Duration of compulsory education (years) by country
February 2026 Data Release
Countries reporting
206
Highest
17 years
Venezuela, República Bolivariana de
Lowest
0 years
Norfolk Island
Median
10 years
Years covered
51
1975–2025
Data points
5,393
What the numbers show
Duration of compulsory education (years) is currently reported for 206 countries. The highest value is 17 years in Venezuela, República Bolivariana de; the lowest is 0 years in Norfolk Island.
The median across all reporting countries is 10 years, and the mean is 9.88 years.
Over the past decade 23 countries rose and 2 fell. The largest increase was in Lao People's Democratic Republic (up 80.0%), and the largest decrease in Poland (down 10.0%).
Duration of compulsory education: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Venezuela, República Bolivariana de | 17 years | 2025 | up 21.4% | rising |
| 1 | Anguilla, United Kingdom-British Overseas Territory | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Cook Islands | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 1 | Montserrat, United Kingdom-British Overseas Territory | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 2 | Guatemala | 16 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 3 | Dominican Republic | 15 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 3 | Ecuador | 15 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 3 | Israel | 15 years | 2025 | up 15.4% | rising |
| 3 | El Salvador | 15 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 3 | Tonga | 15 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 4 | Niue | 11 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 4 | Tokelau | 11 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 6 | Saint Helena | 0 years | 2025 | — | volatile |
| 8 | Argentina | 14 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 8 | Bolivia | 14 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 8 | Brazil | 14 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 8 | Curaçao, Kingdom of the Netherlands | 14 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 8 | Mexico | 14 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 8 | Naoero, Republic of | 14 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 8 | Peru | 14 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 8 | Sint Maarten, Kingdom of the Netherlands | 14 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 8 | Uruguay | 14 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 17 | Aruba, Kingdom of the Netherlands | 13 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 17 | Austria | 13 years | 2025 | up 30.0% | rising |
| 17 | Belgium | 13 years | 2025 | up 8.3% | rising |
| 17 | Bermuda | 13 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 17 | Costa Rica | 13 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 17 | Germany | 13 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 17 | France | 13 years | 2025 | up 30.0% | rising |
| 17 | Gibraltar | 13 years | 2025 | up 30.0% | rising |
| 17 | Hungary | 13 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 17 | Marshall Islands, Republic of the | 13 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 17 | North Macedonia | 13 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 17 | Netherlands | 13 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 17 | Philippines | 13 years | 2025 | up 18.2% | rising |
| 17 | Puerto Rico | 13 years | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 17 | Paraguay | 13 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 17 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 13 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 33 | United Arab Emirates | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 33 | Armenia, Republic of | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 33 | Bulgaria | 12 years | 2025 | up 20.0% | rising |
| 33 | Bahamas, The | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 33 | Chile | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 33 | Colombia | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 33 | Cayman Islands | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 33 | Dominica | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 33 | Egypt, Arab Republic of | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 33 | Finland | 12 years | 2025 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 33 | Grenada | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 33 | Honduras | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 33 | Italy | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 33 | Kenya | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 33 | St. Kitts and Nevis | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 33 | Luxembourg | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 33 | Maldives | 12 years | 2025 | up 71.4% | rising |
| 33 | Mongolia | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 33 | Mauritius | 12 years | 2025 | up 9.1% | rising |
| 33 | Pakistan | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 33 | Palau, Republic of | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 33 | Korea, Democratic People's Republic of | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 33 | Portugal | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 33 | Qatar | 12 years | 2025 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 33 | Turkmenistan | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 33 | Türkiye | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 33 | United States | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 33 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 33 | British Virgin Islands | 12 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 62 | Antigua and Barbuda | 11 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 62 | Australia | 11 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 62 | Belarus, Republic of | 11 years | 2025 | up 22.2% | rising |
| 62 | Barbados | 11 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 62 | Switzerland | 11 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 62 | United Kingdom | 11 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 62 | Ghana | 11 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 62 | Sri Lanka | 11 years | 2025 | up 22.2% | rising |
| 62 | Lithuania | 11 years | 2025 | up 10.0% | rising |
| 62 | Latvia | 11 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 62 | Monaco | 11 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 62 | Malta | 11 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 62 | Panama | 11 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 62 | Russia | 11 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 62 | Senegal | 11 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 62 | Slovak Republic | 11 years | 2025 | up 10.0% | rising |
| 62 | Seychelles | 11 years | 2025 | up 10.0% | rising |
| 62 | Ukraine | 11 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 62 | Uzbekistan, Republic of | 11 years | 2025 | down 8.3% | rising |
| 81 | Angola | 10 years | 2025 | up 66.7% | rising |
| 81 | Andorra, Principality of | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Burkina Faso | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Central African Republic | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Canada | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Côte d'Ivoire | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Congo, Republic of | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Cabo Verde | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | Cyprus | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | Czechia | 10 years | 2025 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 81 | Djibouti | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Denmark | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | Algeria | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Spain | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Gabon | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Greece | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | Ireland | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | Iceland | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Jordan | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Kyrgyz Republic | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | Lebanon | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | St. Lucia | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Macao Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Moldova | 10 years | 2025 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 81 | Norway | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | New Zealand | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Oman | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Palestine, State of | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Romania | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | San Marino, Republic of | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Sweden | 10 years | 2025 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 81 | Chad | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | Togo | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Vietnam | 10 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 115 | Afghanistan, Islamic Republic of | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 115 | Albania | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 115 | Azerbaijan, Republic of | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Bahrain, Kingdom of | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 115 | Brunei Darussalam | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | China (People’s Republic of) | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Cuba | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Estonia | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Georgia | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 115 | Gambia, The | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Guinea-Bissau | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 115 | Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Indonesia | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 115 | Japan | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Kazakhstan, Republic of | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Kiribati | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Korea | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 115 | Kuwait | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 9 years | 2025 | up 80.0% | rising |
| 115 | Libya | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Liechtenstein, Principality of | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Morocco | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 115 | Mali | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Montenegro | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Mauritania, Islamic Republic of | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Nigeria | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Nepal | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Poland | 9 years | 2025 | down 10.0% | flat |
| 115 | Saudi Arabia | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Sierra Leone | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Slovenia | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Syrian Arab Republic | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 115 | Thailand | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Tajikistan, Republic of | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 115 | Tunisia | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | Tuvalu | 9 years | 2025 | up 12.5% | rising |
| 115 | Yemen, Republic of | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 115 | South Africa | 9 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 156 | Belize | 8 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 156 | Eritrea, The State of | 8 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 156 | Ethiopia, The Federal Democratic Republic of | 8 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 156 | Micronesia, Federated States of | 8 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 156 | Croatia | 8 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 156 | India | 8 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 156 | Malawi | 8 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 156 | Sudan | 8 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 156 | Somalia | 8 years | 2025 | — | flat |
| 156 | Serbia | 8 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 156 | South Sudan, Republic of | 8 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 156 | Samoa | 8 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Lesotho, Kingdom of | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Namibia | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Nicaragua | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 168 | Eswatini, Kingdom of | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Trinidad and Tobago | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 168 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Uganda | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Zambia | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 168 | Zimbabwe | 7 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Benin | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Cameroon | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Comoros, Union of the | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Guinea | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Equatorial Guinea, Republic of | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 177 | Guyana | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Haiti | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Iraq | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Jamaica | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Liberia | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Malaysia | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Rwanda | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Singapore | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | São Tomé and Príncipe, Democratic Republic of | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Suriname | 6 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 193 | Bangladesh | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 193 | Madagascar, Republic of | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 193 | Myanmar | 5 years | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 196 | Guam | 0 years | 2025 | — | flat |
| 196 | New Caledonia | 0 years | 2025 | — | flat |
| 196 | Martinique | 0 years | 2025 | — | flat |
| 196 | Réunion | 0 years | 2025 | — | flat |
| 196 | Norfolk Island | 0 years | 2025 | — | flat |
About this data
February 2026 Data Release