The participation rate in early childhood education in Cyprus among children aged from three years to the starting age of compulsory primary education stood at 89.2% in 2024, according to data published by Eurostat on Thursday.
The rate in Cyprus was below the EU average of 94.4%, as well as below the European target of 96% participation by 2030.
According to Eurostat, almost half of the children in EU regions for which data are available already live in areas where the 96% target has been achieved.
More specifically, of the 198 NUTS 2 regions for which data were available, 99 had already reached or exceeded the 96% participation level.
These regions were mainly located in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Portugal and Sweden, where more than half of the regions had reached the target. Luxembourg had also achieved the 96% rate.