Education and Culture in Lithuania
(edition 2022)

Preschool and pre-primary education

Photo by Stephen Andrews

The purpose of pre-primary education is to assist in preparing a child for successful learning at school. Pre-primary education is provided for a child who turns six years of age in a calendar year. A one-year pre-primary education programme is carried out by preschool, general education schools or other education providers.

At the end of 2021, there were 720 preschool establishments operating in the country (of which 631 – in urban, 89 – in rural areas), and 443 general schools had preschool education groups integrated. They were attended by 124 thousand children, which is by 1,445 children more than in 2020. Child care groups of nursery schools were attended by 25.6 thousand (52.5 per cent) children aged 1–2.

Number of preschool establishments

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

Number of children in preschool establishments

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

In 2021, there were 110 places in preschool establishments per 100 children (in 2020, 107). Only in two municipalities, the number of places in preschool establishments was lower than that of children attending them: in Širvintos district municipality – 93, Zarasai district municipality – 98. In rural areas, this number stood at 124, in urban areas – at 109.

Children in preschool and pre-primary education