Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in United States
United States: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 13.91 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in United States, 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 United States stood at 13.91 years. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in United States peaked at 13.91 years in 2022 and was at its lowest, 12.82 years, in 2004.
That places United States 3rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 United States, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12.98 years | — |
| 1991 | 13.03 years | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 13.07 years | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 13.12 years | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 13.17 years | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 13.13 years | -0.3% |
| 1996 | 13.1 years | -0.3% |
| 1997 | 13.06 years | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 13.03 years | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 12.99 years | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 12.96 years | -0.3% |
| 2001 | 12.93 years | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 12.89 years | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 12.86 years | -0.3% |
| 2004 | 12.82 years | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 12.83 years | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 12.91 years | +0.6% |
| 2007 | 12.95 years | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 12.99 years | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 13.01 years | +0.2% |
| 2010 | 13.05 years | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 13.1 years | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 13.14 years | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 13.2 years | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 13.22 years | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 13.25 years | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 13.34 years | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 13.41 years | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 13.5 years | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 13.59 years | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 13.68 years | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 13.58 years | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 13.91 years | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 13.91 years | +0.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 13.91 years is above the median for high income countries, which is 12.39 years, 1.1× the median. (64 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.07 years | 12.98 years | 13.17 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.91 years | 12.82 years | 13.01 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.28 years | 13.05 years | 13.59 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.77 years | 13.58 years | 13.91 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More education data for United States
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0708 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in United States?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in United States was 13.91 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 13.91 years in 2022.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.82 years in 2004.
- How does United States rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- United States ranks 3rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States 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.