Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Norway
Norway: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 13.12 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Norway, 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 Norway stood at 13.12 years. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Norway peaked at 13.12 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 11.71 years, in 1990.
Norway ranks 13th of 192 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
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 Norway, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11.71 years | — |
| 1991 | 11.75 years | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 11.78 years | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 11.82 years | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 11.86 years | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 11.9 years | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 11.93 years | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 11.97 years | +0.3% |
| 1998 | 12.01 years | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 12.04 years | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 12.08 years | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 12.12 years | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 12.16 years | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 12.19 years | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 12.23 years | +0.3% |
| 2005 | 12.28 years | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 12.37 years | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 12.41 years | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 12.48 years | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 12.5 years | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 12.55 years | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 12.61 years | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 12.64 years | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 12.68 years | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 12.71 years | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 12.77 years | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 12.82 years | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 12.95 years | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 12.97 years | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 13 years | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 13.06 years | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 13.12 years | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 13.12 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 13.12 years | +0.0% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 13.12 years is above the median for high income countries, which is 12.39 years, 1.1× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Norway's 13.12 years is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.34 years, 1.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.88 years | 11.71 years | 12.04 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.28 years | 12.08 years | 12.5 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.77 years | 12.55 years | 13 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.1 years | 13.06 years | 13.12 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Norway
More education data for Norway
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 59,473 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (1993)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 85,282 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 80,636 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 469,508 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 434,422 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7841 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.078 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Norway?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Norway was 13.12 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 Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 13.12 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.71 years in 1990.
- How does Norway rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Norway ranks 13th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Norway 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.
Download this data
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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.