Which has higher compulsory education, duration, Netherlands or Other small states?

Netherlands, at 13 years against 9.5 years in Other small states as of 2025.

What is the difference in compulsory education, duration between Netherlands and Other small states?

3.5 years, with Netherlands ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Netherlands and Other small states?

28 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2025.

Where does this data come from?

Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Compulsory education, duration (years). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Netherlands vs Other small states: Compulsory education, duration

Netherlands

13 years

in 2025

Other small states

9.5 years

in 2025

Netherlands rank

17th

Other small states rank

20th

Compulsory education, duration over time

Netherlands
Other small states

How they compare

Netherlands currently reports 13 years against 9.5 years in Other small states, a difference of 3.5 years.

That makes Netherlands's figure about 1.4 times Other small states's.

Across all 28 years both countries report, Netherlands has been ahead every year.

Netherlands ranks 17th and Other small states ranks 20th of 197 countries.

Netherlands has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Netherlands	Other small states	Difference	Ahead
1990s	13 years	7.5 years	5.5 years	Netherlands
2000s	13 years	8.75 years	4.25 years	Netherlands
2010s	13 years	9.3 years	3.7 years	Netherlands
2020s	13 years	9.5 years	3.5 years	Netherlands

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher compulsory education, duration, Netherlands or Other small states?: Netherlands, at 13 years against 9.5 years in Other small states as of 2025.
What is the difference in compulsory education, duration between Netherlands and Other small states?: 3.5 years, with Netherlands ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Netherlands and Other small states?: 28 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2025.
How do Netherlands and Other small states rank globally for compulsory education, duration?: Netherlands ranks 17th and Other small states ranks 20th of 197 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Compulsory education, duration (years). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

Individual pages

About this data

Indicator: Compulsory education, duration (years)
Unit: years
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 243 places, 6,506 data points, 1975–2025
Last refreshed: 06 August 2026

Duration of compulsory education is the number of years that children are legally obliged to attend school.