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Is preschool free in your country?
The 2026 map of where preschool is free or partly free, aired Nov 5, 2026. Sources
Sources: UNESCO UIS SDG 4.2.5 data release 2025 · National laws and ministries, 2024-26 · Eurydice and national press, 2025-26 · How we rate it
Is it free where you live? Check your countryShow the 83 countries where it is not free
No qualifying national law was found for these countries in the sources under Sources.
Free in 56 countries
Free school places for every child from age 3; meals extra.
Source: LOMLOE art. 15; UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
LOMLOE (2020) art. 15: second cycle of infantil (3-6) free in public and publicly funded schools; UIS 2025: 3 free years. Canteen paid.
Public pre-school is free; a place is guaranteed from age 4.
Source: Lei 65/2015; UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Public pre-school education (componente lectiva) free; universal from age 4 by Lei 65/2015, extended to 3; UIS 2025: 2 free years.
State nursery schools for ages 3-6 charge no fees; meals extra.
Source: Eurydice 2025
Why we rate it this way
Eurydice (Italy, ECEC financing, 2025): no attendance fees in state scuola dell'infanzia (3-6); families pay canteen/transport, low-income exempt. UIS codes 0 (no legal guarantee) - practice-based red.
Nursery school is free from age 2 and a half.
Source: UIS 2025; Eurydice
Why we rate it this way
Kleuterschool / ecole maternelle free from 2.5 years; compulsory from 5 (2020); UIS 2025: 3 free years.
Free school starts at 4 with two kindergarten years.
Source: UIS 2025; Leerplichtwet
Why we rate it this way
Basisschool groups 1-2 (ages 4-5) free; compulsory from 5; UIS 2025: 2 free years. Voluntary parent contribution only.
Free school-based preschool from age 3, compulsory from 4.
Source: UIS 2025; MENJE
Why we rate it this way
Free education precoce from 3, compulsory cycle 1 from 4; plus 20 free childcare hours a week (CSA) for ages 1-4; UIS 2025: 3 free years.
Free state nursery school from age 3.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free years of pre-primary in law (state ecoles maternelles).
Two free, compulsory kindergarten years in public schools.
Source: HarmoS; UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
HarmoS concordat: 2 compulsory kindergarten years in public school, free (Federal Constitution art. 19 free basic education); UIS 2025: 2 free years.
Two free public kindergarten years before school.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 2 free years of pre-primary in law (public Kindergarten).
Free state kindergarten for ages 3 to 5.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
State kindergarten (KG1-KG2, ages 3-5) free; UIS 2025: 2 free years; Free Childcare Scheme for working parents.
Free public kindergarten, compulsory from age 4.
Source: Law 4521/2018; UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Public nipiagogeio free; compulsory from age 4 (Law 4521/2018); UIS 2025: 2 free years.
15 free preschool hours a week for two years, for every child.
Source: gov.ie ECCE; OPFI 2026
Why we rate it this way
ECCE: 2 programme years, 3 h/day x 5 days x 38 weeks (15 h/week) free for all children from 2y8m (gov.ie; One Family Feb 2026); meals and extra hours paid.
525 free preschool hours a year from age 3 (15 a week).
Source: Skollagen 8 kap.; 2025
Why we rate it this way
Allman forskola: 525 h/yr (15 h/week) free from the autumn of the year a child turns 3 (Skollagen ch. 8; municipal rules 2025-26, e.g. Falkenberg, Bromolla 2025); maxtaxa above that. UIS counts only forskoleklass (1).
5 free hours a day in public preschools, from age 3.
Source: Prawo oswiatowe art. 13
Why we rate it this way
Prawo oswiatowe art. 13: public preschools free for 5 hours a day; extra hours max PLN 1.30/h; meals paid; UIS 2025: 4 free years.
Kindergarten is free and compulsory from age 3.
Source: Nkt. 2011; UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Kindergarten compulsory from age 3 and free (Nemzeti koznevelesi torveny); meals free for low-income; UIS 2025: 3 free, 3 compulsory years.
State kindergartens are free; meals and extras cost money.
Source: Law 198/2023; UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
State kindergartens tuition-free (Law 198/2023 on pre-university education); compulsory pre-school phased in; UIS 2025: 3 free years; meals/after-school paid.
Every kindergarten and nursery fee was scrapped in 2022.
Source: State Budget Act 2022
Why we rate it this way
State Budget Act 2022 removed all kindergarten and nursery fees from 1 Apr 2022, legally barring municipalities from charging (Frontiers in Education 2023); UIS 2025: 4 free years.
Municipal kindergartens are free; parents pay for meals.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Municipal kindergartens free (pre-school from 1.5); compulsory at 5-6; UIS 2025: 4 free years; meals paid by parents.
Public kindergartens are free; parents pay for meals.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Public kindergartens free under the Education Code; UIS 2025: 4 free years; meal charges set locally.
No fee at public kindergartens; parents pay only for meals.
Source: CabMin meal order Jul 2025
Why we rate it this way
Law on Preschool Education: parents pay only for meals in public kindergartens; Cabinet order of 7 Jul 2025 sets the meal-fee rules (buhgalter.com.ua). UIS codes 0 - weakest red.
State kindergartens charge parents only for meals.
Source: CoM Res. 307 (ed. 2024)
Why we rate it this way
Council of Ministers Res. 307 (2008, ed. 23 Aug 2024; Code on Education art. 40): parents pay only for a child's meals in state kindergartens (adu.by 2025; myfin.by). UIS codes 0.
Public kindergartens are free for ages 3 to 5.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free years of pre-primary in law (public kopshte); meals paid.
Kindergarten is free and compulsory from age 3.
Source: Compulsory Educ. Law; UIS
Why we rate it this way
Free Compulsory Education Law applies from age 3 (state kindergartens); small parent payments; UIS 2025: 3 free, 3 compulsory years.
Public kindergarten is free by law for ages 3 to 5.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free years in law; participation one year before primary 87% (2024). Crisis-era funding gaps.
The state pays preschool for all 3-5s; fully free at 4-5.
Source: MOE 2026; Newsis Nov 2025
Why we rate it this way
Nuri curriculum: state pays standard fee for every 3-5-year-old since 2013; free education for age 5 from Jul 2025, ages 4-5 from 2026 (KRW 470bn, MOE/Newsis Nov 2025), age 3 planned 2027; UIS 2025: 3 free years.
Public kindergartens are free for children aged 2 to 5.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 4 free years of pre-primary in law; participation 98% (2024).
Two free, compulsory pre-school years.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 2 free and 2 compulsory pre-primary years (Education Act 2020).
Two free kindergarten years inside public basic schools.
Source: Educ. Act 2008; UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Education Act 2008: 2 years of kindergarten part of free compulsory basic education; UIS 2025: 2 free, 2 compulsory years.
Up to 20 free hours a week of early learning for ages 3-5.
Source: MoE 20 Hours ECE
Why we rate it this way
20 Hours ECE: up to 20 h/week (6 h/day) free for every 3-5-year-old at participating services (Ministry of Education); optional charges allowed; UIS 2025: 2 free years.
Two free, compulsory pre-school years.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 2 free, 2 compulsory pre-primary years.
Three free pre-school years by law.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free years of pre-primary in law; participation 95% (2024).
Public pre-school is free and compulsory at ages 4-5.
Source: Constitution art. 208; EC 59
Why we rate it this way
Constitution art. 208 I/IV (EC 59/2009) and LDB: pre-school free and compulsory at 4-5 in public schools; creche 0-3 free but places short; UIS 2025: 2 free years.
Free public kindergarten; compulsory from age 4.
Source: Ley 27.045; UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Ley 27.045 (2015): compulsory from age 4, state must universalise sala de 3; public education free (Ley 26.206); UIS 2025: 3 free years.
Free public pre-kinder and kinder at ages 4 and 5.
Source: Ley 20.710; UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Ley 20.710 (2013): kinder compulsory, state guarantees free pre-kinder and kinder; JUNJI/Integra free; UIS 2025: 2 free years.
Free public preschool for ages 3-5, compulsory by law.
Source: Ley 28044; UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Ley General de Educacion 28044: educacion inicial 3-5 compulsory and free in public schools; UIS 2025: 3 free, 3 compulsory years.
Free public preschool, compulsory from age 4.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Ley 18.437: education compulsory from age 4, public free; UIS 2025: 2 free, 2 compulsory years.
Two free, compulsory preschool years in public schools.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Ley 070 (2010): 2 years of inicial en familia comunitaria escolarizada compulsory, public free; UIS 2025: 2 free years.
Free public preschool by law for ages 3 to 5.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free years in law (1 compulsory); participation 75% (2024).
Free public preschool from age 3.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
LOEI: inicial 2 and preparatoria; public education free (Constitution art. 28); UIS 2025: 3 free, 3 compulsory years.
Free public preschool from age 3, in the Constitution.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Constitution art. 103: education free in public institutions up to pregrado, compulsory from maternal; UIS 2025: 3 free years (data 2017).
Two free, compulsory preschool years.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Constitution art. 78: preschool and basic education compulsory and free; UIS 2025: 2 free, 2 compulsory years.
Free public pre-kinder and kinder at ages 4-5.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 2 free, 2 compulsory pre-primary years (pre-kinder and kinder).
Three free, compulsory preschool years.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free, 3 compulsory years of preprimaria (Constitution art. 74).
Three free, compulsory preschool years.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free, 3 compulsory years of educacion parvularia (Ley Crecer Juntos).
Three free, compulsory preschool years.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free, 3 compulsory years of nivel inicial (Ley 66-97).
Free state preschool and day-care circles.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free years (circulos infantiles / preescolar); participation 97% (2024).
Free public nursery classes for 3- and 4-year-olds.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 2 free years of public nursery / infant classes.
Two free preschool years by law.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 2 free years of pre-primary in law.
Two free preschool years by law.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 2 free years of pre-primary in law.
Two free preschool years by law.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 2 free years of pre-primary in law; participation 98% (2024).
Free public nursery school, compulsory from age 3.
Source: Loi 2019-791; UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Loi 2019-791 (pour une ecole de la confiance): instruction compulsory from 3; public ecole maternelle free; UIS 2025: 3 free, 3 compulsory years; canteen paid by income.
Preschool and daycare fees are free for every child aged 3-5.
Source: CFA; 2019 Act, UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Free early education and care for ALL 3-5-year-olds since 1 Oct 2019 (Child and Child-Care Support Act amendment; kindergarten cap JPY 25,700/month); meals paid (municipal guides 2025); UIS 2025: 3 free years.
Preschool is compulsory and free in public schools.
Source: CPEUM art. 3 (2019)
Why we rate it this way
Constitution art. 3 (reform DOF 15 May 2019): preescolar compulsory (3 years) and all state-provided education free; UIS 2025: 2 free, 2 compulsory years.
Public kindergartens have been banned from charging fees since 2013.
Source: 2013 fee ban; Eurydice 2025
Why we rate it this way
July 2013 amendments (Local Self-Government Code; Law on Tbilisi) banned tuition, tariffs or any other kindergarten fees from 1 Sep 2013 (FactCheck.ge); Law on Early and Preschool Education (Eurydice Feb 2025); UIS 2025: 2 free years.
15 years of free schooling, starting with 3 years of kindergarten.
Source: NCPO 28/2016; Thai PBS 2026
Why we rate it this way
15-year free education incl. 3 kindergarten years (NCPO Order 28/2559, 2016); FY2026 budget ~THB 6,400 per kindergarten pupil (Thai PBS fact-check); UIS 2025: 3 free years.
Public preschool tuition was scrapped for every child in 2025.
Source: Res. 217/2025/QH15
Why we rate it this way
National Assembly Resolution 217/2025/QH15 (26 Jun 2025): tuition exempt for all preschool children (mam non) and pupils at public institutions from school year 2025-26; private ones get support. Meals still paid (Decree 277/2025 lunch aid for some).
Everywhere not listed here, preschool is not free.
Partly free in 56 countries
15 free hours a week in England; Wales 10, N. Ireland 1 year.
Source: gov.uk 2025-26
Why we rate it this way
England: 15 hours a week (570 h/yr) free for every 3-4-year-old regardless of income (gov.uk; councils 2025-26); Scotland 1,140 h; Wales min. 10 h; reception/P1 free at 4. UIS 2025: 2 free years. MAIN SESSION 30 Oct: amber - Wales (10 h) and Northern Ireland (1 year) fall below the ~15 h nationwide rule; less dramatic reading wins.
Free public kindergarten at 5; younger kids only in some states.
Source: NIEER 2025; UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 1 free year (public kindergarten at 5, offered free in every state); no federal pre-K; 44 states + DC fund some pre-K, 6 fund none (NIEER Yearbook 2025, publ. Apr 2026).
Free public kindergarten at 5; childcare is cheaper, not free.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 1 free year (public kindergarten at 5 in every province; ON/QC also at 4); childcare CAD 10/day target is reduced, not free.
Free school year at 5; free preschool only in some states.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 1 free year (school Foundation year); free preschool programmes are state-run (e.g. Victoria Free Kinder, NSW).
Free half-day kindergarten in the final year before school.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Last kindergarten year compulsory and free half-day nationwide (Art. 15a agreement); some Laender free from 0 (Vienna); UIS 2025: 1 free year.
Free kindergarten in some states, like Berlin; others charge.
Source: Laender Kita laws 2024-26
Why we rate it this way
Fees set by the 16 Laender: fully free in e.g. Berlin, Hesse (6 h), Lower Saxony (3-6), Brandenburg; last two years in NRW/Thuringia; Bavaria, BW, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, S-H charge (2023-26 overviews). UIS 0 years nationally.
Fees are capped; free places only for low-income families.
Source: Dagtilbudsloven
Why we rate it this way
Parents pay max 25% of cost; national free-place grant (fripladstilskud) makes places free for low incomes; UIS 0.
20 free hours a week, but only for low-income families.
Source: Barnehageloven
Why we rate it this way
National max fee; 20 free core hours a week for 2-5-year-olds in low-income households; UIS 0.
Only the pre-primary year before school is free.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Esiopetus (1 year at 6) free and compulsory; two-year pre-primary trial in some municipalities 2021-24; daycare fees income-based; UIS 2025: 1 free year.
Only the pre-primary year before school is free.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Priesmokyklinis ugdymas (1 year) free and compulsory; UIS 2025: 1 free year.
Only the last, compulsory kindergarten year is free.
Source: Skolsky zakon s. 123
Why we rate it this way
Schools Act s. 123: the last (compulsory) kindergarten year is free; younger years pay a capped fee; UIS 0 free / 1 compulsory.
Only the last, compulsory kindergarten year is free.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Last pre-primary year compulsory (since 2021) and free; UIS 2025: 1 free year.
Fees depend on income; free only for the lowest band.
Source: Kindergartens Act
Why we rate it this way
Income-graded fees by the Kindergartens Act; lowest income band pays 0%; UIS 0.
Only the pre-school programme in the last year is free.
Source: Preschool Education Act
Why we rate it this way
Compulsory pre-school programme in the year before school is free (Preschool Education Act); kindergarten fees set by towns; UIS 0.
Only the compulsory year before school is free.
Source: Preschool Education Law
Why we rate it this way
Preparatory preschool programme (PPP, year before school, 4 h/day) compulsory and free; other years paid; UIS 0.
Only the compulsory year before school is free.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Compulsory pre-primary (from 4y8m) free in public kindergartens; UIS 2025: 1 free year.
Lessons are free, but parents pay a monthly care fee.
Source: 273-FZ art. 65; Tatarstan
Why we rate it this way
Law 273-FZ: preschool education itself free, but art. 65 lets regions charge a monthly care fee (e.g. Tatarstan RUB 4,042/month for 3-7, 2025); compensation 20-70%; UIS 2025 codes 4 free years.
State-funded places, but parents pay meals and places run short.
Source: Govt Res. 523 (Jul 2025)
Why we rate it this way
State-funded places free, parents pay for meals (~KZT 800/day); queues - coverage 2-6 target 95% (PM office); 2025 Res. 523 meal rules; UIS 2025: 3 free years, participation 74%.
State kindergartens charge parents a monthly fee.
Source: CabMin res. 25 Aug 2026
Why we rate it this way
State kindergartens charge a parental fee set in base-value coefficients (Cabinet resolution of 25 Aug 2026, ~6.8% rise; advice.uz); UIS codes 4 free years.
Free in law, but parents pay fees and places run short.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 4 free years in law, but parents pay kindergarten meal/care fees and participation is 75% (2025).
Free in law, but few children get a place.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 4 free years in law, but participation one year before primary 11% (2017).
Free in law, but places are short.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free years in law; participation one year before primary 32% (2024).
Free in law, but state kindergartens ask monthly fees.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free years in law; public kindergartens collect monthly contributions (katki payi) for meals and cleaning (MEB rules; parent complaints 2025).
Only the final year of public kindergarten is free, since 2025.
Source: State Council Aug 2025
Why we rate it this way
State Council guideline (Aug 2025): fees waived for the final public-kindergarten year from autumn 2025 (~24m children, MoE Aug 2026); 2026 central budget CNY 45.8bn; extension to 3 years only planned.
Free Anganwadi play-school, but only a few hours a day.
Source: Saksham Anganwadi 2025
Why we rate it this way
Free non-formal pre-school (2-4 h/day) for ages 3-6 at ~13.9 lakh Anganwadi centres (Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0); no legal entitlement (UIS 0).
One free pre-primary year at 5 in public primary schools.
Source: BRAC brief Mar 2025
Why we rate it this way
One free pre-primary year at 5 in nearly all government primary schools since 2010; 2-year (4+) pilot in 3,000 schools (BRAC IED brief Mar 2025); UIS 0.
Only the year before school is free.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 1 free, 1 compulsory year (ECED in community schools).
Only kindergarten at age 5 is free and compulsory.
Source: RA 10157; UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Kindergarten Education Act (RA 10157, 2012): 1 year of kindergarten at 5 free and compulsory in public schools; UIS 2025: 1 free year.
Free state preschool at 5-6, but not enough places.
Source: Dewan Rakyat Jan 2026
Why we rate it this way
KPM preschool free for citizens aged 5-6, but it seats ~220,000 of ~370,000 (2025), B40 first (Dewan Rakyat answer Jan 2026); UIS 0.
Only the last kindergarten year is free.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
KG2 free in public schools (expanding); UIS 2025: 1 free year.
Only the year before school is free.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 1 free year (pre-school year in public schools).
Free in law, but few public kindergarten places.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 2 free years in law, but public kindergartens reach few children (no national participation data).
Free in law, but fewer than half get a place.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free years in law; participation 47% (2024).
Free public kindergarten for Emirati citizens only.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
Public KG free for Emirati citizens (UIS 2025: 2 free years); most residents are expatriates who pay private fees.
Public KG is nearly free, but under half get a place.
Source: MoE fees 2025-26
Why we rate it this way
Public KG costs ~EGP 320 a year (same token fee as primary; 2025-26 decree reports, Al-Dostor), but participation one year before primary is 38% (UIS 2024).
Free public preschool at 4-5, still being rolled out.
Source: CSEFRS Feb 2026
Why we rate it this way
Public prescolaire classes free (PNGDP, Framework Law 51-17); 4-5-year-old enrolment 70.4% in 2025 (CSEFRS report Feb 2026); full coverage targeted 2028.
Only the preparatory year at 5 is free.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 1 free year (preparatory year at 5 in public schools).
Grade R is free only at no-fee public schools.
Source: BELA Act 2024
Why we rate it this way
Grade R (year before Grade 1) compulsory under the BELA Act (2024); free in no-fee public schools; fee-charging schools charge.
Only the year before school is free.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 1 free, 1 compulsory year (iniciacao).
Only the year before school is free.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 1 free year of pre-primary in law.
Only one pre-primary year is free.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 1 free year (fee-free basic education policy includes pre-primary).
Free in law, but few children get a place.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free years in law; participation 28% (2025).
Free in law, but few children get a place.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free years in law; participation 41% (2024).
Free in law, but places are short.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free years in law; participation 66% (2024).
Free in law, but few children get a place.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free years in law; participation 29% (2023).
Free in law, but public places are scarce.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free years in law; public pre-school places scarce (no participation data).
Free in law, but public places are scarce.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free years in law; public pre-school places scarce (no participation data).
Free in law, but few children get a place.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 2 free years in law; participation 38% (2019); war since 2023.
Free in law, but public places are scarce.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 2 free years in law; public kindergarten places scarce (no participation data).
Free in law, but places are short.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 3 free years in law (1 compulsory); participation 59% (2024).
Free in law, but fewer than half get a place.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 2 free years in law; participation 47% (2024).
Only the year at 5 is free everywhere; younger in some towns.
Source: MEN 2026; Ley 115
Why we rate it this way
Ley 115: 3 preschool grades, only transicion (age 5) compulsory/universal and free in official schools; prejardin/jardin in 5,235 sites in 680 municipalities (MEN Jan 2026); UIS codes 3.
Only kindergarten before school is free.
Source: UIS 2025
Why we rate it this way
UIS 2025: 1 free, 1 compulsory year (kindergarten).
Public kindergarten is free, but only for Saudi citizens.
Source: WES Sep 2026; Al-Yaum 2025
Why we rate it this way
WES Saudi Arabia overview (updated 30 Sep 2026): schooling from kindergarten is publicly funded and free for Saudi citizens. Al-Yaum, 11 May 2025: registration at government kindergartens is for Saudis only. Oxford Business Group: kindergarten enrolment 36.7% in 2024. No statute or ministry fee text found; UIS 0 overridden. Citizens only, and too few places, so partly free.
The school-prep year at 5 is state funded; no wider free rule found.
Source: MoSE prep-group rules 2026
Why we rate it this way
Ministry of Science and Education rules: school-preparation groups at age 5 are paid for from the state budget, are not compulsory, and enrol through mektebeqebul.edu.az (2026-27 Q&A). No fee or free rule for state kindergartens at ages 3-4 was found; private places get a state co-payment (APA, 20 Jul 2026). One funded year at most, so partly free.
Public units are free; at private schools parents pay any top-up.
Source: Budget 2025-26; L'Express
Why we rate it this way
UIS: two free pre-primary years since 2024 through the Free Pre-Primary Education Scheme. Budget 2025-26 revised it: from Jan 2026 private schools get a fixed Rs 2,750 per child and parents pay any difference; the 42 public units stay fully free (L'Express via allAfrica, 14 Oct 2025, read in search excerpts only). Most children attend private schools. A 2026 source confirming the start was not found; partly free holds either way as the less dramatic reading.
All 195 countries: is preschool free?
AfghanistanNot free
AlbaniaFree
AlgeriaPartly free
AndorraNot free
AngolaPartly free
Antigua & BarbudaNot free
ArgentinaFree
ArmeniaPartly free
AustraliaPartly free
AustriaPartly free
AzerbaijanPartly free
BahamasPartly free
BahrainNot free
BangladeshPartly free
BarbadosFree
BelarusFree
BelgiumFree
BelizeFree
BeninNot free
BhutanNot free
BoliviaFree
Bosnia & HerzegovinaNot free
BotswanaNot free
BrazilFree
BruneiNot free
BulgariaFree
Burkina FasoNot free
BurundiPartly free
CambodiaNot free
CameroonNot free
CanadaPartly free
Cape VerdeNot free
Central African RepublicNot free
ChadNot free
ChileFree
ChinaPartly free
ColombiaPartly free
ComorosPartly free
Congo - BrazzavillePartly free
Congo - KinshasaNot free
Costa RicaFree
CroatiaPartly free
CubaFree
CyprusPartly free
CzechiaPartly free
Côte d’IvoireNot free
DenmarkPartly free
DjiboutiPartly free
DominicaNot free
Dominican RepublicFree
EcuadorFree
EgyptPartly free
El SalvadorFree
Equatorial GuineaNot free
EritreaNot free
EstoniaNot free
EswatiniNot free
EthiopiaNot free
FijiNot free
FinlandPartly free
FranceFree
GabonNot free
GambiaNot free
GeorgiaFree
GermanyPartly free
GhanaFree
GreeceFree
GrenadaFree
GuatemalaFree
GuineaNot free
Guinea-BissauNot free
GuyanaNot free
HaitiNot free
HondurasPartly free
HungaryFree
IcelandNot free
IndiaPartly free
IndonesiaNot free
IranNot free
IraqPartly free
IrelandFree
IsraelFree
ItalyFree
JamaicaNot free
JapanFree
JordanPartly free
KazakhstanPartly free
KenyaNot free
KiribatiNot free
KuwaitNot free
KyrgyzstanPartly free
LaosNot free
LatviaFree
LebanonFree
LesothoNot free
LiberiaNot free
LibyaPartly free
LiechtensteinFree
LithuaniaPartly free
LuxembourgFree
MadagascarPartly free
MalawiNot free
MalaysiaPartly free
MaldivesFree
MaliPartly free
MaltaFree
Marshall IslandsPartly free
MauritaniaPartly free
MauritiusPartly free
MexicoFree
MicronesiaNot free
MoldovaFree
MonacoFree
MongoliaFree
MontenegroNot free
MoroccoPartly free
MozambiqueNot free
Myanmar (Burma)Not free
NamibiaNot free
NauruFree
NepalPartly free
NetherlandsFree
New ZealandFree
NicaraguaNot free
NigerNot free
NigeriaNot free
North KoreaNot free
North MacedoniaNot free
NorwayPartly free
OmanNot free
PakistanNot free
PalauNot free
Palestinian TerritoriesPartly free
PanamaFree
Papua New GuineaNot free
ParaguayFree
PeruFree
PhilippinesPartly free
PolandFree
PortugalFree
QatarNot free
RomaniaFree
RussiaPartly free
RwandaNot free
SamoaNot free
San MarinoNot free
Saudi ArabiaPartly free
SenegalNot free
SerbiaPartly free
SeychellesNot free
Sierra LeoneNot free
SingaporeNot free
SlovakiaPartly free
SloveniaPartly free
Solomon IslandsNot free
SomaliaNot free
South AfricaPartly free
South KoreaFree
South SudanNot free
SpainFree
Sri LankaNot free
St. Kitts & NevisNot free
St. LuciaNot free
St. Vincent & GrenadinesFree
SudanPartly free
SurinameNot free
SwedenFree
SwitzerlandFree
SyriaPartly free
São Tomé & PríncipeNot free
TajikistanPartly free
TanzaniaPartly free
ThailandFree
Timor-LesteNot free
TogoNot free
TongaNot free
Trinidad & TobagoNot free
TunisiaNot free
TurkmenistanNot free
TuvaluFree
TürkiyePartly free
UgandaNot free
UkraineFree
United Arab EmiratesPartly free
United KingdomPartly free
United StatesPartly free
UruguayFree
UzbekistanPartly free
VanuatuNot free
Vatican CityNot free
VenezuelaFree
VietnamFree
YemenNot free
ZambiaNot free
ZimbabweNot free
Sources
Green means a public preschool or kindergarten place for children aged 3 to 5 is free for every family by national law or a national programme (at least two years, or 15+ free hours a week; meals may cost extra). Amber means it is free only in part: just the last year before school, only some hours, only low-income families or citizens, some regions, a monthly fee on top, or free in law but without enough places. Red means families pay.
- UNESCO UIS SDG 4.2.5 data release 2025: Years of free and compulsory pre-primary guaranteed in legal frameworks; participation rate one year before primary
- National laws and ministries, 2024-26: Vietnam Res. 217/2025/QH15, Thailand NCPO 28/2016, Japan 2019 free-ECEC act, Sweden Skollagen ch. 8, Ireland ECCE, Georgia 2013 fee ban, China State Council Aug 2025, Korea MOE 2026, NIEER 2025
- Eurydice and national press, 2025-26: Eurydice Italy/Georgia, gov.uk, Thai PBS, Newsis, CSEFRS, BRAC, Al-Dostor, advice.uz, Tatarstan, adu.by
Each country in the lists names the source for its rule; countries not listed had no qualifying national law in these sources. Laws as of November 2026. We map the law on the books, not how well it is enforced.
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