Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Japan
Japan: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 12.68 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Japan, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2023, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Japan stood at 12.68 years. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Japan peaked at 12.68 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 11.64 years, in 1990.
Japan ranks 28th 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 Japan, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11.64 years | — |
| 1991 | 11.68 years | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 11.73 years | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 11.77 years | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 11.82 years | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 11.86 years | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 11.91 years | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 11.95 years | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 12 years | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 12.04 years | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 12.09 years | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 12.13 years | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 12.17 years | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 12.22 years | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 12.26 years | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 12.31 years | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 12.35 years | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 12.4 years | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 12.44 years | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 12.49 years | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 12.53 years | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 12.54 years | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 12.56 years | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 12.57 years | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 12.59 years | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 12.6 years | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 12.61 years | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 12.63 years | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 12.64 years | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 12.66 years | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 12.67 years | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 12.68 years | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 12.68 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 12.68 years | +0.0% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 12.68 years is above the median for high income countries, which is 12.39 years, 1.0× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Japan's 12.68 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 | 11.84 years | 11.64 years | 12.04 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.29 years | 12.09 years | 12.49 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.59 years | 12.53 years | 12.66 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.68 years | 12.67 years | 12.68 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 25 South Korea 12.72 years compare
- 26 Georgia 12.7 years compare
- 27 Belgium 12.69 years compare
- 29 Netherlands 12.67 years compare
- 30 Luxembourg 12.59 years compare
- 31 Cyprus 12.56 years compare
More education data for Japan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 627,777 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (1999)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.50 million (1999)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.46 million (1999)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.25 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0502 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Japan?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Japan was 12.68 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 12.68 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.64 years in 1990.
- How does Japan rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Japan ranks 28th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan 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.