Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Mauritania
Mauritania: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 4.85 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Mauritania, 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 Mauritania is 4.85 years, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 15.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Mauritania peaked at 4.85 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.27 years, in 1990.
Mauritania ranks 172nd of 192 countries on this measure, 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 Mauritania, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.27 years | — |
| 1991 | 2.34 years | +3.4% |
| 1992 | 2.42 years | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 2.5 years | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 2.58 years | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 2.65 years | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 2.73 years | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 2.8 years | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 2.87 years | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 2.95 years | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 3.02 years | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 3.1 years | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 3.17 years | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 3.25 years | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 3.33 years | +2.4% |
| 2005 | 3.4 years | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 3.49 years | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 3.58 years | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 3.66 years | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 3.75 years | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 3.83 years | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 3.96 years | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 4.08 years | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 4.21 years | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 4.21 years | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 4.22 years | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 4.32 years | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 4.43 years | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 4.54 years | +2.4% |
| 2019 | 4.65 years | +2.4% |
| 2020 | 4.75 years | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 4.85 years | +2.1% |
| 2022 | 4.85 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 4.85 years | +0.0% |
Mauritania compared with similar countries
- Mauritania's 4.85 years is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.79 years, 71% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Mauritania's 4.85 years is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.96 years, 81% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.61 years | 2.27 years | 2.95 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.37 years | 3.02 years | 3.75 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.25 years | 3.83 years | 4.65 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.83 years | 4.75 years | 4.85 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Mauritania
- 169 Papua New Guinea 4.96 years compare
- 170 Rwanda 4.88 years compare
- 171 Cote d'Ivoire 4.87 years compare
- 173 Gambia 4.67 years compare
- 174 Madagascar 4.59 years compare
- 175 Mozambique 4.59 years compare
More education data for Mauritania
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 9,029 (2020)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 52,338 (2020)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 258,591 (2020)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 891,821 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1725 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 891,821 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Mauritania?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Mauritania was 4.85 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 Mauritania?
- The highest recorded value was 4.85 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Mauritania?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.27 years in 1990.
- How does Mauritania rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Mauritania ranks 172nd out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Mauritania?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Mauritania 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.