Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Pakistan
Pakistan: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 4.32 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
4.32 years
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
177th
of 192 countries
All-time high
5.16 years
in 2014
All-time low
2.32 years
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Pakistan, 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 Pakistan stood at 4.32 years.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Pakistan peaked at 5.16 years in 2014 and was at its lowest, 2.32 years, in 1990.
Pakistan ranks 177th 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 Pakistan, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2.32 years | — |
| 1991 | 2.42 years | +4.3% |
| 1992 | 2.52 years | +4.1% |
| 1993 | 2.62 years | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 2.71 years | +3.8% |
| 1995 | 2.81 years | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 2.92 years | +3.6% |
| 1997 | 3.02 years | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 3.12 years | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 3.22 years | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 3.32 years | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 3.57 years | +7.6% |
| 2002 | 3.83 years | +7.0% |
| 2003 | 4.08 years | +6.6% |
| 2004 | 4.33 years | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 4.58 years | +5.8% |
| 2006 | 4.57 years | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 4.55 years | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 4.53 years | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 4.52 years | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 4.65 years | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 4.79 years | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 4.88 years | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 4.96 years | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 5.16 years | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 5.15 years | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 5.13 years | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 5.12 years | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 4.77 years | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 4.54 years | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 4.43 years | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 4.32 years | -2.5% |
| 2022 | 4.32 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 4.32 years | +0.0% |
Pakistan compared with similar countries
- Pakistan's 4.32 years is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.79 years, 64% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Pakistan's 4.32 years is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 10.13 years, 43% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.77 years | 2.32 years | 3.22 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.19 years | 3.32 years | 4.58 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.92 years | 4.54 years | 5.16 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.34 years | 4.32 years | 4.43 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Pakistan
- 174 Madagascar 4.59 years compare
- 175 Mozambique 4.59 years compare
- 176 Nepal 4.5 years compare
- 178 Central African Republic 3.99 years compare
- 179 Sudan 3.96 years compare
- 180 Djibouti 3.95 years compare
More education data for Pakistan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2.04 million (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 440,233 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 5.05 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.90 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 19.70 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.38 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.1 % 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 0.101 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Pakistan?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Pakistan was 4.32 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 Pakistan?
- The highest recorded value was 5.16 years in 2014.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.32 years in 1990.
- How does Pakistan rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Pakistan ranks 177th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Pakistan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Pakistan 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.