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Early childhood education and care 2021

Altogether 230,600 children participated in early childhood education and care in 2021

release

According to Statistics Finland, 230,600 children took part in early childhood education and care in 2021. Thirty-five per cent of children under the age of three and 87 per cent of children between the ages of three and five participated in early childhood education and care, that is, centre-based early education and family-based day care. Participation in early childhood education and care becomes the more common the older the children are. Examined by age group, participation in early childhood education and care was highest among children aged five, 48,600, which is 89 per cent of all children aged five.

Correction

Statistics on early childhood education and care, Database table 13v2 -- Number of children in early childhood education and care by areas, was corrected.

Read more about the correction

Change

Early childhood education and care 2021 is the first publication on participation in early childhood education and care.

Read more about the change

Key selections

  • A total of 230,600 children participated in early childhood education and care in 2021.
  • Participation in early childhood education and care becomes the more common the older the children are. Thirty-five per cent of children aged under three and 87 per cent of children aged three to five participated in early childhood education and care.
  • Participation in early childhood education and care has rapidly become more common in recent years, but it decreased slightly during the corona pandemic.
  • Early childhood education and care are usually provided in centre-based early education. Participation in family-based day care has decreased in recent years.
  • The Varda database on early childhood education and care offers new possibilities for developing statistics on early childhood education and care.

Database tables

Pick the data you need into tables, view the data as graphs, or download the data for your use.

New database tables
13sf
Classifications used:
  • Gender
  • Form in which early childhood education and care is organised
  • Type of ECEC activity
  • Full-day early childhood education and care
  • Age
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
13v2
Classifications used:
  • Area
  • Gender
  • Age
  • Type of ECEC activity
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
13v6
Classifications used:
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
13vb
Classifications used:
Age
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:

Future releases

Referencing instructions

Early childhood education and care [online publication].
Reference period: 2021. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [Referenced: 28.4.2026].
Access method:

Related topics

Education and research

Contact information

Service email
koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Inquiries primarily

Mika Tuononen
Development Manager
029 551 3504

Other experts

Marika Wegelius
Senior Statistician
029 551 3411

Head of Department in charge

Hannele Orjala
Head of Department in charge
029 551 3582