This section provides the most recent data available on the number of educational institutions from pre-school level to upper secondary education (ISCED levels 0 to 3). Statistics on the number and characteristics of higher education institutions are available in the European Higher Education Sector Observatory. A general overview of the categories of state-funded adult education and training institutions can be found in the chapter on adult education and training. The notes below the tables provide the methodological explanations needed to interpret the data correctly.
Statistics on educational institutions providing regular education
| Type of educational institution in English (and in French) |
ISCED levels provided | Main orientation of the programmes provided | Number of education institutions in 2023 | |||
| Total | Public | Government dependent private | Private independent | |||
| Preprimary school (Ecole maternelle) |
0 | (-) | 12 801 | 12 603 | 40 | 158 |
| Elementary school (Ecole élémentaire) |
1 | (-) | 15 655 | 14 562 | 131 | 962 |
| Primary school (Ecole primaire) |
0,1 | (-) | 20 456 | 15 998 | 4 458 | |
| Lower secondary education (Collège) |
2 | G | 7 373 | 5 320 | 1 662 | 391 |
| General and technological upper secondary education (Lycée général et technologique) |
3 | G | 2 702 | 1 641 | 879 | 182 |
| Vocational upper secondary education (Lycée professionnel) |
3 | V | 1 277 | 768 | 335 | 174 |
| Apprentice training centre (Centre de formation des apprentis) |
3 | V | 3 465 | 3 465 | (-) | (-) |
Data source: DEPP, Repères et références statistiques 2024, 1.09, 2.01, 2.04 & 6.09 (last accessed on March 7th, 2025).
ISCED = International Standard Classification of Education
G = General; V = Vocational; (:) = Data not available; (-) = Non applicable.
Terminology:
The 2018 version of the Unesco/OECD /Eurostat Manuel on Concepts, Definitions and Classification can be consulted for definitions of regular education (p.10); general and vocational education programmes (p. 19); as well as public institutions, government-dependent private institutions and private independent institutions (pp. 24-26).
Notes:
Note 1: Private elementary schools include primary schools.
Note 2: The number of private independent “lycées” (establishments under national education authority) is available for 2022 (and not for 2023).
Note 3: The data available does not allow a distinction between public and private governance of apprentice training centres.
Note 4: ISCED 4 training is not presented here because it does not constitute institutions as such in France. These courses can be taken at a distance or face-to-face and are organised by higher education institutions. Furthermore, ISCED level 4 in France is marginal in terms of the student population.
Note 5: The data presented on this page are counted according to the ‘legal entity approach’.
Statistics on separate educational institutions providing special needs education
| Type of educational institution in English (and in French) |
ISCED levels provided | Main orientation of the programmes provided | Number of education institutions in 2023 | |||
| Total | Public | Government dependent private | Private independent | |||
| Regional adapted teaching institutions (Etablissements régionaux d'enseignement adapté ) |
2, 3 | G,V | 77 | 76 | 1 | (-) |
Data source: DEPP, Repères et références statistiques 2024, 2.04 (last accessed on March 7th, 2025).
ISCED = International Standard Classification of Education
G = General; V = Vocational; (:) = Data not available; (-) = Non applicable.
Terminology:
The 2018 version of the Unesco/OECD /Eurostat Manuel on Concepts, Definitions and Classification can be consulted for definitions of regular education (p.10); general and vocational education programmes (p. 19); as well as public institutions, government-dependent private institutions and private independent institutions (pp. 24-26).
Notes:
Note 1: see Établissement régional d'enseignement adapté (EREA) in the glossary for more information. These establishments always provide general and vocational education.
Note 2: Data is not available for independent private EREAs.
Note 3: The data presented on this page are counted according to the ‘legal entity approach’.