Which has higher average years of schooling, Netherlands or Serbia?

Netherlands, at 11.82 years against 11.72 years in Serbia as of 2020.

What is the difference in average years of schooling between Netherlands and Serbia?

0.1 years, with Netherlands ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for Netherlands and Serbia?

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.

Netherlands vs Serbia: Average years of schooling

Netherlands

11.82 years

in 2020

Serbia

11.72 years

in 2020

Netherlands rank

23rd

Serbia rank

24th

Average years of schooling over time

Netherlands
Serbia

How they compare

Netherlands currently reports 11.82 years against 11.72 years in Serbia, a difference of 0.1 years.

Across all 31 years both countries report, Netherlands has been ahead every year.

Netherlands ranks 23rd and Serbia ranks 24th of 111 countries.

Netherlands has averaged higher in every one of the 16 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Netherlands	Serbia	Difference	Ahead
1870s	2.97 years	0.095 years	2.88 years	Netherlands
1880s	3.16 years	0.17 years	2.99 years	Netherlands
1890s	3.33 years	0.35 years	2.98 years	Netherlands
1900s	3.54 years	0.905 years	2.64 years	Netherlands
1910s	3.9 years	1.69 years	2.21 years	Netherlands
1920s	4.25 years	2.56 years	1.69 years	Netherlands
1930s	4.62 years	3.46 years	1.15 years	Netherlands
1940s	5.04 years	4.34 years	0.705 years	Netherlands
1950s	6.17 years	4.79 years	1.38 years	Netherlands
1960s	6.87 years	5.29 years	1.58 years	Netherlands
1970s	8.88 years	6.45 years	2.43 years	Netherlands
1980s	10.04 years	7.67 years	2.38 years	Netherlands
1990s	10.73 years	8.52 years	2.22 years	Netherlands
2000s	11.14 years	10.06 years	1.09 years	Netherlands
2010s	11.73 years	11.5 years	0.22 years	Netherlands
2020s	11.82 years	11.72 years	0.1 years	Netherlands

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher average years of schooling, Netherlands or Serbia?: Netherlands, at 11.82 years against 11.72 years in Serbia as of 2020.
What is the difference in average years of schooling between Netherlands and Serbia?: 0.1 years, with Netherlands ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Netherlands and Serbia?: 31 years are reported by both, from 1870 to 2020.
How do Netherlands and Serbia rank globally for average years of schooling?: Netherlands ranks 23rd and Serbia ranks 24th 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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Netherlands vs Serbia: Average years of schooling. Statizoid, drawing on Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/mean-years-of-schooling-long-run/netherlands/serbia/

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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.