64% a year on average, compounded).
Key figures
| Value | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Latest | 814,388 | 2023 |
| Five years earlier | 821,236 | 2018 |
| Ten years earlier | 764,137 | 2013 |
| Highest | 1.02 million | 1971 |
| Lowest | 711,521 | 1992 |
| Average since 2014 | 808,491 | 2014–2023 |
| First recorded | 1.02 million |
What the numbers say
In 2023, Belgium's primary education, pupils fell 0.1% on 2022 (from 815,494 to 814,388).
Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1990 to 2022), the average change was +0.3% and a typical year strayed about 1.2% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.
On record, the biggest yearly rise was 3.9% in 1993 and the biggest yearly fall was 5.8% in 1973. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.
From 2014 to 2023 the straight-line trend is upward, about 4,430 a year. A straight line explains 57% of the movement over 10 observed years.
Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.
How it compares
In 2023, Belgium had the 24th highest value of the 44 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.
| Value | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 814,388 | 2023 |
| World | 780.85 million | 2024 |
| Europe & Central Asia | 52.35 million | 2024 |
| High income | 84.04 million | 2024 |
Closest to Belgium in the 2023 ranking
What this measures
Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.
Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.
All 51 values
| Year | Primary education, pupils |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 814,388 |
| 2022 | 815,494 |
| 2021 | 818,422 |
| 2020 | 823,725 |
| 2019 | 823,109 |
| 2018 | 821,236 |
| 2017 | 814,974 |
| 2016 | 797,390 |
| 2015 | 782,606 |
| 2014 | 773,568 |
| 2013 |
Primary education, pupils in nearby economies
More education data for Belgium
- Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 12 (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils — 1.18 million (2023)
- School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.01 (2020)
- School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.08 (2020)
- School enrollment, secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.13 (2020)
- School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) — 112.43% (2020)
Reading data like this
Questions people ask
- What is Belgium's primary education, pupils?
- 814,388 in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).
- How has it changed since 1971?
- It is down 20.28% from 1.02 million in 1971 (0.43% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 1.02 million in 1971 and the lowest 711,521 in 1992.
- How does Belgium rank?
- 24th highest of 44 economies with data for 2023.
- Is the latest change in primary education, pupils unusual for Belgium?
- In 2023, Belgium's primary education, pupils fell 0.1% on 2022 (from 815,494 to 814,388). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1990 to 2022), the average change was +0.3% and a typical year strayed about 1.2% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.4 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.
Source
World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.PRM.ENRL, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API. Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.
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