Average years of schooling, males vs. females in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Average years of schooling, males vs. females was 13.43 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling, males vs. females in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average years of schooling, males vs. females in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 13.43 years, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling, males vs. females in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 13.43 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 9.61 years, in 1990.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 8th of 191 countries on this measure, 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 9.61 years | — |
| 1991 | 9.75 years | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 9.85 years | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 9.95 years | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 10.05 years | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 10.15 years | +1.0% |
| 1996 | 10.21 years | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 10.26 years | +0.5% |
| 1998 | 10.32 years | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 10.37 years | +0.5% |
| 2000 | 10.43 years | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 10.8 years | +3.6% |
| 2002 | 11.28 years | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 11.55 years | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 11.92 years | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 12.3 years | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 12.52 years | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 12.75 years | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 12.97 years | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 13.2 years | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 13.31 years | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 13.3 years | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 13.41 years | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 12.92 years | -3.7% |
| 2014 | 12.94 years | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 13.02 years | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 13.09 years | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 13.17 years | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 13.23 years | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 13.3 years | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 13.36 years | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 13.43 years | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 13.43 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 13.43 years | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.05 years | 9.61 years | 10.37 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.97 years | 10.43 years | 13.2 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.17 years | 12.92 years | 13.41 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.41 years | 13.36 years | 13.43 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling, males vs. females in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Average years of schooling, males vs. females in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 13.43 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 13.43 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling, males vs. females recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.61 years in 1990.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for average years of schooling, males vs. females?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 8th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling, males vs. females rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.