Mean Years of Schooling
Average years of formal education among adults. Our World in Data, 1985–2020.
Avg (2020)
9.4
+0.40pp vs 2015
Improving
32
of 146 tracked
Declining
0
period over period
Stable
114
±0.5pp band
Mean Years of Schooling
Interactive — choose a period, search a country, switch between bars, table and map.
Trend over time
Group average by period, 1985–2020.
AsiaEuropeAfricaAmericas
Movers
Biggest period-over-period changes.
Top risers
| Entity | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 🇾🇪 Yemen | 5.6 | +1.0pp |
| 🇦🇫 Afghanistan | 5.7 | +0.90pp |
| 🇲🇿 Mozambique | 4.2 | +0.90pp |
| 🇧🇯 Benin | 6.3 | +0.90pp |
| 🇲🇱 Mali | 3.6 | +0.80pp |
Top fallers
| Entity | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | 10.8 | -0.10pp |
| 🇹🇯 Tajikistan | 10.1 | -0.10pp |
By group
Change by group, latest period.
Africa +0.60pp
Asia +0.40pp
Americas +0.30pp
Europe +0.20pp
| Group | Members | Avg | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 38 | 11.7 | +0.20pp |
| Americas | 27 | 9.5 | +0.30pp |
| Asia | 43 | 9.4 | +0.40pp |
| Africa | 38 | 6.8 | +0.60pp |
Related indicators
More in education.