Inequality in education in Canada
Canada: Inequality in education was 0.0223 in 2023. ▼ Falling
Inequality in education in Canada, 2010–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for inequality in education in Canada is 0.0223, measured in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 14 years on record.
That represents a change of down 16.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inequality in education in Canada peaked at 0.031 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.0223, in 2020.
Canada ranks 172nd of 184 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 14 years of available data.
Inequality in education in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.031 | — |
| 2011 | 0.0295 | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 0.0273 | -7.6% |
| 2013 | 0.0268 | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 0.0254 | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 0.027 | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 0.0258 | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 0.0252 | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 0.0231 | -8.3% |
| 2019 | 0.0231 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 0.0223 | -3.6% |
| 2021 | 0.0223 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.0223 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.0223 | +0.0% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 0.0223 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.0476, 47% of the median. (61 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 0.0264 | 0.0231 | 0.031 | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.0223 | 0.0223 | 0.0223 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More education data for Canada
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 133,275 (1996)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2011)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 291,075 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 273,465 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.70 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.43 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0607 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is inequality in education in Canada?
- Inequality in education in Canada was 0.0223 in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest inequality in education recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 0.031 in 2010.
- What is the lowest inequality in education recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0223 in 2020.
- How does Canada rank for inequality in education?
- Canada ranks 172nd out of 184 countries with data for 2023.
- Is inequality in education rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Inequality in education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 14 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
The Atkinson index measures inequality on a scale from 0 to 1. Higher values indicate higher inequality. Inequality is measured here in terms of the number of years adults older than 25 participated in formal education.