Child Care Data & Statistics
Child Care Aware of Washington provides thorough and independent information and analysis to illustrate the need for healthy child care businesses and equitable access for all families. The reports below reflect important data such as the number of child care providers, providers by type, children using subsidies, and child care provider compensation.
Key Statistics
- The number of family child care providers dropped 20% in 5 years, with larger child care centers adding some capacity. While the decline in family child care providers has recently stabilized, some counties are continuing to see declines.
- Washington’s population grew by more than 400,000 in 5 years, while the capacity of child care providers grew by just 3,000 children.
- Washington ranks 3rd in the nation for least affordable child care for an infant in a family child care program.
- The average cost to have an infant in a child care center is 15.4% of median income for a married couple and a daunting 51.5% of median income for a single mother.
- While median household incomes have increased 5% since 2010, median child care rates have increased between 13-20% for center-based care and 11-31% for family child care.
2023 Full Year Data Reports
Click here to view county summariesStatewide
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Adams
- In Adams County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 30 with capacity for 587 children in 2019, to 28 providers with capacity for 508 children in December of 2023.
- 96% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 36 children with high-quality child care in Adams County so far this year.
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Asotin
- In Asotin County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 10 with capacity for 527 children in 2019, to 9 providers with capacity for 350 children in December of 2023.
- 75% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 17 children with high-quality child care in Adams County so far this year.
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Benton
- In Benton County, the number of child care providers has increased from 139 with capacity for 4,388 children in 2019, to 141 providers with capacity for 4,299 children in December of 2023.
- 72% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 546 children with high-quality child care in Benton County so far this year.
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Chelan
- In Chelan County, the number of child care providers has increased from 99 with capacity for 1,748 children in 2019, to 117 providers with capacity for 2,120 children in December of 2023.
- 83% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 156 children with high-quality child care in Chelan County so far this year.
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Clallam
- In Clallam County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 43 with capacity for 1,006 children in 2019, to 37 providers with capacity for 1,091 children in December of 2023.
- 77% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 93 children with high-quality child care in Clallam County so far this year.
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Clark
- In Clark County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 254 with capacity for 9,280 children in 2019, to 205 providers with capacity for 8,595 children in December of 2023.
- 59% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 1,242 children with high-quality child care in Clark County so far this year.
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Columbia
- In Columbia County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 4 with capacity for 38 children in 2019, to 0 providers with capacity for 0 children in December of 2023.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 4 children with high-quality child care in Columbia County so far this year.
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Cowlitz
- In Cowlitz County, the number of child care providers has stayed the same from 48 with capacity for 2,103 children in 2019, to 48 providers with capacity for 2,316 children in December of 2023.
- 82% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 181 children with high-quality child care in Cowlitz County so far this year.
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Douglas
- In Douglas County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 68 with capacity for 1,099 children in 2019, to 66 providers with capacity for 1,086 children in December of 2023.
- 88% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 90 children with high-quality child care in Douglas County so far this year.
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Ferry
- In Ferry County, the number of child care providers has increased from 1 with capacity for 12 children in 2019, to 2 providers with capacity for 36 children in December of 2023.
- 50% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
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Franklin
- In Franklin County, the number of child care providers has increased from 136 with capacity for 2,740 children in 2019, to 187 providers with capacity for 3,601 children in December of 2023.
- 94% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 231 children with high-quality child care in Franklin County so far this year.
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Garfield
- In Garfield County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 2 with capacity for 84 children in 2019, to 0 providers with capacity for 0 children in December of 2023.
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Grant
- In Grant County, the number of child care providers has increased from 143 with capacity for 2,676 children in 2019, to 151 providers with capacity for 2,904 children in December of 2023.
- 87% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 158 children with high-quality child care in Grant County so far this year.
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Grays Harbor
- In Grays Harbor County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 52 with capacity for 1,278 children in 2019, to 35 providers with capacity for 1,234 children in December of 2023.
- 86% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 102 children with high-quality child care in Grays Harbor County so far this year.
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Island
- In Island County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 41 with capacity for 1,435 children in 2019, to 30 providers with capacity for 772 children in December of 2023.
- 71% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 94 children with high-quality child care in Island County so far this year.
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Jefferson
- In Jefferson County, the number of child care providers has increased from 7 with capacity for 156 children in 2019, to 9 providers with capacity for 176 children in December of 2023.
- 75% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 17 children with high-quality child care in Jefferson County so far this year.
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King
- In King County, the number of child care providers has increased from 2,047 with capacity for 68,392 children in 2019, to 2,431 providers with capacity for 80,979 children in December of 2023.
- 75% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 4,413 children with high-quality child care in King County so far this year.
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Kitsap
- In Kitsap County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 137 with capacity for 4,867 children in 2019, to 131 providers with capacity for 5,365 children in December of 2023.
- 57% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 460 children with high-quality child care in Kitsap County so far this year.
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Kittitas
- In Kittitas County, the number of child care providers has stayed the same from 20 with capacity for 678 children in 2019, to 20 providers with capacity for 876 children in December of 2023.
- 47% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 40 children with high-quality child care in Kittitas County so far this year.
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Klickitat
- In Klickitat County, the number of child care providers has increased from 8 with capacity for 157 children in 2019, to 9 providers with capacity for 170 children in December of 2023.
- 38% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 14 children with high-quality child care in Klickitat County so far this year.
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Lewis
- In Lewis County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 41 with capacity for 1,180 children in 2019, to 32 providers with capacity for 1,166 children in December of 2023.
- 71% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 137 children with high-quality child care in Lewis County so far this year.
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Lincoln
- In Lincoln County, the number of child care providers has stayed the same from 4 with capacity for 47 children in 2019, to 4 providers with capacity for 52 children in December of 2023.
- 33% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 3 children with high-quality child care in Lincoln County so far this year.
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Mason
- In Mason County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 31 with capacity for 928 children in 2019, to 22 providers with capacity for 803 children in December of 2023.
- 62% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 114 children with high-quality child care in Mason County so far this year.
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Okanogan
- In Okanogan County, the number of child care providers has increased from 39 with capacity for 674 children in 2019, to 43 providers with capacity for 852 children in December of 2023.
- 76% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 39 children with high-quality child care in Okanogan County so far this year.
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Pacific
- In Pacific County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 10 with capacity for 239 children in 2019, to 9 providers with capacity for 251 children in December of 2023.
- 78% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 8 children with high-quality child care in Pacific County so far this year.
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Pend Oreille
- In Pend Oreille County, the number of child care providers has increased from 2 with capacity for 107 children in 2019, to 3 providers with capacity for 147 children in December of 2023.
- 100% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 5 children with high-quality child care in Pend Oreille County so far this year.
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Pierce
- In Pierce County, the number of child care providers has increased from 501 with capacity for 19,868 children in 2019, to 513 providers with capacity for 21,606 children in December of 2023.
- 68% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 2,823 children with high-quality child care in Pierce County so far this year.
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San Juan
- In San Juan County, the number of child care providers has stayed the same from 6 with capacity for 199 children in 2019, to 6 providers with capacity for 187 children in December of 2023.
- 100% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 3 children with high-quality child care in San Juan County so far this year.
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Skagit
- In Skagit County, the number of child care providers has increased from 96 with capacity for 2,411 children in 2019, to 98 providers with capacity for 2,473 children in December of 2023.
- 83% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 287 children with high-quality child care in Skagit County so far this year.
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Skamania
- In Skamania County, the number of child care providers has stayed the same from 6 with capacity for 124 children in 2019, to 6 providers with capacity for 98 children in December of 2023.
- 67% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 3 children with high-quality child care in Skamania County so far this year.
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Snohomish
- In Snohomish County, the number of child care providers has increased from 497 with capacity for 17,232 children in 2019, to 531 providers with capacity for 19,329 children in December of 2023.
- 65% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 1,535 children with high-quality child care in Snohomish County so far this year.
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Spokane
- In Spokane County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 265 with capacity for 12,064 children in 2019, to 230 providers with capacity for 11,910 children in December of 2023.
- 65% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 1,169 children with high-quality child care in Spokane County so far this year.
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Stevens
- In Stevens County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 14 with capacity for 331 children in 2018, to 13 providers with capacity for 321 children in June of 2023.
- 69% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 21 children with high-quality child care in Stevens County so far this year.
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Thurston
- In Thurston County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 204 with capacity for 7,441 children in 2019, to 157 providers with capacity for 7,078 children in December of 2023.
- 81% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 825 children with high-quality child care in Thurston County so far this year.
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Wahkiakum
- In Wahkiakum County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 2 with capacity for 54 children in 2019, to 1 provider with capacity for 56 children in December of 2023.
- 100% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 4 children with high-quality child care in Wahkiakum County so far this year.
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Walla Walla
- In Walla Walla County, the number of child care providers has stayed the same from 47 with capacity for 1,208 children in 2019, to 47 providers with capacity for 1,306 children in December of 2023.
- 78% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 114 children with high-quality child care in Whatcom County so far this year.
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Whatcom
- In Whatcom County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 117 with capacity for 3,566 children in 2019, to 106 providers with capacity for 3,918 children in December of 2023.
- 65% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 438 children with high-quality child care in Whatcom County so far this year.
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Whitman
- In Whitman County, the number of child care providers has dropped from 21 with capacity for 1,038 children in 2019, to 12 providers with capacity for 872 children in December of 2023.
- 73% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 61 children with high-quality child care in Whitman County so far this year.
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Yakima
- In Yakima County, the number of child care providers has increased from 340 with capacity for 8,285 children in 2019, to 373 providers with capacity for 8,526 children in December of 2023.
- 94% of licensed child care providers in the county are enrolled in Early Achievers, which helps providers enrich their early learning programs.
- Child Care Aware of Washington helped match 496 children with high-quality child care in Yakima County so far this year.
Close Details
State and Data Reports
- Statewide
- Adams
- Asotin
- Benton
- Chelan
- Clallam
- Clark
- Columbia
- Cowlitz
- Douglas
- Ferry
- Franklin
- Garfield
- Grant
- Grays Harbor
- Island
- Jefferson
- King
- Kitsap
- Kittitas
- Klickitat
- Lewis
- Lincoln
- Mason
- Okanogan
- Pacific
- Pend Oreille
- Pierce
- San Juan
- Skagit
- Skamania
- Snohomish
- Spokane
- Stevens
- Thurston
- Wahkiakum
- Walla Walla
- Whatcom
- Whitman
- Yakima
