Canada: Primary education, pupils

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2023, Canada's primary education, pupils rose 1.8% on 2022 (from 2.39 million to 2.43 million).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1987 to 2022), the average change was +0.4% and a typical year strayed about 1.3% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.1 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 5.1% in 1982 and the biggest yearly fall was 3.7% in 1976. 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 16,656 a year. A straight line explains 72% 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, Canada had the 17th 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.

Closest to Canada in the 2023 ranking

• Argentina — 13th of 44: 4.58 million
• Mali — 14th of 44: 2.97 million
• Italy — 15th of 44: 2.63 million
• Papua New Guinea — 17th of 44: 1.65 million
• Sri Lanka — 18th of 44: 1.58 million
• Tunisia — 19th of 44: 1.34 million

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 49 values

Primary education, pupils in nearby economies

• Bermuda — 3,377 (2023)
• United States — 23.83 million (2023)

More education data for Canada

• 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 — 2.7 million (2023)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 0.99 (2020)
• Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP) — 4.84% (2022)
• School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1 (2020)
• School enrollment, secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.01 (2020)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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Questions people ask

What is Canada's primary education, pupils?

2.43 million in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1971?

It is down 14.6% from 2.85 million in 1971 (0.3% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 2.85 million in 1971 and the lowest 2.15 million in 2011.

How does Canada rank?

17th highest of 44 economies with data for 2023.

Is the latest change in primary education, pupils unusual for Canada?

In 2023, Canada's primary education, pupils rose 1.8% on 2022 (from 2.39 million to 2.43 million). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1987 to 2022), the average change was +0.4% and a typical year strayed about 1.3% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.1 standard deviations above that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

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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