Australia vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Average years of schooling
Australia
12.93 years
in 2020
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
12.9 years
in 2020
Australia rank
7th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
10th
Average years of schooling over time
- Australia
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
How they compare
Australia currently reports 12.93 years against 12.9 years in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 0.03 years.
The two have swapped places 2 times across 31 shared years of data; in 1870 it was Australia ahead.
Australia ranks 7th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 10th of 111 countries.
Across the 16 decades both report, Australia averaged higher in 15 and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Australia | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 1.79 years | 0.95 years | 0.84 years | Australia |
| 1880s | 2.23 years | 1.27 years | 0.95 years | Australia |
| 1890s | 2.86 years | 1.99 years | 0.87 years | Australia |
| 1900s | 3.22 years | 2.83 years | 0.395 years | Australia |
| 1910s | 4.08 years | 3.86 years | 0.22 years | Australia |
| 1920s | 5.08 years | 4.71 years | 0.375 years | Australia |
| 1930s | 6.29 years | 5.68 years | 0.605 years | Australia |
| 1940s | 7.25 years | 6.35 years | 0.9 years | Australia |
| 1950s | 8.35 years | 6.61 years | 1.74 years | Australia |
| 1960s | 8.98 years | 7.33 years | 1.65 years | Australia |
| 1970s | 10.46 years | 8.23 years | 2.23 years | Australia |
| 1980s | 11.41 years | 8.64 years | 2.77 years | Australia |
| 1990s | 11.47 years | 9.47 years | 2 years | Australia |
| 2000s | 11.54 years | 10.77 years | 0.77 years | Australia |
| 2010s | 12.3 years | 12.57 years | 0.26 years | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2020s | 12.93 years | 12.9 years | 0.03 years | Australia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher average years of schooling, Australia or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Australia, at 12.93 years against 12.9 years in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2020.
- What is the difference in average years of schooling between Australia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 0.03 years, with Australia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 31 years are reported by both, from 1870 to 2020.
- How do Australia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for average years of schooling?
- Australia ranks 7th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 10th of 111 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Average years of schooling. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Average years of formal education for individuals aged 15-64.