Abstract

This study provides an update on measures of educational attainment for a broad cross section of countries. In our previous work (Barro and Lee, 1993), we constructed estimates of educational attainment by sex for persons aged 25 and over. The values applied to 129 countries over a five-year intervals from 1960 to 1985.

The present study adds census information for 1985 and 1990 and updates the estimates of educational attainment to 1990. We also have been able to add a few countries, notably China, which were previously omitted because of missing data.

Dataset:

Educational attainment at various levels for the male and female population. The data set includes estimates of educational attainment for the population by age - over age 15 and over age 25 - for 126 countries in the world. (see Barro, Robert and J.W. Lee, "International Measures of Schooling Years and Schooling Quality, AER, Papers and Proceedings, 86(2), pp. 218-223 and also see "International Data on Education", manuscipt.) Data are presented quinquennially for the years 1960-1990;

Educational quality across countries. Table 1 presents data on measures of schooling inputs at five-year intervals from 1960 to 1990. Table 2 contains the data on average test scores for the students of the different age groups for the various subjects.Please see Jong-Wha Lee and Robert J. Barro, "Schooling Quality in a Cross-Section of Countries," (NBER Working Paper No.w6198, September 1997) for more detailed explanation and sources of data.

Geographic coverage

The data set cobvers the following countries: - Afghanistan - Albania - Algeria - Angola - Argentina - Australia - Austria - Bahamas, The - Bahrain - Bangladesh - Barbados - Belgium - Benin - Bolivia - Botswana - Brazil - Bulgaria - Burkina Faso - Burundi - Cameroon - Canada - Cape verde - Central African Rep. - Chad - Chile - China - Colombia - Comoros - Congo - Costa Rica - Cote d'Ivoire - Cuba - Cyprus - Czechoslovakia - Denmark - Dominica - Dominican Rep. - Ecuador - Egypt - El Salvador - Ethiopia - Fiji - Finland - France - Gabon - Gambia - Germany, East - Germany, West - Ghana - Greece - Grenada - Guatemala - Guinea - Guinea-Bissau - Guyana - Haiti - Honduras - Hong Kong - Hungary - Iceland - India - Indonesia - Iran, I.R. of - Iraq - Ireland - Israel - Italy - Jamaica - Japan - Jordan - Kenya - Korea - Kuwait - Lesotho - Liberia - Luxembourg - Madagascar - Malawi - Malaysia - Mali - Malta - Mauritania - Mauritius - Mexico - Morocco - Mozambique - Myanmar (Burma) - Nepal - Netherlands - New Zealand - Nicaragua - Niger - Nigeria - Norway - Oman - Pakistan - Panama - Papua New Guinea - Paraguay - Peru - Philippines - Poland - Portugal - Romania - Rwanda - Saudi Arabia - Senegal - Seychelles - Sierra Leone - Singapore - Solomon Islands - Somalia - South africa - Spain - Sri Lanka - St.Lucia - St.Vincent & Grens. - Sudan - Suriname - Swaziland - Sweden - Switzerland - Syria - Taiwan - Tanzania - Thailand - Togo - Tonga - Trinidad & Tobago - Tunisia - Turkey - U.S.S.R. - Uganda - United Arab Emirates - United Kingdom - United States - Uruguay - Vanuatu - Venezuela - Western Samoa - Yemen, N.Arab - Yugoslavia - Zaire - Zambia - Zimbabwe

UIS: Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years, female in United States was reported at 13.8 Years in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Mean years of schooling of the population age 25+. Female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

In 2024, the average years of schooling among those who were 25 years and older in Singapore was **** years, which was an increase compared to the previous year. Singapore has just six years of mandatory schooling, even so, education is highly valued in the country.

CN: Average Number of Years of Education: New Labor Force data was reported at 14.000 Year in 2023. This stayed constant from the previous number of 14.000 Year for 2022. CN: Average Number of Years of Education: New Labor Force data is updated yearly, averaging 14.000 Year from Dec 2021 (Median) to 2023, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.000 Year in 2023 and a record low of 13.800 Year in 2021. CN: Average Number of Years of Education: New Labor Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Education. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GD: Average Number of Years of Education.

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This DataSet is downloaded from https://ourworldindata.org/global-education and contains by every country the average of years of schooling along the time in years, from 1870 to 2017.

UIS: Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years, both sexes in Greenland was reported at 10.88 Years in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Greenland - Mean years of schooling of the population age 25+. Total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

UIS: Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years, both sexes in Indonesia was reported at 8.1667 Years in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Indonesia - Mean years of schooling of the population age 25+. Total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Mean years schooling women aged 25+

Chile Average Years in School data was reported at 11.170 Year in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 10.989 Year for 2015. Chile Average Years in School data is updated yearly, averaging 10.142 Year from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2017, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.170 Year in 2017 and a record low of 9.032 Year in 1990. Chile Average Years in School data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Social Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Chile – Table CL.H024: National Socio-Economic Characterization Survey: Education.

UIS: Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years, both sexes in Brazil was reported at 7.9813 Years in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Brazil - Mean years of schooling of the population age 25+. Total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Average Years in School: Population: 15 Years & Above: Female: Mexico data was reported at 9.930 Year in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 9.300 Year for 2015. Average Years in School: Population: 15 Years & Above: Female: Mexico data is updated yearly, averaging 9.090 Year from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2020, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.930 Year in 2020 and a record low of 7.690 Year in 2000. Average Years in School: Population: 15 Years & Above: Female: Mexico data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics and Geography. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Mexico – Table MX.G016: Education Statistics: Age 15 and Above.

UIS: Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years, female in Germany was reported at 13.8 Years in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Germany - Mean years of schooling of the population age 25+. Female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

This statistic shows the average number of years of formal education adults over the age of 25 around the world had completed, by world religion and gender in 2016. While the average number of years in education for Hindu men was 6.9, the corresponding figure for Hindu women was 4.2 years.

Singapore Mean Years of Schooling: Residents Aged 25 Years & Over data was reported at 11.800 Year in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 11.700 Year for 2023. Singapore Mean Years of Schooling: Residents Aged 25 Years & Over data is updated yearly, averaging 8.800 Year from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2024, with 43 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.800 Year in 2024 and a record low of 4.700 Year in 1980. Singapore Mean Years of Schooling: Residents Aged 25 Years & Over data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Singapore Department of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Singapore – Table SG.G091: Education Statistics: Mean Years of Schooling.

UIS: Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years, male in Argentina was reported at 10.95 Years in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Argentina - Mean years of schooling of the population age 25+. Male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

In 2022, about 37.7 percent of the U.S. population who were aged 25 and above had graduated from college or another higher education institution, a slight decline from 37.9 the previous year. However, this is a significant increase from 1960, when only 7.7 percent of the U.S. population had graduated from college. Demographics Educational attainment varies by gender, location, race, and age throughout the United States. Asian-American and Pacific Islanders had the highest level of education, on average, while Massachusetts and the District of Colombia are areas home to the highest rates of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher. However, education levels are correlated with wealth. While public education is free up until the 12th grade, the cost of university is out of reach for many Americans, making social mobility increasingly difficult. Earnings White Americans with a professional degree earned the most money on average, compared to other educational levels and races. However, regardless of educational attainment, males typically earned far more on average compared to females. Despite the decreasing wage gap over the years in the country, it remains an issue to this day. Not only is there a large wage gap between males and females, but there is also a large income gap linked to race as well.

UIS: Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years, female in Argentina was reported at 11.35 Years in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Argentina - Mean years of schooling of the population age 25+. Female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

UIS: Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years, female in Venezuela was reported at 10.59 Years in 2016, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Venezuela - Mean years of schooling of the population age 25+. Female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

UIS: Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years, both sexes in Germany was reported at 14.08 Years in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Germany - Mean years of schooling of the population age 25+. Total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Mexico Average Years in School: Population: 15 Years & Above: Female: Colima data was reported at 10.100 Year in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 9.520 Year for 2015. Mexico Average Years in School: Population: 15 Years & Above: Female: Colima data is updated yearly, averaging 9.235 Year from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2020, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.100 Year in 2020 and a record low of 7.550 Year in 2000. Mexico Average Years in School: Population: 15 Years & Above: Female: Colima data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics and Geography. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Mexico – Table MX.G016: Education Statistics: Age 15 and Above.