Average years of schooling in Belize
Belize: Average years of schooling was 10.71 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
10.71 years
World rank
40th
of 111 countries
All-time high
11.28 years
in 2010
All-time low
0.4 years
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Average years of schooling in Belize, 1870–2020
Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2020, average years of schooling in Belize stood at 10.71 years.
That represents a change of down 5.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Belize peaked at 11.28 years in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.4 years, in 1870.
Belize ranks 40th of 111 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in Belize, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.4 years | — |
| 1875 | 0.5 years | +25.0% |
| 1880 | 0.61 years | +22.0% |
| 1885 | 0.76 years | +24.6% |
| 1890 | 0.94 years | +23.7% |
| 1895 | 1.14 years | +21.3% |
| 1900 | 1.36 years | +19.3% |
| 1905 | 1.98 years | +45.6% |
| 1910 | 2.56 years | +29.3% |
| 1915 | 3.06 years | +19.5% |
| 1920 | 3.78 years | +23.5% |
| 1925 | 4.15 years | +9.8% |
| 1930 | 4.53 years | +9.2% |
| 1935 | 4.91 years | +8.4% |
| 1940 | 5.3 years | +7.9% |
| 1945 | 5.65 years | +6.6% |
| 1950 | 7.28 years | +28.8% |
| 1955 | 7.46 years | +2.5% |
| 1960 | 7.8 years | +4.6% |
| 1965 | 7.91 years | +1.4% |
| 1970 | 7.86 years | -0.6% |
| 1975 | 8.11 years | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 7.88 years | -2.8% |
| 1985 | 8.1 years | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 8.97 years | +10.7% |
| 1995 | 9.62 years | +7.2% |
| 2000 | 10.19 years | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 10.77 years | +5.7% |
| 2010 | 11.28 years | +4.7% |
| 2015 | 10.56 years | -6.4% |
| 2020 | 10.71 years | +1.4% |
Belize compared with similar countries
- Belize's 10.71 years is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 9.83 years, 1.1× the median. (30 countries reporting)
- Belize's 10.71 years is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 9.12 years, 1.2× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.45 years | 0.4 years | 0.5 years | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.685 years | 0.61 years | 0.76 years | 2 |
| 1890s | 1.04 years | 0.94 years | 1.14 years | 2 |
| 1900s | 1.67 years | 1.36 years | 1.98 years | 2 |
| 1910s | 2.81 years | 2.56 years | 3.06 years | 2 |
| 1920s | 3.96 years | 3.78 years | 4.15 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 4.72 years | 4.53 years | 4.91 years | 2 |
| 1940s | 5.47 years | 5.3 years | 5.65 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 7.37 years | 7.28 years | 7.46 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 7.86 years | 7.8 years | 7.91 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 7.98 years | 7.86 years | 8.11 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 7.99 years | 7.88 years | 8.1 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 9.29 years | 8.97 years | 9.62 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 10.48 years | 10.19 years | 10.77 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 10.92 years | 10.56 years | 11.28 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 10.71 years | 10.71 years | 10.71 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Belize
More education data for Belize
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2,319 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 2,390 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 3,316 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3,346 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 38,323 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 44,757 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.0671 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1073 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Belize?
- Average years of schooling in Belize was 10.71 years in 2020, according to Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling recorded in Belize?
- The highest recorded value was 11.28 years in 2010.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Belize?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4 years in 1870.
- How does Belize rank for average years of schooling?
- Belize ranks 40th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Belize?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belize data come from?
- The figures come from Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average years of formal education for individuals aged 15-64.