Average years of schooling in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Average years of schooling was 9.12 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
9.12 years
World rank
60th
of 111 countries
All-time high
9.12 years
in 2020
All-time low
0.32 years
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Average years of schooling in Costa Rica, 1870–2020
Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 9.12 years for average years of schooling in 2020. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Costa Rica peaked at 9.12 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.32 years, in 1870.
Costa Rica ranks 60th 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 Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.32 years | — |
| 1875 | 0.4 years | +25.0% |
| 1880 | 0.48 years | +20.0% |
| 1885 | 0.59 years | +22.9% |
| 1890 | 0.72 years | +22.0% |
| 1895 | 0.87 years | +20.8% |
| 1900 | 1.56 years | +79.3% |
| 1905 | 1.89 years | +21.2% |
| 1910 | 2.21 years | +16.9% |
| 1915 | 2.45 years | +10.9% |
| 1920 | 2.71 years | +10.6% |
| 1925 | 2.99 years | +10.3% |
| 1930 | 3.13 years | +4.7% |
| 1935 | 3.28 years | +4.8% |
| 1940 | 3.43 years | +4.6% |
| 1945 | 3.62 years | +5.5% |
| 1950 | 3.6 years | -0.6% |
| 1955 | 3.82 years | +6.1% |
| 1960 | 3.96 years | +3.7% |
| 1965 | 4.22 years | +6.6% |
| 1970 | 4.03 years | -4.5% |
| 1975 | 5.3 years | +31.5% |
| 1980 | 6.26 years | +18.1% |
| 1985 | 6.88 years | +9.9% |
| 1990 | 7.28 years | +5.8% |
| 1995 | 7.61 years | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 7.96 years | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 8.52 years | +7.0% |
| 2010 | 8.43 years | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 8.77 years | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 9.12 years | +4.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.36 years | 0.32 years | 0.4 years | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.535 years | 0.48 years | 0.59 years | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.795 years | 0.72 years | 0.87 years | 2 |
| 1900s | 1.73 years | 1.56 years | 1.89 years | 2 |
| 1910s | 2.33 years | 2.21 years | 2.45 years | 2 |
| 1920s | 2.85 years | 2.71 years | 2.99 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 3.21 years | 3.13 years | 3.28 years | 2 |
| 1940s | 3.53 years | 3.43 years | 3.62 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 3.71 years | 3.6 years | 3.82 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 4.09 years | 3.96 years | 4.22 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 4.67 years | 4.03 years | 5.3 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 6.57 years | 6.26 years | 6.88 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 7.45 years | 7.28 years | 7.61 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 8.24 years | 7.96 years | 8.52 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 8.6 years | 8.43 years | 8.77 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 9.12 years | 9.12 years | 9.12 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More education data for Costa Rica
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,024 tertiary education (2024)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0494 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 43,058 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre-primary education 2 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Costa Rica?
- Average years of schooling in Costa Rica was 9.12 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 Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 9.12 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.32 years in 1870.
- How does Costa Rica rank for average years of schooling?
- Costa Rica ranks 60th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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
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About this data
Average years of formal education for individuals aged 15-64.