Duration of compulsory education in years in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Duration of compulsory education in years was 11 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
11
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
19th
of 73 countries
All-time high
11
in 1998
All-time low
11
in 1998
Years of data
28
1998–2025
Duration of compulsory education in years in United Kingdom, 1998–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for duration of compulsory education in years in United Kingdom is 11, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, duration of compulsory education in years in United Kingdom peaked at 11 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 11, in 1998.
That places United Kingdom 19th out of 73 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Duration of compulsory education in years in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 11 | — |
| 1999 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 11 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 11 | +0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 11 is above the median for high income countries, which is 10.5, 1.0× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 11 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 10, 1.1× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11 | 11 | 11 | 2 |
| 2000s | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| 2010s | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11 | 11 | 11 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More education data for United Kingdom
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.73 (2018)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.93 (2023)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is duration of compulsory education in years in United Kingdom?
- Duration of compulsory education in years in United Kingdom was 11 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest duration of compulsory education in years recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 11 in 1998.
- What is the lowest duration of compulsory education in years recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 11 in 1998.
- How does United Kingdom rank for duration of compulsory education in years?
- United Kingdom ranks 19th out of 73 countries with data for 2025.
- Is duration of compulsory education in years rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Duration of compulsory education in years. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 28 observations, free to reuse under UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required).