Education, Culture and Sports in Lithuania
(edition 2021)

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 aged six or younger who turns six in a calendar year. A one-year pre-primary education programme is carried out by preschool establishments or basic schools.

At the end of 2020, there were 716 preschool establishments operating in the country (of which 635 – in urban, 81 – in rural areas), and 457 general schools had preschool education groups integrated. They were attended by 122.6 thousand children, which is by 866 children more than in 2019. Child care groups of nursery schools were attended by 24.6 thousand (44 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 2020, there were 107 places in preschool establishments per 100 children (in 2019, 106). Only in a two municipalities, the number of places in preschool establishments was lower than that of children attending them: in Širvintos district municipality – 91, Šilalė district municipality – 98. In rural areas, this number stood at 114, in urban areas – at 105.

Children in preschool and pre-primary education