Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Burundi
Burundi: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 3.47 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Burundi, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2023, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Burundi stood at 3.47 years. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 65.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Burundi peaked at 3.47 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.46 years, in 1990.
Burundi ranks 183rd of 192 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Burundi, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.46 years | — |
| 1991 | 1.51 years | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 1.57 years | +3.6% |
| 1993 | 1.62 years | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 1.68 years | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 1.73 years | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 1.78 years | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 1.84 years | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 1.89 years | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 1.95 years | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 2 years | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 2.05 years | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 2.11 years | +2.6% |
| 2003 | 2.16 years | +2.6% |
| 2004 | 2.21 years | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 2.27 years | +2.4% |
| 2006 | 2.32 years | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 2.38 years | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 2.43 years | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 2.36 years | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 2.3 years | -2.8% |
| 2011 | 2.23 years | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 2.16 years | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 2.1 years | -3.1% |
| 2014 | 2.03 years | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 2.29 years | +12.6% |
| 2016 | 2.54 years | +11.2% |
| 2017 | 2.8 years | +10.1% |
| 2018 | 2.96 years | +5.5% |
| 2019 | 3.12 years | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 3.29 years | +5.5% |
| 2021 | 3.47 years | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 3.47 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3.47 years | +0.0% |
Burundi compared with similar countries
- Burundi's 3.47 years is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.59 years, 76% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Burundi's 3.47 years is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.96 years, 58% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.7 years | 1.46 years | 1.95 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.23 years | 2 years | 2.43 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.45 years | 2.03 years | 3.12 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.43 years | 3.29 years | 3.47 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Burundi
- 180 Djibouti 3.95 years compare
- 181 Guinea-Bissau 3.67 years compare
- 182 Sierra Leone 3.54 years compare
- 184 Benin 3.19 years compare
- 185 Senegal 2.93 years compare
- 186 Afghanistan 2.51 years compare
More education data for Burundi
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 27,748 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 646,726 (2020)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 115,798 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 117,464 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 590,027 (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.52 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.06 % change on previous year (2020)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0007 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1748 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Burundi?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Burundi was 3.47 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Burundi?
- The highest recorded value was 3.47 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Burundi?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.46 years in 1990.
- How does Burundi rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Burundi ranks 183rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Burundi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Burundi data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) adults over 25 years participated in formal education.