Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Italy
Italy: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 10.83 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Italy, 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 Italy is 10.83 years, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Italy peaked at 10.83 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 7.44 years, in 1990.
That places Italy 75th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Italy, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 7.44 years | — |
| 1991 | 7.57 years | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 7.7 years | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 7.83 years | +1.7% |
| 1994 | 7.96 years | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 8.09 years | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 8.22 years | +1.6% |
| 1997 | 8.36 years | +1.6% |
| 1998 | 8.49 years | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 8.62 years | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 8.75 years | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 8.84 years | +1.0% |
| 2002 | 8.95 years | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 9.05 years | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 9.16 years | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 9.27 years | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 9.39 years | +1.3% |
| 2007 | 9.53 years | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 9.65 years | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 9.73 years | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 9.82 years | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 9.9 years | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 10.02 years | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 10.12 years | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 10.22 years | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 10.31 years | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 10.4 years | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 10.48 years | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 10.57 years | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 10.65 years | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 10.74 years | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 10.83 years | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 10.83 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 10.83 years | +0.0% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 10.83 years is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.39 years, 87% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Italy's 10.83 years is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.34 years, 88% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.03 years | 7.44 years | 8.62 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.23 years | 8.75 years | 9.73 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.25 years | 9.82 years | 10.65 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.81 years | 10.74 years | 10.83 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More education data for Italy
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 423,797 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 6,592 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 667,641 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 620,157 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.63 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.167 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0445 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Italy?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Italy was 10.83 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 10.83 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.44 years in 1990.
- How does Italy rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Italy ranks 75th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Italy 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.