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European School Education Platform
EU publication

Key data on early childhood education and care in Europe - 2025

The third edition of Key Data on Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is now available, offering a comprehensive in-depth analysis of the state of ECEC across Europe.
Image showing young children playing

Produced by the Eurydice network, this report provides a fresh and nuanced perspective on the ECEC landscape. It reviews policy changes over the past decade and introduces new indicators to reflect evolving priorities in the ECEC field. 

These insights provide a clear picture of the current situation and major trends across Europe, as well as a deeper understanding of individual systems: 

  • Many European countries have made significant progress in expanding access to ECEC, particularly in the years before primary school. 
  • Yet, a right to education from a very early age on is still not universally guaranteed, and the quality of services varies widely within countries and across Europe. 
  • Staff shortages and the need for enhanced professional development and improved working conditions remain pressing challenges.  

The report includes: 

  • International comparisons, analysing ECEC systems across 37 European countries, highlighting the successes and challenges in striving for high quality. 
  • National information sheets outlining the main aspects of each country’s ECEC system for easy reference. 

Whether you're a policymaker, researcher, or simply passionate about ECEC, this report is a valuable resource that will help you navigate the complex landscape of early childhood education and care. 

Check out the report now:

See also:

Additional information

  • Education type:
    Early Childhood Education and Care
  • Evidence:
    N/A
  • Funding source:
    European Commission
  • Intervention level:
    N/A
  • Intervention intensity:
    N/A
  • Published by:
    European Commission
  • Target audience:
    Teacher
    Student Teacher
    Government / policy maker
  • Target audience ISCED:
    Early childhood education (ISCED 0)
  • Year of publication:
    2025