Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Laos
Laos: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 6.06 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Laos, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Laos recorded 6.06 years for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 14.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Laos peaked at 6.06 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 3.37 years, in 1990.
That places Laos 154th 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 Laos, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.37 years | — |
| 1991 | 3.47 years | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 3.57 years | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 3.68 years | +2.9% |
| 1994 | 3.78 years | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 3.89 years | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 3.96 years | +1.8% |
| 1997 | 4.03 years | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 4.1 years | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 4.18 years | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 4.25 years | +1.7% |
| 2001 | 4.32 years | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 4.39 years | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 4.46 years | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 4.54 years | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 4.61 years | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 4.68 years | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 4.76 years | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 4.83 years | +1.6% |
| 2009 | 4.9 years | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 4.98 years | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 5.08 years | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 5.18 years | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 5.28 years | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 5.38 years | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 5.48 years | +1.9% |
| 2016 | 5.57 years | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 5.67 years | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 5.76 years | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 5.85 years | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 5.95 years | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 6.06 years | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 6.06 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 6.06 years | +0.0% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 6.06 years is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.79 years, 89% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Laos's 6.06 years is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.43 years, 64% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 3.8 years | 3.37 years | 4.18 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.57 years | 4.25 years | 4.9 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.42 years | 4.98 years | 5.85 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.03 years | 5.95 years | 6.06 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More education data for Laos
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 35,584 (2022)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 16,396 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 116,303 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 115,863 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 532,092 (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 739,554 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0716 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0939 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Laos?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Laos was 6.06 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 Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 6.06 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.37 years in 1990.
- How does Laos rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Laos ranks 154th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Laos 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.