Abstract
Early childhood education and care (ECEC) enrolment has increased substantially in recent years. Data are most readily available for programs serving children age 3 and older, and show that enrolment rates are highest in developed countries, such as those of North America and Europe. However, recent growth has been most rapid in countries where enrolment was lowest. In expanding ECEC programs, an important decision is whether programs will target subgroups of children or be universally available. In addition, although quality is a critical consideration, little comparative information is currently available on a worldwide scale and further study is needed.