Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Gambia
Gambia: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 4.67 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Gambia, 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 Gambia is 4.67 years, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 30.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Gambia peaked at 4.67 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.4 years, in 1990.
That places Gambia 173rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Gambia, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.4 years | — |
| 1991 | 1.52 years | +9.0% |
| 1992 | 1.65 years | +8.3% |
| 1993 | 1.77 years | +7.7% |
| 1994 | 1.9 years | +7.1% |
| 1995 | 2.03 years | +6.6% |
| 1996 | 2.07 years | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 2.11 years | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 2.15 years | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 2.2 years | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 2.24 years | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 2.32 years | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 2.41 years | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 2.49 years | +3.5% |
| 2004 | 2.57 years | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 2.66 years | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 2.76 years | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 2.86 years | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 2.97 years | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 3.07 years | +3.5% |
| 2010 | 3.17 years | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 3.31 years | +4.2% |
| 2012 | 3.44 years | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 3.57 years | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 3.68 years | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 3.78 years | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 3.89 years | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 3.99 years | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 4.1 years | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 4.31 years | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 4.51 years | +4.8% |
| 2021 | 4.67 years | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 4.67 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 4.67 years | +0.0% |
Gambia compared with similar countries
- Gambia's 4.67 years is above the median for low income countries, which is 4.59 years, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Gambia's 4.67 years is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.96 years, 78% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.88 years | 1.4 years | 2.2 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.63 years | 2.24 years | 3.07 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.72 years | 3.17 years | 4.31 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.63 years | 4.51 years | 4.67 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
- 170 Rwanda 4.88 years compare
- 171 Cote d'Ivoire 4.87 years compare
- 172 Mauritania 4.85 years compare
- 174 Madagascar 4.59 years compare
- 175 Mozambique 4.59 years compare
- 176 Nepal 4.5 years compare
More education data for Gambia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 12,452 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 16,389 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 71,238 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77,061 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 369,783 (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 442,901 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1569 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Gambia?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Gambia was 4.67 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 Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.67 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4 years in 1990.
- How does Gambia rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Gambia ranks 173rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Gambia 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.