Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 12.35 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Hong Kong, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Hong Kong recorded 12.35 years for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Hong Kong peaked at 12.35 years in 2022 and was at its lowest, 8.67 years, in 1990.
Hong Kong ranks 37th of 192 countries on this measure, in the top 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 Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8.67 years | — |
| 1991 | 8.85 years | +2.1% |
| 1992 | 9.03 years | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 9.22 years | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 9.4 years | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 9.59 years | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 9.77 years | +1.9% |
| 1997 | 9.89 years | +1.3% |
| 1998 | 10.02 years | +1.2% |
| 1999 | 10.14 years | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 10.26 years | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 10.38 years | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 10.51 years | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 10.63 years | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 10.75 years | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 10.88 years | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 11 years | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 11.11 years | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 11.21 years | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 11.31 years | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 11.4 years | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 11.62 years | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 11.71 years | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 11.79 years | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 11.88 years | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 12.02 years | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 12.1 years | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 12.17 years | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 12.2 years | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 12.23 years | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 12.27 years | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 12.31 years | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 12.35 years | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 12.35 years | +0.0% |
Hong Kong compared with similar countries
- Hong Kong's 12.35 years is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.39 years, 100% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Hong Kong's 12.35 years is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.43 years, 1.3× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.46 years | 8.67 years | 10.14 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.8 years | 10.26 years | 11.31 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.91 years | 11.4 years | 12.23 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.32 years | 12.27 years | 12.35 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More education data for Hong Kong
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 31,678 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1,605 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 72,557 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 65,737 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 340,877 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 329,780 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.3 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0438 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Hong Kong?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Hong Kong was 12.35 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 Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 12.35 years in 2022.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.67 years in 1990.
- How does Hong Kong rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Hong Kong ranks 37th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Hong Kong 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.