Federal law establishing compulsory and free basic education from ages 4 to 17.
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Education in Brazil
DATA2025
Compulsory ages 4 to 17 · 46.0m basic-education enrollments · 178.8k schools
Brazil guarantees compulsory and free basic education from ages 4 to 17. Inep's 2025 School Census recorded 46,018,380 enrollments in basic education across about 178,800 schools, with ensino fundamental remaining the largest stage at about 25.8 million enrollments.
Compulsory ages
4 to 17
Basic enrollment
46,018,380*
Schools
178.8k*
Fundamental
25.8m*
Brazil Education System
| Stage / measure | Structure or value | Current interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Educação infantil | Creche and pré-escola | Pre-school from age 4 is within compulsory basic education |
| Ensino fundamental | 9 years | Largest basic-education stage |
| Ensino médio | Upper secondary | Part of compulsory education through age 17 |
| Basic education total | 46,018,380* enrollments | Inep, 2025 |
* Reference period is shown with the figure.
Compulsory education from 4 to 17
Brazil's national education law guarantees compulsory and free basic education from age four through seventeen, covering pre-school, ensino fundamental and ensino médio.
A nine-year fundamental stage
Ensino fundamental lasts nine years and represents the largest segment of basic education. Inep counted about 25.8 million enrollments in this stage in 2025.
2025 School Census
Inep recorded 46,018,380 basic-education enrollments in 2025 across roughly 178,800 schools. Public networks accounted for about 36.8 million enrollments.
Enrollment is not a headcount of unique people
School Census figures are enrollment records across education stages and modalities. They should be labeled as enrollments rather than interpreted automatically as unique-student population counts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ages are covered by compulsory education in Brazil?
Ages 4 to 17.
How long is ensino fundamental?
Nine years.
How many basic-education enrollments were recorded in 2025?
46,018,380.
How many schools were included?
About 178,800.
Which stage has the most enrollments?
Ensino fundamental, with about 25.8 million in 2025.
Who produces the School Census?
Inep, in collaboration with state and municipal education authorities.
Sources and Methodology
Official 2025 enrollment and school totals.
Official 2026 summary of 2025 School Census results.