Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Jamaica
Jamaica: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 9.96 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Jamaica, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Jamaica recorded 9.96 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 14.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Jamaica peaked at 9.96 years in 2022 and was at its lowest, 6.69 years, in 1990.
That places Jamaica 96th 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 Jamaica, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.69 years | — |
| 1991 | 6.77 years | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 6.85 years | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 6.94 years | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 7.02 years | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 7.1 years | +1.2% |
| 1996 | 7.19 years | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 7.27 years | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 7.35 years | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 7.44 years | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 7.52 years | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 7.61 years | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 7.69 years | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 7.77 years | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 7.86 years | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 7.94 years | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 8.02 years | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 8.11 years | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 8.19 years | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 8.27 years | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 8.36 years | +1.0% |
| 2011 | 8.44 years | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 8.58 years | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 8.72 years | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 8.85 years | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 8.99 years | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 9.13 years | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 9.27 years | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 9.41 years | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 9.55 years | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 9.68 years | +1.4% |
| 2021 | 9.82 years | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 9.96 years | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 9.96 years | +0.0% |
Jamaica compared with similar countries
- Jamaica's 9.96 years is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.11 years, 98% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Jamaica's 9.96 years is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 9.68 years, 1.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7.06 years | 6.69 years | 7.44 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.9 years | 7.52 years | 8.27 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.93 years | 8.36 years | 9.55 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.86 years | 9.68 years | 9.96 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Jamaica
More education data for Jamaica
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 11,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 4,597 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 52,983 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 51,265 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 177,095 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 211,097 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 8.14 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0744 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Jamaica?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Jamaica was 9.96 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 Jamaica?
- The highest recorded value was 9.96 years in 2022.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Jamaica?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.69 years in 1990.
- How does Jamaica rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Jamaica ranks 96th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Jamaica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Jamaica 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.