Definition: Number of child care spaces in licensed facilities, by type of facility (e.g., in 2023, there were 718,815 spaces in licensed child care centers in California).
Data Source: California Child Care Resource and Referral Network, California Child Care Portfolio (May 2025).
Footnote: Child care centers are facilities that provide care for children during all or part of the day. These facilities may be large or small and can be operated independently by nonprofit organizations or by churches, school districts, or other organizations. Most child care centers are licensed by the California Dept. of Social Services (CDSS). In family child care homes, care for up to 14 children is offered in the home of the provider, often a parent. Family child care homes also are licensed by CDSS. In some facilities, the number of child care spaces is greater than the number of children who can be cared for. As a result, the number of spaces likely overestimates the quantity of child care that is available.
