Average years of schooling, males vs. females in France
France: Average years of schooling, males vs. females was 11.92 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in France, 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, males vs. females in France stood at 11.92 years. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling, males vs. females in France peaked at 11.92 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 7.91 years, in 1990.
That places France 46th out of 191 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in France, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 7.91 years | — |
| 1991 | 8.1 years | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 8.29 years | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 8.48 years | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 8.67 years | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 8.86 years | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 9.05 years | +2.1% |
| 1997 | 9.23 years | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 9.42 years | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 9.61 years | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 9.8 years | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 9.99 years | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 10.18 years | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 10.37 years | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 10.56 years | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 10.64 years | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 10.74 years | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 10.85 years | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 10.93 years | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 10.78 years | -1.4% |
| 2010 | 11.06 years | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 11.12 years | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 11.19 years | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 11.35 years | +1.4% |
| 2014 | 11.5 years | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 11.57 years | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 11.59 years | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 11.63 years | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 11.71 years | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 11.8 years | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 11.86 years | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 11.92 years | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 11.92 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 11.92 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.76 years | 7.91 years | 9.61 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.49 years | 9.8 years | 10.93 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.45 years | 11.06 years | 11.8 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.91 years | 11.86 years | 11.92 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near France
- 43 Uzbekistan 12.08 years compare
- 44 Saudi Arabia 11.97 years compare
- 45 Serbia 11.95 years compare
- 47 Greece 11.91 years compare
- 48 Marshall Islands 11.83 years compare
- 49 Romania 11.82 years compare
More education data for France
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.13 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0602 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4.13 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.0602 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.01 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling, males vs. females in France?
- Average years of schooling, males vs. females in France was 11.92 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, males vs. females recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 11.92 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.91 years in 1990.
- How does France rank for average years of schooling, males vs. females?
- France ranks 46th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France 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, males vs. females. 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) men over 25 years participated in formal education.