Current 2025/26 pupil and apprenticeship totals by major school stage.
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Education in France
DATAEducation statistics: 2026 edition
Education statistics: 2026 edition · School year: 2025/26
France's 2026 education statistics report 12.46 million pupils and apprentices for 2025/26. The school pathway begins with maternelle from age three, followed by elementary school, collège and lycée. Instruction is compulsory for children aged 3 to 16 living in France. The 2026 statistical edition separates first-degree, collège, lycée and apprenticeship populations.
France education snapshot
France's 2026 statistical edition separates first-degree, collège, lycée and apprenticeship populations within the 2025/26 education system.
Pupils and apprentices
12,459,500*
Primary-school pupils
6,154,900*
Collège and SEGPA
3,359,900*
Lycée students
2,261,100*
* Reference years and benchmark labels are shown with the figures.
How the education pathway works
France's pathway distinguishes maternelle, elementary school, collège and lycée, matching the current Ministry structure rather than compressing them into a generic primary-secondary model.
| Stage | When | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Maternelle | Ages 3 to 6 | Nursery school forms the first cycle of compulsory instruction. |
| Elementary school | Ages 6 to 11 | Elementary school follows maternelle and covers the main primary grades. |
| Collège | From about age 11 | Collège forms lower-secondary education through the end of compulsory schooling. |
| Lycée | From about age 15 | General, technological and vocational lycée routes follow collège. |
Key evidence
The stage totals are shown independently because maternelle and elementary schooling, collège, lycée and apprenticeship do not represent the same education level.
| Indicator or rule | Value | Reference | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils and apprentices | 12,459,500 | 2025/26 | French Ministry of Education, DEPP |
| First-degree pupils | 6,154,900 | 2025/26 | French Ministry of Education, DEPP |
| Collège and SEGPA pupils | 3,359,900 | 2025/26 | French Ministry of Education, DEPP |
| Lycée students | 2,261,100 | 2025/26 | French Ministry of Education, DEPP |
* Reference years and benchmark labels are shown with the figures.
The current statistical edition makes the stage mix visible
The 2026 edition of L'éducation nationale en chiffres reports 12,459,500 pupils and apprentices for 2025/26. Of these, 6,154,900 are in the first degree, 3,359,900 in collèges and SEGPA, and 2,261,100 in lycées.
Those groups correspond to different stages, so they are shown separately rather than merged into a school-enrolment percentage. Compulsory instruction applies from age three to age sixteen.
Frequently asked questions
How many pupils and apprentices are reported in France for 2025/26?
The 2026 Ministry statistical edition reports 12,459,500.
How many pupils are in the first degree?
The Ministry reports 6,154,900 pupils.
At what age does compulsory instruction start in France?
Compulsory instruction starts at age 3.
What comes after elementary school?
Students move to collège for lower secondary education, then to general, technological or vocational lycée pathways.
Sources and methodology
DEPP's 2026 statistical edition supplies the current counts; Ministry and Eduscol pages define the compulsory ages and the organisation of the school pathway.
Current age and stage map from maternelle through lycée.
Official rule stating compulsory instruction from ages 3 to 16.
Methodology: current administrative counts are labelled by school year, benchmark values are identified as targets, and older structural sources are not presented as current enrolment data.