Which has higher average years of schooling, Gambia or Senegal?

Gambia, at 4.92 years against 4.4 years in Senegal as of 2020.

How many years of comparable data are there for Gambia and Senegal?

31 years are reported by both, from 1870 to 2020.

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.

Gambia vs Senegal: Average years of schooling

Gambia

4.92 years

in 2020

Senegal

4.4 years

in 2020

Gambia rank

105th

Senegal rank

107th

Average years of schooling over time

Gambia
Senegal

How they compare

Gambia currently reports 4.92 years against 4.4 years in Senegal, a difference of 0.52 years.

That makes Gambia's figure about 1.1 times Senegal's.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 31 shared years of data; in 1870 it was Gambia ahead.

Gambia ranks 105th and Senegal ranks 107th of 111 countries.

Across the 16 decades both report, Gambia averaged higher in 8 and Senegal in 8.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Gambia	Senegal	Difference	Ahead
1870s	0.055 years	0.01 years	0.045 years	Gambia
1880s	0.09 years	0.01 years	0.08 years	Gambia
1890s	0.14 years	0.01 years	0.13 years	Gambia
1900s	0.215 years	0.02 years	0.195 years	Gambia
1910s	0.255 years	0.025 years	0.23 years	Gambia
1920s	0.25 years	0.41 years	0.16 years	Senegal
1930s	0.31 years	0.92 years	0.61 years	Senegal
1940s	0.375 years	1.36 years	0.99 years	Senegal
1950s	0.425 years	1.91 years	1.49 years	Senegal
1960s	0.51 years	2.09 years	1.58 years	Senegal
1970s	0.665 years	2.4 years	1.73 years	Senegal
1980s	1.16 years	2.49 years	1.33 years	Senegal
1990s	2.09 years	2.31 years	0.225 years	Senegal
2000s	3.08 years	1.82 years	1.26 years	Gambia
2010s	4.17 years	3.42 years	0.75 years	Gambia
2020s	4.92 years	4.4 years	0.52 years	Gambia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher average years of schooling, Gambia or Senegal?: Gambia, at 4.92 years against 4.4 years in Senegal as of 2020.
What is the difference in average years of schooling between Gambia and Senegal?: 0.52 years, with Gambia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Gambia and Senegal?: 31 years are reported by both, from 1870 to 2020.
How do Gambia and Senegal rank globally for average years of schooling?: Gambia ranks 105th and Senegal ranks 107th 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.

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Gambia vs Senegal: Average years of schooling. Statizoid, drawing on Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/mean-years-of-schooling-long-run/gambia-the/senegal/

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About this data

Indicator: Average years of schooling
Unit: years
Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 111 places, 3,441 data points, 1870–2020
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Average years of formal education for individuals aged 15-64.