Average years of schooling in Hong Kong
Hong Kong: Average years of schooling was 12.83 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
12.83 years
World rank
11th
of 111 countries
All-time high
12.83 years
in 2020
All-time low
0.01 years
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Average years of schooling in Hong Kong, 1870–2020
Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average years of schooling in Hong Kong is 12.83 years, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Hong Kong peaked at 12.83 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.01 years, in 1870.
Hong Kong ranks 11th of 111 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in Hong Kong, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.01 years | — |
| 1875 | 0.02 years | +100.0% |
| 1880 | 0.04 years | +100.0% |
| 1885 | 0.07 years | +75.0% |
| 1890 | 0.12 years | +71.4% |
| 1895 | 0.2 years | +66.7% |
| 1900 | 0.32 years | +60.0% |
| 1905 | 0.4 years | +25.0% |
| 1910 | 0.67 years | +67.5% |
| 1915 | 0.92 years | +37.3% |
| 1920 | 1.15 years | +25.0% |
| 1925 | 2.11 years | +83.5% |
| 1930 | 2.54 years | +20.4% |
| 1935 | 3 years | +18.1% |
| 1940 | 3.67 years | +22.3% |
| 1945 | 4.14 years | +12.8% |
| 1950 | 4.46 years | +7.7% |
| 1955 | 4.76 years | +6.7% |
| 1960 | 5.05 years | +6.1% |
| 1965 | 5.93 years | +17.4% |
| 1970 | 6.58 years | +11.0% |
| 1975 | 7.26 years | +10.3% |
| 1980 | 8.42 years | +16.0% |
| 1985 | 9.24 years | +9.7% |
| 1990 | 10.08 years | +9.1% |
| 1995 | 10.21 years | +1.3% |
| 2000 | 10.37 years | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 12.17 years | +17.4% |
| 2010 | 12.2 years | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 12.32 years | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 12.83 years | +4.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.015 years | 0.01 years | 0.02 years | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.055 years | 0.04 years | 0.07 years | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.16 years | 0.12 years | 0.2 years | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.36 years | 0.32 years | 0.4 years | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.795 years | 0.67 years | 0.92 years | 2 |
| 1920s | 1.63 years | 1.15 years | 2.11 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 2.77 years | 2.54 years | 3 years | 2 |
| 1940s | 3.9 years | 3.67 years | 4.14 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 4.61 years | 4.46 years | 4.76 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 5.49 years | 5.05 years | 5.93 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 6.92 years | 6.58 years | 7.26 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 8.83 years | 8.42 years | 9.24 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 10.14 years | 10.08 years | 10.21 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 11.27 years | 10.37 years | 12.17 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 12.26 years | 12.2 years | 12.32 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 12.83 years | 12.83 years | 12.83 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Hong Kong
More education data for Hong Kong
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 329,780 (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0438 units per person (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.3 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 329,780 (2024)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in secondary education, female (number), gaps filled 162,269 (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Hong Kong?
- Average years of schooling in Hong Kong was 12.83 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 Hong Kong?
- The highest recorded value was 12.83 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Hong Kong?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.01 years in 1870.
- How does Hong Kong rank for average years of schooling?
- Hong Kong ranks 11th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Hong Kong?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Hong Kong 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.