Finland: Primary education, pupils

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Finland's primary education, pupils fell 1.3% on 2023 (from 364,836 to 360,117).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was −0.2% and a typical year strayed about 1.1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 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 11.7% in 1976 and the biggest yearly fall was 4.4% in 1981. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 11% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, Finland had the 66th highest value of the 119 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 Finland in the 2024 ranking

• New Zealand — 63rd of 119: 383,018
• Mongolia — 64th of 119: 379,647
• Austria — 65th of 119: 368,502
• Oman — 67th of 119: 358,346
• Georgia — 68th of 119: 342,203
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 69th of 119: 329,780

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 54 values

Primary education, pupils in nearby economies

• Albania — 141,089 (2024)
• Andorra — 4,218 (2024)
• Armenia — 160,885 (2024)
• Austria — 368,502 (2024)
• Azerbaijan — 603,966 (2024)
• Belarus — 444,044 (2024)
• Belgium — 814,388 (2023)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 141,518 (2023)
• Bulgaria — 234,521 (2024)
• Croatia — 147,483 (2023)
• Cyprus — 60,596 (2024)
• Czechia

More education data for Finland

• 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)
• Secondary education, pupils — 543,350 (2024)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1 (2020)
• School enrollment, secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.1 (2020)
• Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP) — 6.38% (2022)
• School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.06 (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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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Finland's primary education, pupils?

360,117 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1971?

It is down 6.76% from 386,230 in 1971 (0.13% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 453,737 in 1976 and the lowest 345,615 in 2011.

How does Finland rank?

66th highest of 119 economies with data for 2024.

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

In 2024, Finland's primary education, pupils fell 1.3% on 2023 (from 364,836 to 360,117). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was −0.2% and a typical year strayed about 1.1% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.9 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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