Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Japan
Japan: Average years of schooling, males vs. females was 13.03 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Japan, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Japan recorded 13.03 years for average years of schooling, males vs. females in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 0.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling, males vs. females in Japan peaked at 13.03 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 11.96 years, in 1990.
That places Japan 17th out of 191 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, males vs. females in Japan, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11.96 years | — |
| 1991 | 12.01 years | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 12.05 years | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 12.1 years | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 12.15 years | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 12.19 years | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 12.24 years | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 12.29 years | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 12.33 years | +0.4% |
| 1999 | 12.38 years | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 12.43 years | +0.4% |
| 2001 | 12.47 years | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 12.52 years | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 12.56 years | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 12.61 years | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 12.66 years | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 12.7 years | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 12.75 years | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 12.8 years | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 12.84 years | +0.4% |
| 2010 | 12.89 years | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 12.9 years | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 12.92 years | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 12.93 years | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 12.94 years | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 12.96 years | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 12.97 years | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 12.98 years | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 12.99 years | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 13.01 years | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 13.02 years | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 13.03 years | +0.1% |
| 2022 | 13.03 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 13.03 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.17 years | 11.96 years | 12.38 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.63 years | 12.43 years | 12.84 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.95 years | 12.89 years | 13.01 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.03 years | 13.02 years | 13.03 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More education data for Japan
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.46 million (1999)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.25 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0502 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6.25 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -1.01 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling, males vs. females in Japan?
- Average years of schooling, males vs. females in Japan was 13.03 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 13.03 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.96 years in 1990.
- How does Japan rank for average years of schooling, males vs. females?
- Japan ranks 17th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan 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.
Download this data
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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.