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 13.23 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Japan, 1970–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2020, mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Japan stood at 13.23. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Japan peaked at 13.23 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 9.87, in 1970.
Japan ranks 7th of 121 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Mean years of schooling (ISCED 1 or higher), population 25+ years in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 9.87 | — |
| 1980 | 10.82 | +9.6% |
| 1990 | 12.11 | +11.9% |
| 2010 | 12.8 | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 13.23 | +3.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 9.87 | 9.87 | 9.87 | 1 |
| 1980s | 10.82 | 10.82 | 10.82 | 1 |
| 1990s | 12.11 | 12.11 | 12.11 | 1 |
| 2010s | 12.8 | 12.8 | 12.8 | 1 |
| 2020s | 13.23 | 13.23 | 13.23 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 4 Canada 13.79 compare
- 5 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 13.43 compare
- 6 Cayman Islands 13.32 compare
- 8 United Arab Emirates 13.2 compare
- 9 Estonia 13.16 compare
- 10 Poland 13.08 compare
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 13.23 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 13.23 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 9.87 in 1970.
- How does Japan rank for mean years of schooling (isced 1 or higher), population 25+ years?
- Japan ranks 7th out of 121 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 3.3%. 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, male. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release