Which type of childcare is most common in the EU?

In 2021, in the EU, half of all children aged less than three years were cared for exclusively by their parents. At national level, the highest shares were recorded in Romania (77%), Czechia (72%) and Bulgaria (68%).

On the other hand, in 2021, 36% of children aged less than 3 were in formal care for at least one hour per week. Among the EU countries, the Netherlands recorded the highest share (74%), followed by Denmark (69%) and Luxembourg (62%). 

Source datasets: ilc_caparents and ilc_caindformal 

Finally, less than a quarter (21%) were cared for by professional child-minders, grandparents, other household members (excluding parents), other relatives, friends or neighbors. In the Netherlands and Cyprus (both 45%), followed by Greece (44%), this form of care was prevalent.