Average number of completed years in formal education, aged 17 and above, rural by country
Countries reporting
80
Highest
12.86
United States
Lowest
2
Mali
Median
8.96
Years covered
52
1970–2021
Data points
1,078
What the numbers show
Average number of completed years in formal education, aged 17 and above, rural is currently reported for 80 countries. The highest value is 12.86 in United States; the lowest is 2 in Mali.
The median across all reporting countries is 8.96, and the mean is 8.71.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 6.
Over the past decade 65 countries rose and 12 fell. The largest increase was in Ethiopia (up 261.7%), and the largest decrease in Gambia (down 18.3%).
Average number of completed years in formal education, aged 17 and: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 12.86 | 2010 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 2 | Norway | 12.85 | 2016 | up 9.3% | rising |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 12.78 | 2016 | up 3.4% | volatile |
| 4 | Germany | 12.71 | 2011 | up 11.9% | rising |
| 5 | Georgia | 12.33 | 2020 | up 5.4% | rising |
| 6 | Estonia | 12.1 | 2016 | up 3.4% | flat |
| 7 | Finland | 12.07 | 2016 | up 2.3% | rising |
| 8 | Czechia | 12.03 | 2016 | up 2.8% | flat |
| 9 | Lithuania | 12.01 | 2016 | up 5.2% | volatile |
| 10 | Slovak Republic | 11.93 | 2016 | up 2.0% | flat |
| 11 | Latvia | 11.87 | 2016 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 12 | Belarus | 11.64 | 2010 | up 37.1% | rising |
| 13 | Ireland | 11.62 | 2016 | up 12.7% | rising |
| 14 | Kazakhstan | 11.61 | 2017 | up 145.9% | rising |
| 15 | Sweden | 11.49 | 2016 | down 3.4% | flat |
| 16 | Hungary | 11.47 | 2016 | up 6.4% | rising |
| 17 | Austria | 11.39 | 2003 | — | volatile |
| 18 | Denmark | 11.32 | 2016 | up 0.0% | rising |
| 19 | Luxembourg | 11.14 | 2016 | up 5.7% | rising |
| 20 | Netherlands | 11.01 | 2004 | — | volatile |
| 21 | Korea | 10.93 | 2017 | up 14.6% | rising |
| 22 | France | 10.84 | 2016 | up 7.7% | rising |
| 23 | Croatia | 10.75 | 2016 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 24 | Iceland | 10.74 | 2015 | down 1.0% | flat |
| 25 | Ukraine | 10.67 | 2018 | up 4.9% | rising |
| 26 | Kosovo | 10.58 | 2017 | up 38.3% | rising |
| 27 | North Macedonia | 10.26 | 2020 | up 12.5% | volatile |
| 28 | Palestine, State of | 10.19 | 2017 | up 7.4% | rising |
| 29 | Bulgaria | 10.15 | 2016 | down 2.4% | falling |
| 30 | Belgium | 10.1 | 2003 | — | volatile |
| 31 | Cyprus | 10.04 | 2016 | up 3.8% | flat |
| 32 | Serbia | 9.92 | 2018 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 33 | Italy | 9.83 | 2016 | up 9.9% | volatile |
| 34 | Mongolia | 9.59 | 2021 | up 20.7% | rising |
| 35 | Romania | 9.51 | 2016 | up 11.5% | rising |
| 36 | Poland | 9.38 | 2016 | down 8.9% | falling |
| 37 | Nigeria | 9.33 | 2018 | up 114.0% | rising |
| 38 | Jordan | 9.31 | 2016 | down 0.1% | rising |
| 39 | South Africa | 9.16 | 2020 | up 6.7% | rising |
| 40 | Sri Lanka | 9.01 | 2016 | up 8.2% | rising |
| 41 | Republic of Moldova | 8.9 | 2017 | down 17.4% | rising |
| 42 | Chile | 8.84 | 2017 | up 18.1% | rising |
| 43 | Spain | 8.82 | 2016 | down 5.9% | volatile |
| 44 | Jamaica | 8.76 | 2002 | up 19.7% | rising |
| 45 | Türkiye | 8.62 | 2013 | up 19.0% | rising |
| 46 | Ghana | 8.56 | 2016 | up 87.6% | rising |
| 47 | Greece | 8.45 | 2016 | down 8.0% | falling |
| 48 | Uruguay | 8.15 | 2021 | up 13.3% | rising |
| 49 | Panama | 8.11 | 2021 | up 18.8% | rising |
| 50 | Ecuador | 8.07 | 2021 | up 36.6% | rising |
| 51 | Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 8 | 2002 | up 13.3% | rising |
| 52 | Paraguay | 7.75 | 2021 | up 18.9% | rising |
| 53 | Costa Rica | 7.62 | 2021 | up 10.3% | rising |
| 54 | Egypt | 7.54 | 2019 | up 30.6% | rising |
| 55 | Mexico | 7.28 | 2020 | up 25.7% | rising |
| 56 | Portugal | 7.28 | 2016 | down 10.8% | falling |
| 57 | Zambia | 7.16 | 2015 | up 48.6% | rising |
| 58 | Belize | 7.14 | 1999 | up 8.6% | rising |
| 59 | Namibia | 7.14 | 2015 | down 14.9% | rising |
| 60 | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | 7.09 | 2021 | up 24.6% | rising |
| 61 | Dominican Republic | 6.75 | 2013 | up 13.2% | rising |
| 62 | Colombia | 6.66 | 2021 | up 30.3% | rising |
| 63 | Brazil | 6.43 | 2021 | up 36.7% | rising |
| 64 | Peru | 6.27 | 2021 | up 10.9% | rising |
| 65 | Ethiopia | 6.26 | 2021 | up 261.7% | volatile |
| 66 | El Salvador | 5.71 | 2019 | up 28.6% | rising |
| 67 | Uganda | 5.58 | 2016 | up 7.8% | rising |
| 68 | Malawi | 5.4 | 2016 | up 29.2% | volatile |
| 69 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 5.22 | 2012 | up 16.4% | rising |
| 70 | Honduras | 5.18 | 2019 | up 22.7% | rising |
| 71 | Guatemala | 4.95 | 2019 | up 45.0% | rising |
| 72 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 4.92 | 2018 | up 18.2% | rising |
| 73 | Nicaragua | 4.77 | 2014 | up 31.8% | rising |
| 74 | Nepal | 4.66 | 2014 | up 85.8% | rising |
| 75 | Cambodia | 4.55 | 2012 | up 14.3% | rising |
| 76 | Pakistan | 4.06 | 2020 | up 17.0% | rising |
| 77 | Madagascar | 3.96 | 2012 | up 11.2% | rising |
| 78 | Rwanda | 3.27 | 2021 | down 14.8% | falling |
| 79 | Gambia | 2.38 | 2020 | down 18.3% | volatile |
| 80 | Mali | 2 | 2018 | up 92.9% | rising |