Georgia at a glance
Reliable numbers, with the context attached.
Child care decisions affect a family's work, schedule, and peace of mind. This page brings together recent figures from Georgia's Department of Early Care and Learning and the U.S. Census Bureau, with a date and direct source for every statistic.
Last reviewed: October 13, 2026. State figures below reflect fiscal year 2026 reporting unless noted otherwise.
3,127
licensed child care learning centers
Georgia reported this statewide count as of June 30, 2026.
Georgia DECAL, FY 2026 Annual Report993
licensed family child care learning homes
Georgia reported this statewide count as of June 30, 2026.
Georgia DECAL, FY 2026 Annual Report382,804
children in total licensed capacity
This is the combined licensed capacity reported across Georgia's centers and family child care homes.
Georgia DECAL, FY 2026 Annual Report68,729
children served by Georgia's Pre-K Program
The program served children in all 159 Georgia counties through public schools and child care programs.
Georgia DECAL, FY 2026 Annual Report74,902
unique children helped with child care payments
Georgia's CAPS program helped pay for care for these children in fiscal year 2026.
Georgia DECAL, FY 2026 Annual Report97%
of CAPS children were enrolled in Quality Rated care
The figure excludes children in programs with provisional or probationary Quality Rated status.
Georgia DECAL, FY 2026 Annual Report$10,520
average annual child care spending for paying U.S. households
Among households with children age 13 and younger that paid for child care in 2024, that equaled 5.6% of household income on average.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 CPS ASEC findings$12,600
average annual child care spending when the youngest child was under 6
This is the 2024 average for paying U.S. households with a youngest child under six.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 CPS ASEC findingsWhat the figures show
A large statewide system, with decisions still made locally.
Georgia's early care system includes both center-based programs and family child care homes. The state's 2026 report shows that licensed capacity and the number of centers had eased from the prior year, while family child care homes continued a longer decline. That is why a direct conversation about a child's age, schedule, and a program's current openings matters more than any statewide number.
Georgia's Pre-K Program served children in every county, but the state notes that participation is voluntary for both families and providers, so a program may not have enough spaces for every eligible four-year-old who wants one. Families can use Georgia's official finder to check options near them, then speak with each provider about availability and fit.
Find child care in Georgia →Methodology & sources
How to use this page.
Each figure above links to the original report. Georgia figures come from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning's Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report. National spending figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau's analysis of the 2025 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement and describe 2024 spending.
- Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report, accessed October 13, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Child Care Challenges and Adaptations: Findings from the 2025 CPS ASEC, published May 2026.
Need to cite this page?
Suggested citation: Peek-A-Boo Learning Center. Georgia Child Care & Pre-K Statistics. Updated October 13, 2026. https://peekaboolearningcenter.net/child-care-statistics
When quoting a number, link to its permanent section above and, where useful, to the original source alongside it.
Looking for care in Macon?
Statistics are a useful starting point. A conversation about your child's age, your family's schedule, and current availability is the practical next step.
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