National averages — preschool (2025)

Every national-average value used in "above the national average"-comparisons in Swedish preschool. Personnel density, share of qualified teachers, enrolment rate — every value carries source, year and an anchor link.

All national averages — preschool

Metric National average Unit Year Source N Links
# Children per staff (preschool) Enrolled children per FTE staff member. Mean across all preschools. 5.1 children 2023/24 Skolverket 8,237
# Children per preschool Average number of enrolled children per preschool. 55 children 2023/24 Skolverket 8,513
# Share of qualified preschool teachers Share of preschool FTE staff with a preschool-teacher degree. Unweighted municipal mean. 44.2 % 2024 Kolada 290
# Enrolment rate, ages 1-5 Share of children aged 1-5 enrolled in preschool. Unweighted municipal mean. 86.5 % 2025 Kolada 290
# Children per group Average number of children per group. Unweighted municipal mean. 15.0 children 2025 Kolada 275

How the national average is calculated

School-level values (children per staff, children per preschool) are unweighted means across all active preschools with data, with municipal-level KPIs (preschool-teacher share, group size) drawn from Kolada as unweighted municipal means. Compulsory schools are excluded. The "children per staff" value is stored under Skolverket's studentsPerTeacher field for preschools — same field, different semantics.

Municipal-level values (preschool-teacher share, enrolment rate) come from Kolada as an unweighted mean across Sweden's municipalities — every municipality contributes one value regardless of size.

Detailed formulas are in the method policy. Open data under CC BY 4.0 from /en/download/.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between children per staff and children per group?

Children per staff (FTE — full-time equivalent) measures personnel density across both qualified preschool teachers and childcare workers. Children per group measures group size — how many other children every child shares space with. Both matter: lower density and smaller groups mean more individual attention.

Is a preschool-teacher degree the same as teacher certification?

A preschool-teacher degree (förskollärarexamen) is a higher-ed qualification authorising work as a preschool teacher. Since 2014 a teacher certification (lärarlegitimation) is required to take responsibility for instruction, but uncertified preschool teachers can still work. Skolkoll shows the share with the degree, not specifically with certification.

What does enrolment rate mean?

The share of children in an age group enrolled in preschool (municipal or independent). In Sweden, preschool is a right from age 1 for children of working/studying parents and a universal right from age 3. Enrolment for ages 1-5 is typically 85-95 %.

Unweighted or weighted mean?

School-level values (children per staff, children per preschool) are unweighted means across all active preschools. Kolada values (preschool-teacher share, enrolment rate) are unweighted municipal means. Both differ from Skolverket's often pupil-weighted national figure.

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