High rates of formal childcare participation in the EU

In 2023, 21.1% of children aged between 3 years and the minimum compulsory school age received formal childcare or education for 24 hours per week or less, while 68.0% received it for at least 25 hours per week.

Considering the at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE) situation, 16.8% of AROPE children aged between 3 years and the minimum compulsory school age did not participate in any formal childcare or education, compared with 9.0% of non-AROPE children. They were also less likely to receive formal childcare or education for 25 hours or more (58.7%) compared with non-AROPE children (71.0%). At the same time, AROPE children had a higher likelihood (24.5%) of attending formal childcare and education from 1 to 24 hours than those not at risk of poverty or social exclusion (20.0%).

Source dataset: ilc_Caindform25b