Mean years of schooling long run in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Mean years of schooling long run was 12.9 in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
12.9
World rank
10th
of 111 countries
All-time high
12.9
in 2020
All-time low
0.92
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020

Mean years of schooling long run in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1870–2020

02.557.51012.51870194520201870: 0.921875: 0.981880: 1.11885: 1.41890: 1.81895: 2.21900: 2.51905: 3.11910: 3.61915: 4.11920: 4.51925: 4.91930: 5.41935: 5.91940: 6.21945: 6.51950: 6.51955: 6.71960: 71965: 7.71970: 8.11975: 8.41980: 8.51985: 8.81990: 9.31995: 9.72000: 102005: 11.62010: 12.52015: 12.72020: 12.9

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2020, mean years of schooling long run in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 12.9. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.

The figure is up 3.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, mean years of schooling long run in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 12.9 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.92, in 1870.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 10th out of 111 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Mean years of schooling long run in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Mean years of schooling long run in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1870 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1870 0.92
1875 0.98 +6.5%
1880 1.15 +17.3%
1885 1.4 +21.7%
1890 1.81 +29.3%
1895 2.16 +19.3%
1900 2.55 +18.1%
1905 3.11 +22.0%
1910 3.64 +17.0%
1915 4.08 +12.1%
1920 4.49 +10.0%
1925 4.93 +9.8%
1930 5.42 +9.9%
1935 5.94 +9.6%
1940 6.24 +5.1%
1945 6.46 +3.5%
1950 6.49 +0.5%
1955 6.73 +3.7%
1960 7.01 +4.2%
1965 7.65 +9.1%
1970 8.06 +5.4%
1975 8.39 +4.1%
1980 8.52 +1.5%
1985 8.76 +2.8%
1990 9.28 +5.9%
1995 9.67 +4.2%
2000 9.97 +3.1%
2005 11.57 +16.0%
2010 12.46 +7.7%
2015 12.67 +1.7%
2020 12.9 +1.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1870s 0.95 0.92 0.98 2
1880s 1.27 1.15 1.4 2
1890s 1.99 1.81 2.16 2
1900s 2.83 2.55 3.11 2
1910s 3.86 3.64 4.08 2
1920s 4.71 4.49 4.93 2
1930s 5.68 5.42 5.94 2
1940s 6.35 6.24 6.46 2
1950s 6.61 6.49 6.73 2
1960s 7.33 7.01 7.65 2
1970s 8.23 8.06 8.39 2
1980s 8.64 8.52 8.76 2
1990s 9.47 9.28 9.67 2
2000s 10.77 9.97 11.57 2
2010s 12.57 12.46 12.67 2
2020s 12.9 12.9 12.9 1

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 7 Australia 12.93 compare
  2. 7 Canada 12.93 compare
  3. 7 Czechia 12.93 compare
  4. 11 Hong Kong, China 12.83 compare
  5. 11 Japan 12.83 compare
  6. 13 Taiwan, China 12.76 compare

See the full ranking of 111 places →

More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is mean years of schooling long run in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Mean years of schooling long run in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 12.9 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest mean years of schooling long run recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 12.9 in 2020.
What is the lowest mean years of schooling long run recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 0.92 in 1870.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for mean years of schooling long run?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 10th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
Is mean years of schooling long run rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Mean years of schooling long run. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Mean years of schooling long run in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/mean-years-of-schooling-long-run/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Mean years of schooling long run
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
111 places, 3,441 data points, 1870–2020
Last refreshed