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Next, with regard to the degree to which pre-school education for 4 and 5-year-old children has spread in selected countries, France ranks the highest in the rate of enrollment among five-year-olds (for kindergartens), followed by Japan (enrollment rate for kindergartens and day nurseries combined) and the U.S.A. (enrollment rate for kindergartens and day nurseries combined) in that order.

The enrollment rate for 4-year-old children is much lower than that for 5-year-old children in every country considered here. France comes first at the 90% level, followed by Japan, England and Wales (enrollment rate for nursery classes and schools) and the U.S.A. in that order, with an outstanding growth in the enrollment rate during the last 15 years shown particularly in France and Japan.

As stated above, the enrollment rate for 4 and 5-year-old children has been turning upward in every country since around 1970 - whether its actual rate is high or low -, thus indicating a growing trend in the demand for pre-school education.

Chart 1-4. Pre-School Education Enrollment Rate, Classified by Age- International Comparison -