Average years of schooling in El Salvador
El Salvador: Average years of schooling was 8.1 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
8.1 years
World rank
76th
of 111 countries
All-time high
8.1 years
in 2020
All-time low
0.22 years
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Average years of schooling in El Salvador, 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 El Salvador stood at 8.1 years. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
The figure is up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in El Salvador peaked at 8.1 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.22 years, in 1870.
El Salvador ranks 76th 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 El Salvador, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.22 years | — |
| 1875 | 0.27 years | +22.7% |
| 1880 | 0.34 years | +25.9% |
| 1885 | 0.42 years | +23.5% |
| 1890 | 0.51 years | +21.4% |
| 1895 | 0.6 years | +17.6% |
| 1900 | 0.82 years | +36.7% |
| 1905 | 0.92 years | +12.2% |
| 1910 | 1.15 years | +25.0% |
| 1915 | 1.21 years | +5.2% |
| 1920 | 1.28 years | +5.8% |
| 1925 | 1.35 years | +5.5% |
| 1930 | 1.41 years | +4.4% |
| 1935 | 1.41 years | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 1.41 years | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 1.54 years | +9.2% |
| 1950 | 1.55 years | +0.6% |
| 1955 | 1.7 years | +9.7% |
| 1960 | 1.98 years | +16.5% |
| 1965 | 2.41 years | +21.7% |
| 1970 | 2.9 years | +20.3% |
| 1975 | 3.37 years | +16.2% |
| 1980 | 3.74 years | +11.0% |
| 1985 | 4.57 years | +22.2% |
| 1990 | 5.08 years | +11.2% |
| 1995 | 5.8 years | +14.2% |
| 2000 | 7.04 years | +21.4% |
| 2005 | 8.08 years | +14.8% |
| 2010 | 8.06 years | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 7.67 years | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 8.1 years | +5.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.245 years | 0.22 years | 0.27 years | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.38 years | 0.34 years | 0.42 years | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.555 years | 0.51 years | 0.6 years | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.87 years | 0.82 years | 0.92 years | 2 |
| 1910s | 1.18 years | 1.15 years | 1.21 years | 2 |
| 1920s | 1.31 years | 1.28 years | 1.35 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 1.41 years | 1.41 years | 1.41 years | 2 |
| 1940s | 1.48 years | 1.41 years | 1.54 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 1.62 years | 1.55 years | 1.7 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 2.2 years | 1.98 years | 2.41 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 3.13 years | 2.9 years | 3.37 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 4.16 years | 3.74 years | 4.57 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 5.44 years | 5.08 years | 5.8 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 7.56 years | 7.04 years | 8.08 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 7.87 years | 7.67 years | 8.06 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 8.1 years | 8.1 years | 8.1 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near El Salvador
More education data for El Salvador
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) -2.32 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 16,272 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 5,860 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) 110,128 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, female (number) -2.14 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number), gaps 85,821 (2024)
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, male (number) -2.55 % change on previous year (2024)
- Theoretical duration of primary education (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in El Salvador?
- Average years of schooling in El Salvador was 8.1 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 El Salvador?
- The highest recorded value was 8.1 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in El Salvador?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.22 years in 1870.
- How does El Salvador rank for average years of schooling?
- El Salvador ranks 76th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in El Salvador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this El Salvador 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.