Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 10.77 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Sri Lanka, 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 Sri Lanka stood at 10.77 years.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Sri Lanka peaked at 10.82 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 8.53 years, in 1990.
That places Sri Lanka 77th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8.53 years | — |
| 1991 | 8.71 years | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 8.9 years | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 9.09 years | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 9.28 years | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 9.47 years | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 9.69 years | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 9.9 years | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 10.12 years | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 10.34 years | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 10.56 years | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 10.6 years | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 10.56 years | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 10.51 years | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 10.47 years | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 10.42 years | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 10.38 years | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 10.35 years | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 10.41 years | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 10.51 years | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 10.51 years | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 10.51 years | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 10.51 years | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 10.5 years | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 10.5 years | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 10.5 years | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 10.5 years | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 10.57 years | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 10.64 years | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 10.63 years | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 10.82 years | +1.8% |
| 2021 | 10.73 years | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 10.77 years | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 10.77 years | +0.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 10.77 years is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.11 years, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 10.77 years is above the median for South Asia, which is 6.83 years, 1.6× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 9.4 years | 8.53 years | 10.34 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.48 years | 10.35 years | 10.6 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.54 years | 10.5 years | 10.64 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.77 years | 10.73 years | 10.82 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 155,543 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 224,799 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0715 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Sri Lanka?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Sri Lanka was 10.77 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 10.82 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.53 years in 1990.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Sri Lanka ranks 77th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.