Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 3.54 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Sierra Leone, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Sierra Leone recorded 3.54 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 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Sierra Leone peaked at 3.54 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.91 years, in 1990.
Sierra Leone ranks 182nd 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.91 years | — |
| 1991 | 2 years | +4.8% |
| 1992 | 2.09 years | +4.6% |
| 1993 | 2.18 years | +4.4% |
| 1994 | 2.27 years | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 2.36 years | +4.0% |
| 1996 | 2.45 years | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 2.53 years | +3.4% |
| 1998 | 2.61 years | +3.2% |
| 1999 | 2.69 years | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 2.77 years | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 2.87 years | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 2.96 years | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 3.05 years | +3.1% |
| 2004 | 3.14 years | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 3.17 years | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 3.2 years | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 3.23 years | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 3.25 years | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 3.28 years | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 3.31 years | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 3.34 years | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 3.37 years | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 3.4 years | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 3.42 years | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 3.45 years | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 3.48 years | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 3.51 years | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 3.51 years | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 3.5 years | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 3.52 years | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 3.54 years | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 3.54 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3.54 years | +0.0% |
Sierra Leone compared with similar countries
- Sierra Leone's 3.54 years is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.59 years, 77% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Sierra Leone's 3.54 years is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.96 years, 59% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.31 years | 1.91 years | 2.69 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.09 years | 2.77 years | 3.28 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.43 years | 3.31 years | 3.51 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.53 years | 3.52 years | 3.54 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More education data for Sierra Leone
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 38,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 73,295 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 85,708 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 92,723 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2393 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Sierra Leone?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Sierra Leone was 3.54 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 3.54 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.91 years in 1990.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Sierra Leone ranks 182nd out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.