Excerpts
Highlights
In 2024, 99.7% of children in the EU aged between 1 year older than the compulsory school age and 12 years of age were in formal education.
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 (17.6%) compared with those not at risk (8.7%) in 2024.
In 2024, 13.9% of children in the EU aged between 3 years and the minimum compulsory school age who were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, were 25 hours or more per week in formal childcare or education.
Childcare arrangements
The number of children in the EU receiving formal childcare increases with age
In 2024, 50.7% 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 share was 89.3%. Among children aged 1 year older than the compulsory school age to 12 years of age, 99.7% received formal childcare or education (Figure 1).
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In the EU, children 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
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The highest rates of formal childcare among at-risk-of-poverty-or-social-exclusion (AROPE) children were recorded in Spain, Bulgaria and Italy
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