Early Childhood Readiness for School by Country

School readiness, also known as early childhood development readiness or child developmental readiness, measures the proportion of children aged 24-59 months who are developmentally on track in health, learning, and psychosocial well-being. This indicator assesses whether young children have the foundational skills and competencies needed to succeed in primary school. Understanding school readiness rates is essential for identifying gaps in early childhood development and ensuring all children have equal opportunities to thrive in school.

What School Readiness Means

School readiness refers to a child's developmental status across three critical domains: health, learning, and psychosocial well-being. Children who are developmentally on track in these areas have the foundational skills needed for successful school entry. Health readiness includes physical development and motor skills. Learning readiness encompasses cognitive development, language skills, and early literacy and numeracy. Psychosocial well-being includes emotional regulation, social skills, and confidence.

School readiness is not simply about academic skills. It encompasses the full range of developmental competencies that enable children to engage with peers, follow instructions, manage emotions, and benefit from classroom instruction. Children who are developmentally on track across all three domains are better positioned to succeed academically and socially in primary school.

Early Childhood Readiness for School by Country

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#	Country	School Readiness Rate 2026 Estimate (%) (%)
1	Iceland IS	94%
2	Norway NO	94%
3	Finland FI	93%
4	South Korea KR	93%
5	Sweden SE	93%
6	Estonia EE	92%
7	Japan JP	92%
8	Netherlands NL	92%
9	Denmark DK	91%
10	Germany DE	91%
11	Lithuania LT	91%
12	Singapore SG	91%
13	United Kingdom GB	91%
14	France FR	90%
15	Latvia LV	90%
16	New Zealand NZ	90%
17	Switzerland CH	90%
18	Czech Republic CZ	89%
19	Ireland IE	89%
20	Luxembourg LU	89%
21	Slovenia SI	89%
22	Spain ES	89%
23	United States US	89%
24	Chile CL	88%
25	Greece GR	88%
26	Italy IT	88%
27	Poland PL	88%
28	Costa Rica CR	87%
29	Hungary HU	87%
30	Israel IL	87%
31	Malta MT	87%
32	Portugal PT	87%
33	Slovakia SK	87%
34	Argentina AR	86.2%
35	Cyprus CY	86%
36	Montenegro ME	86%
37	Russia RU	86%
38	Uruguay UY	86%
39	Bahamas BS	85%
40	Croatia HR	85%
41	Moldova MD	85%
42	Serbia RS	85%
43	United Arab Emirates AE	85%
44	Bulgaria BG	84%
45	Mauritius MU	84%
46	Romania RO	84%
47	Ukraine UA	84%
48	Georgia GE	83%
49	North Macedonia MK	83%
50	Trinidad and Tobago TT	83%
51	Belarus BY	82%
52	Colombia CO	82%
53	Kosovo XK	82%
54	Ecuador EC	81%
55	Jamaica JM	81%
56	Qatar QA	81%
57	Bosnia and Herzegovina BA	80%
58	Mongolia MN	80%
59	Dominican Republic DO	79%
60	Kazakhstan KZ	79%
61	Sri Lanka LK	79%
62	Panama PA	78%
63	Uzbekistan UZ	78%
64	Fiji FJ	77%
65	Mexico MX	77%
66	Türkiye TR	77%
67	Belize BZ	76%
68	Peru PE	76%
69	Brazil BR	75%
70	Kyrgyzstan KG	75%
71	Suriname SR	75%
72	El Salvador SV	74%
73	Thailand TH	74%
74	Iran IR	73%
75	Paraguay PY	73%
76	Azerbaijan AZ	72%
77	Nicaragua NI	72%
78	Vietnam VN	72%
79	Botswana BW	71%
80	Tajikistan TJ	71%
81	Honduras HN	70%
82	Venezuela VE	70%
83	Namibia NA	69%
84	Bolivia BO	68%
85	Indonesia ID	68%
86	Philippines PH	66%
87	Guatemala GT	65%
88	Jordan JO	64%
89	South Africa ZA	63%
90	Myanmar MM	62%
91	Lebanon LB	61%
92	Timor-Leste TL	60%
93	Tunisia TN	59%
94	Iraq IQ	58%
95	Morocco MA	56%
96	Libya LY	55%
97	Rwanda RW	53%
98	Egypt EG	52%
99	India IN	51%
100	Nigeria NG	50%
101	Nepal NP	49%
102	Ghana GH	48%
103	Pakistan PK	48%
104	Zimbabwe ZW	48%
105	Kenya KE	47%
106	Syria SY	47%
107	Lesotho LS	46%
108	Cameroon CM	45%
109	Tanzania TZ	45%
110	Haiti HT	44%
111	Senegal SN	44%
112	Laos LA	43%
113	Togo TG	43%
114	Benin BJ	42%
115	Sudan SD	42%
116	Gambia GM	41%
117	Zambia ZM	41%
118	Malawi MW	40%
119	Guinea-Bissau GW	39%
120	Uganda UG	39%
121	Central African Republic CF	38%
122	Mauritania MR	38%
123	Liberia LR	37%
124	Guinea GN	36%
125	Sierra Leone SL	36%
126	Chad TD	35%
127	Mozambique MZ	35%
128	Madagascar MG	34%
129	Somalia SO	33%
130	Congo CG	32%
131	Mali ML	31%
132	Yemen YE	31%
133	Afghanistan AF	29.3%
134	Niger NE	29%
135	Ethiopia ET	28%

Global Patterns in School Readiness

School readiness rates vary significantly across countries, reflecting differences in early childhood development programs, healthcare access, and socioeconomic conditions. Developed countries typically show higher school readiness rates, with many countries reporting that 80-90% of children are developmentally on track. Developing countries show more variation, with some countries reporting readiness rates below 50%, indicating substantial gaps in early childhood development.

Regional patterns show that countries with strong early childhood education systems, universal healthcare, and lower poverty rates typically have higher school readiness rates. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia show lower average readiness rates, reflecting challenges in healthcare access, nutrition, and early childhood education provision. These disparities have long-term consequences for educational achievement and economic opportunity.

Importance of Early Childhood Development

Early childhood development is critical for lifelong learning and development. Children who are developmentally on track in early childhood show better academic performance, higher graduation rates, and greater lifetime earnings. Conversely, children who fall behind in early development often struggle throughout their educational careers. Investing in early childhood development through quality healthcare, nutrition, and education programs is one of the most cost-effective investments societies can make.

School readiness assessment helps identify children who need additional support before entering primary school. Early intervention can address developmental delays and ensure that all children have the opportunity to succeed in school. Countries with comprehensive early childhood development programs show significantly higher school readiness rates and better long-term educational outcomes.

Early Childhood Readiness for School by Country

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#	Country	School Readiness Rate 2024 (%) (%)	School Readiness Rate 2026 Estimate (%) (%)
1	Iceland	94%	94%
2	Norway	94%	94%
3	Finland	93%	93%
4	South Korea	93%	93%
5	Sweden	93%	93%
6	Estonia	92%	92%
7	Japan	92%	92%
8	Netherlands	92%	92%
9	Denmark	91%	91%
10	Germany	91%	91%
11	Lithuania	91%	91%
12	Singapore	91%	91%
13	United Kingdom	91%	91%
14	France	90%	90%
15	Latvia	90%	90%
16	New Zealand	90%	90%
17	Switzerland	90%	90%
18	Czech Republic	89%	89%
19	Ireland	89%	89%
20	Luxembourg	89%	89%
21	Slovenia	89%	89%
22	Spain	89%	89%
23	United States	89%	89%
24	Chile	88%	88%
25	Greece	88%	88%
26	Italy	88%	88%
27	Poland	88%	88%
28	Costa Rica	87%	87%
29	Hungary	87%	87%
30	Israel	87%	87%
31	Malta	87%	87%
32	Portugal	87%	87%
33	Slovakia	87%	87%
34	Argentina	86.2%	86.2%
35	Cyprus	86%	86%
36	Montenegro	86%	86%
37	Russia	86%	86%
38	Uruguay	86%	86%
39	Bahamas	85%	85%
40	Croatia	85%	85%
41	Moldova	85%	85%
42	Serbia	85%	85%
43	United Arab Emirates	85%	85%
44	Bulgaria	84%	84%
45	Mauritius	84%	84%
46	Romania	84%	84%
47	Ukraine	84%	84%
48	Georgia	83%	83%
49	North Macedonia	83%	83%
50	Trinidad and Tobago	83%	83%
51	Belarus	82%	82%
52	Colombia	82%	82%
53	Kosovo	82%	82%
54	Ecuador	81%	81%
55	Jamaica	81%	81%
56	Qatar	81%	81%
57	Bosnia and Herzegovina	80%	80%
58	Mongolia	80%	80%
59	Dominican Republic	79%	79%
60	Kazakhstan	79%	79%
61	Sri Lanka	79%	79%
62	Panama	78%	78%
63	Uzbekistan	78%	78%
64	Fiji	77%	77%
65	Mexico	77%	77%
66	Türkiye	77%	77%
67	Belize	76%	76%
68	Peru	76%	76%
69	Brazil	75%	75%
70	Kyrgyzstan	75%	75%
71	Suriname	75%	75%
72	El Salvador	74%	74%
73	Thailand	74%	74%
74	Iran	73%	73%
75	Paraguay	73%	73%
76	Azerbaijan	72%	72%
77	Nicaragua	72%	72%
78	Vietnam	72%	72%
79	Botswana	71%	71%
80	Tajikistan	71%	71%
81	Honduras	70%	70%
82	Venezuela	70%	70%
83	Namibia	69%	69%
84	Bolivia	68%	68%
85	Indonesia	68%	68%
86	Philippines	66%	66%
87	Guatemala	65%	65%
88	Jordan	64%	64%
89	South Africa	63%	63%
90	Myanmar	62%	62%
91	Lebanon	61%	61%
92	Timor-Leste	60%	60%
93	Tunisia	59%	59%
94	Iraq	58%	58%
95	Morocco	56%	56%
96	Libya	55%	55%
97	Rwanda	53%	53%
98	Egypt	52%	52%
99	India	51%	51%
100	Nigeria	50%	50%
101	Nepal	49%	49%
102	Ghana	48%	48%
103	Pakistan	48%	48%
104	Zimbabwe	48%	48%
105	Kenya	47%	47%
106	Syria	47%	47%
107	Lesotho	46%	46%
108	Cameroon	45%	45%
109	Tanzania	45%	45%
110	Haiti	44%	44%
111	Senegal	44%	44%
112	Laos	43%	43%
113	Togo	43%	43%
114	Benin	42%	42%
115	Sudan	42%	42%
116	Gambia	41%	41%
117	Zambia	41%	41%
118	Malawi	40%	40%
119	Guinea-Bissau	39%	39%
120	Uganda	39%	39%
121	Central African Republic	38%	38%
122	Mauritania	38%	38%
123	Liberia	37%	37%
124	Guinea	36%	36%
125	Sierra Leone	36%	36%
126	Chad	35%	35%
127	Mozambique	35%	35%
128	Madagascar	34%	34%
129	Somalia	33%	33%
130	Congo	32%	32%
131	Mali	31%	31%
132	Yemen	31%	31%
133	Afghanistan	29.3%	29.3%
134	Niger	29%	29%
135	Ethiopia	28%	28%

2026 Projections and Methodology

Projections for 2026 show modest improvements in school readiness rates globally, with rates expected to increase slightly from 2024 levels as countries expand early childhood development programs. However, these improvements are typically only 1-3 percentage points, suggesting that without significant policy interventions and investment in early childhood services, current disparities will persist.

The 2026 estimates are calculated using linear regression analysis based on historical trends from 2018-2024. This statistical method identifies the rate of change over recent years and projects that trend forward to 2026. The methodology examines each country's historical school readiness trajectory and applies the observed trend to estimate 2026 values. All projections are constrained to the 0-100% range to ensure realistic estimates. This approach assumes that current trends will continue, which may not hold if significant policy changes or external shocks occur.

It is important to note that school readiness assessment methodologies vary across countries, which may affect comparability. Some countries use standardized assessment tools, while others rely on teacher observations or household surveys. These methodological differences should be considered when comparing readiness rates across countries.

Methodology and Data Sources

This analysis uses UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) data on school readiness based on the proportion of children aged 24-59 months who are developmentally on track in health, learning, and psychosocial well-being. School readiness is measured as a percentage of children in this age group who meet developmental milestones across all three domains.

The data reflects 2024 actual rates (the most recent available), with 2026 projections calculated using linear regression analysis based on historical trends from 2018-2024. Using modelled estimates ensures methodological consistency across all countries included in this analysis, though it is important to note that these are statistical estimates rather than direct observations. This approach allows for meaningful comparisons between countries with different assessment methodologies and data collection practices.