Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Finland
Finland: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 12.98 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Finland, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Finland recorded 12.98 years for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Finland peaked at 12.98 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 9.18 years, in 1990.
That places Finland 17th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
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 Finland, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9.18 years | — |
| 1991 | 9.4 years | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 9.63 years | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 9.85 years | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 10.08 years | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 10.3 years | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 10.52 years | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 10.75 years | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 10.97 years | +2.1% |
| 1999 | 11.19 years | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 11.42 years | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 11.64 years | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 11.87 years | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 12.09 years | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 12.13 years | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 12.18 years | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 12.23 years | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 12.28 years | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 12.33 years | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 12.37 years | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 12.42 years | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 12.46 years | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 12.49 years | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 12.55 years | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 12.6 years | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 12.63 years | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 12.69 years | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 12.74 years | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 12.8 years | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 12.87 years | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 12.92 years | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 12.98 years | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 12.98 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 12.98 years | +0.0% |
Finland compared with similar countries
- Finland's 12.98 years is above the median for high income countries, which is 12.39 years, 1.0× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Finland's 12.98 years is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.34 years, 1.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.19 years | 9.18 years | 11.19 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.05 years | 11.42 years | 12.37 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.62 years | 12.42 years | 12.87 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.97 years | 12.92 years | 12.98 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Finland
More education data for Finland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 42,938 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1,144 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 94,036 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 89,318 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 543,350 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 360,117 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0641 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Finland?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Finland was 12.98 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 Finland?
- The highest recorded value was 12.98 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Finland?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.18 years in 1990.
- How does Finland rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Finland ranks 17th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Finland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Finland 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.
Download this data
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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.