Data extracted in November 2024.
Planned update: 30 September 2025.
Highlights
In the EU, the percentage of children aged between 3 years and the minimum compulsory school age, who were not in formal childcare or education, was higher for those at risk of poverty or social exclusion (16.8%) compared with those not at risk (9.0%) in 2023.
In 2023, 98.4% of children aged between 1 year older than the compulsory school age and 12 years of age were in formal education.
Key findings
- In 2023, the percentage of children in formal childcare or education in the EU increased with age. Participation ranged from less than half (47.9%) of children aged 1 to 2 years old, to 89.1% of those aged between 3 years and the minimum compulsory school age, reaching 98.4% of children a year older than the compulsory school age until 12 years old.
- Less children at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE) in the EU received 25 hours or more formal childcare or education compared with those who were not at risk.
- In 2023, 14.3% of children in the EU aged between 3 years and the minimum compulsory school age who were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, received 25 hours or more formal childcare or education per week. Spain, Bulgaria and Italy reported the highest rates.
Childcare arrangements
The number of children in the EU receiving formal childcare increases with age
In 2023, 47.9% of children in the EU aged 1 to 2 years received formal childcare or education, while for children aged between 3 years and the minimum compulsory school age, the rate was 89.1%. Among children aged 1 year older than the compulsory school age to 12 years of age, 98.4% received formal childcare or education (Figure 1).
For children aged 1 to 2 years, 52.1% did not receive any formal childcare. Within this age group, 13.1% were in formal childcare for less than 25 hours per week, while 34.8% received 25 hours or more formal childcare or education. Among children aged between 3 years and the minimum compulsory school age, 68.0% were in formal childcare or education for at least 25 hours per week, 21.1% received less than 25 hours per week, and 10.9% did not receive any formal childcare or education. For children aged between 1 year older than the compulsory school age and 12 years old, only 1.6% did not receive any formal childcare or education, 16.3% received less than 25 hours of formal childcare or education, and the majority (82.1%) received at least 25 hours per week.
Source: Eurostat (ilc_caindform25)
Children in the EU aged between 3 years and the minimum compulsory school age who were at risk of poverty or social exclusion received less formal childcare or education compared with those not at risk
In 2023, 16.8% of children in the EU aged between 3 years and the minimum compulsory school age who were at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE) were not in any formal childcare or education, compared with 9.0% of children not at risk (Figure 2).
Source: Eurostat (ilc_caindform25b)
The highest rates of formal childcare among at-risk-of-poverty-or-social-exclusion children were recorded in Spain, Bulgaria, and Italy
In 2023, 14.3% of children in the EU aged between 3 years and the minimum compulsory school age were at risk of poverty or social exclusion and received 25 hours or more formal childcare or education per week (Figure 3). Across EU countries, the highest percentages were recorded in Spain (29.5%), Bulgaria (29.0%) and Italy (23.5%), while the lowest were in Croatia (5.2%), Slovenia (5.9%) and Ireland (6.2%).
Source: Eurostat (ilc_caindform25)
Source data for tables and graphs
Data sources
The data used in this article are derived from the European Statistics on income, social inclusion and living conditions (EU-SILC). EU-SILC data are compiled annually and are the main source of statistics that measure income and living conditions in Europe; it is also the main source of information used to link different aspects relating to the quality of life of household and individuals. The reference population for the information presented in this article is all private households and their current members residing in the territory of an EU Member State (or non-member country) at the time of data collection; persons living in collective households were excluded from the target population. The data for the EU are population-weighted averages of national data. The reference period for information on income is 2022, while the other households' characteristics are referenced to 2023.
Context
Formal childcare is a formal education programme that is institutionalized, intentional and planned through public organizations and recognized private bodies, in line with the formal education definition of ISCED 2011 classification. Other types of childcare may include care that is provided by a professional child-minder at the child's home or at the child-minders' home, as well as care provided by grandparents, other household members (not parents), other relatives, friends or neighbours. Following the Council Recommendation of 8 December 2022 on early childhood education and care: the Barcelona Targets for 2030 (2022/C 484/01), Eurostat defined in 2023 a new indicator for measuring 'Children in formal childcare or education by age group and duration', setting the threshold for the number of hours in formal childcare or education at 25 hours per week, and breaking down the indicator by the at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE) status (ilc_caindform25) and by income quintile (ilc_caindform25q). Furthermore, an additional indicator is available showing the share of children in formal childcare or education from the population of children in their respective AROPE situation (ilc_caindform25b). In addition, together with the 3 age groups already available in the previous indicator (ilc_caindformal), an additional age group has been added for children aged 1 or 2 years old.
Explore further
Thematic section
Selected datasets
Methodology
External links
- European Commission — Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion: Indicators' Sub-Group of the Social Protection Committee
- European Commission — Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion: European employment strategy
- European Commission — Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion: Employment and social analysis
- European Commission — Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion — Work-life balance initiatives