Number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education in Netherlands
Netherlands: Number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education was 12 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
12
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
3rd
of 73 countries
All-time high
12
in 1997
All-time low
12
in 1997
Years of data
29
1997–2025
Number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education in Netherlands, 1997–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2025, number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education in Netherlands stood at 12. That is the highest value across all 29 years on record.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education in Netherlands peaked at 12 in 1997 and was at its lowest, 12, in 1997.
Netherlands ranks 3rd of 73 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 12 | — |
| 1998 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 12 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 12 | +0.0% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 12 is above the median for high income countries, which is 10, 1.2× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 12 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 10, 1.2× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12 | 12 | 12 | 3 |
| 2000s | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
| 2010s | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
| 2020s | 12 | 12 | 12 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More education data for Netherlands
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 118,472 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 23,856 (1985)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 247,743 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 240,049 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.14 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.0937 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.064 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education in Netherlands?
- Number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education in Netherlands was 12 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education recorded in Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 12 in 1997.
- What is the lowest number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 12 in 1997.
- How does Netherlands rank for number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education?
- Netherlands ranks 3rd out of 73 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Netherlands data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Number of years of compulsory primary and secondary education guaranteed in legal frameworks. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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