Estonia: School enrollment, preprimary (% gross)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2019, Estonia's school enrollment, preprimary (% gross) rose 1.61 percentage points on 2018 (from 92.7% to 94.31%).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1989 to 2018), the average change was −0.15 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 7.44 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 standard deviations above 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 11.96 percentage points in 1998 and the biggest yearly fall was 22.12 percentage points in 2006. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2010 to 2019 the straight-line trend is upward, about 0.83 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 67% 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 2019, Estonia had the 2nd highest value of the 12 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 Estonia in the 2019 ranking

• Solomon Islands — 2nd of 12: 93.27%
• Russian Federation — 3rd of 12: 85.99%
• Pakistan — 4th of 12: 82.56%

What this measures

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.

Limitations: Enrollment indicators are based on annual school surveys, but do not necessarily reflect actual attendance or dropout rates during the year. Also, the length of education differs across countries and can influence enrollment rates, although the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) tries to minimize the difference. For example, a shorter duration for primary education tends to increase the rate; a longer one to decrease it (in part because older children are more at risk of dropping out). Moreover, age at enrollment may be inaccurately estimated or misstated, especially in communities where registration of births is not strictly enforced.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 39 values

School enrollment, preprimary (% gross) in nearby economies

• Albania — 69.23% (2021)
• Armenia — 28.78% (2021)
• Austria — 102.86% (2020)
• Azerbaijan — 46.29% (2021)
• Belarus — 96.77% (2021)
• Belgium — 112.43% (2020)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 25.47% (2021)
• Bulgaria — 84.29% (2020)
• Croatia — 70.91% (2020)
• Cyprus — 86.66% (2020)
• Czechia

More education data for Estonia

• Primary school starting age (years) — 7 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 13 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 89,246 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1 (2020)
• Primary education, pupils (% female) — 48.52% (2017)
• Secondary education, general pupils — 63,544 (2017)
• Secondary education, general pupils (% female) — 51.9% (2017)
• Secondary education, pupils — 103,245 (2024)

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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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Estonia's school enrollment, preprimary (% gross)?

94.31% in 2019, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1981?

It is down 3.84 percentage points from 98.15% in 1981. The highest value was 119.1% in 2005 and the lowest 63.49% in 1994.

How does Estonia rank?

2nd highest of 12 economies with data for 2019.

Is the latest change in school enrollment, preprimary (% gross) unusual for Estonia?

In 2019, Estonia's school enrollment, preprimary (% gross) rose 1.61 percentage points on 2018 (from 92.7% to 94.31%). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1989 to 2018), the average change was −0.15 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 7.44 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 standard deviations above 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.PRE.ENRR, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Stat Bulk Data Download Service, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://uis.unesco.org/bdds, publisher: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) 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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