Duration of compulsory education in United States
United States: Duration of compulsory education was 12 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
12
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
33rd
of 205 countries
All-time high
12
in 1998
All-time low
12
in 1998
Years of data
28
1998–2025
Duration of compulsory education in United States, 1998–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for duration of compulsory education in United States is 12, 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 United States peaked at 12 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 12, in 1998.
That places United States 33rd out of 205 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
Duration of compulsory education in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 12 | — |
| 1999 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 12 | +0.0% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 12 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11, 1.1× the median. (77 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12 | 12 | 12 | 2 |
| 2000s | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
| 2010s | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
| 2020s | 12 | 12 | 12 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
- 33 Anguilla 12 compare
- 33 Armenia 12 compare
- 33 Bahamas 12 compare
- 33 British Virgin Islands 12 compare
- 33 Bulgaria 12 compare
- 33 Cayman Islands 12 compare
- 33 Chile 12 compare
- 33 Colombia 12 compare
- 33 Cook Islands 12 compare
- 33 Dominica 12 compare
- 33 Egypt 12 compare
- 33 Finland 12 compare
- 33 Grenada 12 compare
- 33 Honduras 12 compare
- 33 Italy 12 compare
- 33 Kenya 12 compare
- 33 Luxembourg 12 compare
- 33 Maldives 12 compare
- 33 Mauritius 12 compare
- 33 Mongolia 12 compare
- 33 Montserrat 12 compare
- 33 North Korea 12 compare
- 33 Pakistan 12 compare
- 33 Palau 12 compare
- 33 Portugal 12 compare
- 33 Qatar 12 compare
- 33 Saint Kitts and Nevis 12 compare
- 33 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 12 compare
- 33 Turkey 12 compare
- 33 Turkmenistan 12 compare
- 33 United Arab Emirates 12 compare
More education data for United States
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 96.21 (2022)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 96.02 (2022)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is duration of compulsory education in United States?
- Duration of compulsory education in United States was 12 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest duration of compulsory education recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 12 in 1998.
- What is the lowest duration of compulsory education recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 12 in 1998.
- How does United States rank for duration of compulsory education?
- United States ranks 33rd out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is duration of compulsory education rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Duration of compulsory education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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