Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Japan
Japan: Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years was 12.85 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Japan, 1970–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
Japan recorded 12.85 for mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in 2020. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Japan peaked at 12.85 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 9.26, in 1970.
Japan ranks 19th of 124 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 9.26 | — |
| 1980 | 10.3 | +11.3% |
| 1990 | 11.75 | +14.1% |
| 2010 | 12.42 | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 12.85 | +3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 9.26 | 9.26 | 9.26 | 1 |
| 1980s | 10.3 | 10.3 | 10.3 | 1 |
| 1990s | 11.75 | 11.75 | 11.75 | 1 |
| 2010s | 12.42 | 12.42 | 12.42 | 1 |
| 2020s | 12.85 | 12.85 | 12.85 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More education data for Japan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 627,777 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (1999)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.50 million (1999)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.46 million (1999)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.25 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0502 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Japan?
- Mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Japan was 12.85 in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 12.85 in 2020.
- What is the lowest mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.26 in 1970.
- How does Japan rank for mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years?
- Japan ranks 19th out of 124 countries with data for 2020.
- Is mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years, both sexes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release