Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Canada
Canada: Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years was 13.94 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Canada, 1976–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Canada is 13.94, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Canada peaked at 13.94 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 9.85, in 1976.
That places Canada 3rd out of 121 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Canada, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 9.85 | — |
| 1981 | 10.55 | +7.2% |
| 1986 | 10.29 | -2.5% |
| 1991 | 10.77 | +4.7% |
| 2001 | 12.63 | +17.2% |
| 2006 | 13.27 | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 13.56 | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 13.78 | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 13.94 | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 9.85 | 9.85 | 9.85 | 1 |
| 1980s | 10.42 | 10.29 | 10.55 | 2 |
| 1990s | 10.77 | 10.77 | 10.77 | 1 |
| 2000s | 12.95 | 12.63 | 13.27 | 2 |
| 2010s | 13.67 | 13.56 | 13.78 | 2 |
| 2020s | 13.94 | 13.94 | 13.94 | 1 |
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 mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Canada?
- Mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Canada was 13.94 in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 13.94 in 2021.
- What is the lowest mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.85 in 1976.
- How does Canada rank for mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years?
- Canada ranks 3rd out of 121 countries with data for 2021.
- Is mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada 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, female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release