Early childhood education in Lithuania is divided into two parts: preschool education and compulsory pre-primary education. Preschool education is designed for children from birth until they begin attending pre-primary education programme.

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. Preschool education is provided by state and municipal kindergartens, private early childhood education and care providers.

At the beginning of the academic year 2022–2023, there were 715 preschool establishments operating in the country (of which 621 – in urban, 94 – in rural areas), 426 general schools had preschool and pre-primary education groups integrated. 125.2 thousand children attended preschool establishments, 10.5 thousand – preschool and pre-primary groups in general schools. In total, 82.7 per cent of children aged 1–6 participated in preschool and pre-primary education.

Preschool establishments were attended by 26.5 thousand (54 per cent) children aged 1–2. Child care groups of nursery schools were attended by 106 children under one year of age (in 2021, 58).

In 2022, there were 107 places in preschool establishments per 100 children (in 2021, 110). Only in two municipalities, the number of places in preschool establishments was lower than that of children attending them – Vilkaviškis district municipality (97) and Zarasai district municipality (98). In urban areas, this number stood at 106, in rural areas – at 113.

The number of private preschool establishments is increasing annually. In 2022, there were 175 private preschool establishments in the country, which were attended by 10.9 thousand children (in 2021, 169 establishments and 10.2 thousand children respectively). Compared to 2018, the number of children in private preschool establishments increased 1.3 times.

At the beginning of the academic year 2022–2023, 15.6 thousand pedagogical workers worked in preschool establishments. 75.4 per cent of the teaching staff had higher education.