Which has higher average years of schooling, Canada or OECD (AHDI)?

Canada, at 13.83 years against 12.99 years in OECD (AHDI) as of 2020.

How many years of comparable data are there for Canada and OECD (AHDI)?

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

Where does this data come from?

Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor 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.

Canada vs OECD (AHDI): Average years of schooling

Canada

13.83 years

in 2020

OECD (AHDI)

12.99 years

in 2020

Canada rank

3rd

OECD (AHDI) rank

1st

Average years of schooling over time

Canada
OECD (AHDI)

How they compare

Canada currently reports 13.83 years against 12.99 years in OECD (AHDI), a difference of 0.84 years.

That makes Canada's figure about 1.1 times OECD (AHDI)'s.

Across all 24 years both countries report, Canada has been ahead every year.

Canada ranks 3rd and OECD (AHDI) ranks 1st of 162 countries.

Canada has averaged higher in every one of the 15 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade	Canada	OECD (AHDI)	Difference	Ahead
1870s	5.71 years	3.48 years	2.23 years	Canada
1880s	6.2 years	4.02 years	2.18 years	Canada
1890s	6.68 years	4.6 years	2.08 years	Canada
1900s	7.1 years	5.13 years	1.97 years	Canada
1910s	7.63 years	5.68 years	1.95 years	Canada
1920s	8.39 years	6.55 years	1.84 years	Canada
1930s	8.79 years	7.05 years	1.75 years	Canada
1950s	9.22 years	7.97 years	1.25 years	Canada
1960s	9.58 years	8.99 years	0.5927 years	Canada
1970s	10.26 years	10.11 years	0.148 years	Canada
1980s	11.29 years	11.1 years	0.1897 years	Canada
1990s	12.4 years	11.91 years	0.4947 years	Canada
2000s	13.12 years	12.39 years	0.7294 years	Canada
2010s	13.09 years	12.62 years	0.4739 years	Canada
2020s	13.83 years	12.99 years	0.8425 years	Canada

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher average years of schooling, Canada or OECD (AHDI)?: Canada, at 13.83 years against 12.99 years in OECD (AHDI) as of 2020.
What is the difference in average years of schooling between Canada and OECD (AHDI)?: 0.84 years, with Canada ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Canada and OECD (AHDI)?: 24 years are reported by both, from 1870 to 2020.
How do Canada and OECD (AHDI) rank globally for average years of schooling?: Canada ranks 3rd and OECD (AHDI) ranks 1st of 162 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor 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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Canada vs OECD (AHDI): Average years of schooling. Statizoid, drawing on Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/years-of-schooling-prados-de-la-escosura/canada/oecd-ahdi/

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<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/compare/years-of-schooling-prados-de-la-escosura/canada/oecd-ahdi/">Canada vs OECD (AHDI): Average years of schooling</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Average years of schooling
Unit: years
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 163 places, 3,421 data points, 1870–2020
Last refreshed: 28 August 2026

Average number of years of total schooling (primary, secondary, and tertiary) for the population aged 15 and over.