Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Eswatini
Eswatini: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 8.69 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Eswatini, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Eswatini is 8.69 years, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 29.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Eswatini peaked at 8.69 years in 2022 and was at its lowest, 4.53 years, in 2005.
Eswatini ranks 120th of 192 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Eswatini, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.29 years | — |
| 1991 | 6.26 years | -0.5% |
| 1992 | 6.23 years | -0.5% |
| 1993 | 6.2 years | -0.5% |
| 1994 | 6.16 years | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 6.13 years | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 6.02 years | -1.8% |
| 1997 | 5.91 years | -1.8% |
| 1998 | 5.8 years | -1.9% |
| 1999 | 5.69 years | -1.9% |
| 2000 | 5.58 years | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 5.37 years | -3.8% |
| 2002 | 5.16 years | -3.9% |
| 2003 | 4.95 years | -4.1% |
| 2004 | 4.74 years | -4.3% |
| 2005 | 4.53 years | -4.5% |
| 2006 | 4.78 years | +5.7% |
| 2007 | 5.04 years | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 5.3 years | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 5.56 years | +4.9% |
| 2010 | 5.81 years | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 6.11 years | +5.2% |
| 2012 | 6.41 years | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 6.72 years | +4.7% |
| 2014 | 7.02 years | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 7.32 years | +4.3% |
| 2016 | 7.51 years | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 7.7 years | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 7.9 years | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 8.09 years | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 8.29 years | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 8.49 years | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 8.69 years | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 8.69 years | +0.0% |
Eswatini compared with similar countries
- Eswatini's 8.69 years is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.79 years, 1.3× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Eswatini's 8.69 years is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.96 years, 1.5× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.07 years | 5.69 years | 6.29 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.1 years | 4.53 years | 5.58 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.06 years | 5.81 years | 8.09 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.54 years | 8.29 years | 8.69 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Eswatini
More education data for Eswatini
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 7,225 (2022)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 15,165 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 12,768 (2015)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 11,269 (2015)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 108,288 (2016)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 222,351 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.236 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1807 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Eswatini?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Eswatini was 8.69 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 Eswatini?
- The highest recorded value was 8.69 years in 2022.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Eswatini?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.53 years in 2005.
- How does Eswatini rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Eswatini ranks 120th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Eswatini?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Eswatini 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.