Number of years of free primary and secondary education guaranteed in legal frameworks by country
February 2026 Data Release
Countries reporting
191
Highest
13
Australia
Lowest
5
Viet Nam
Median
12
Years covered
28
1998–2025
Data points
4,881
What the numbers show
Number of years of free primary and secondary education guaranteed in legal frameworks is currently reported for 191 countries. The highest value is 13 in Australia; the lowest is 5 in Viet Nam.
The median across all reporting countries is 12, and the mean is 10.76.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 3.
Over the past decade 17 countries rose and 3 fell. The largest increase was in Comoros (up 116.7%), and the largest decrease in Belize (down 33.3%).
Number of years of free primary and secondary education guaranteed in: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Bermuda | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Central African Republic | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Switzerland | 13 | 2025 | up 44.4% | rising |
| 1 | Congo | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Comoros | 13 | 2025 | up 116.7% | rising |
| 1 | Czechia | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Germany | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Gibraltar | 13 | 2025 | up 30.0% | rising |
| 1 | Sri Lanka | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Luxembourg | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | North Macedonia | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 1 | Malta | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Montenegro | 13 | 2025 | up 44.4% | rising |
| 1 | Mauritania | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 1 | Mauritius | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | New Zealand | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Romania | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 1 | San Marino | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Slovakia | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Slovenia | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 1 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 13 | 2025 | up 85.7% | rising |
| 1 | Uzbekistan | 13 | 2025 | up 8.3% | rising |
| 1 | Cook Islands | 13 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Afghanistan | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Albania | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | United Arab Emirates | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Argentina | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Armenia | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Austria | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Belgium | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Bulgaria | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Bahrain | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Bahamas | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Brazil | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Canada | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Chile | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Cuba | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Cayman Islands | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Cyprus | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Djibouti | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 26 | Dominica | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Dominican Republic | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Algeria | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Ecuador | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Egypt | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Estonia | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Finland | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | France | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Georgia | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Greece | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Grenada | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Guatemala | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Hong Kong, China | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Hungary | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Indonesia | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Iraq | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Israel | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Jordan | 12 | 2025 | up 20.0% | rising |
| 26 | Kenya | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Korea | 12 | 2025 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 26 | Kuwait | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Libya | 12 | 2025 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 26 | Lithuania | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Latvia | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Macau, China | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Monaco | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Republic of Moldova | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Madagascar | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Maldives | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Mexico | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Marshall Islands | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Mali | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Mongolia | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Netherlands | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Nepal | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Naoero | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Oman | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Pakistan | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Panama | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Philippines | 12 | 2025 | up 20.0% | rising |
| 26 | Palau | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Poland | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Puerto Rico | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Portugal | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Paraguay | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Palestine, State of | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Qatar | 12 | 2025 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 26 | Saudi Arabia | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | El Salvador | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Serbia | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Sweden | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Syrian Arab Republic | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Thailand | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Turkmenistan | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Türkiye | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Uruguay | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | United States of America | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | British Virgin Islands | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | South Africa | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Anguilla | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 26 | Montserrat | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 26 | Niue | 12 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Aruba | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Antigua and Barbuda | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Azerbaijan | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Belarus | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Barbados | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Bhutan | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Colombia | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Costa Rica | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Honduras | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Kazakhstan | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Kyrgyzstan | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Malaysia | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 108 | Nicaragua | 11 | 2025 | up 22.2% | rising |
| 108 | Peru | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Korea, Democratic People's Republic of | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 108 | Russian Federation | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 108 | Sudan | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 108 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Seychelles | 11 | 2025 | up 10.0% | rising |
| 108 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 11 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 108 | Tajikistan | 11 | 2025 | up 22.2% | rising |
| 108 | Tunisia | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 108 | Ukraine | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 108 | Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 11 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 132 | Andorra | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 132 | Burkina Faso | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 132 | Côte d'Ivoire | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 132 | Denmark | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 132 | Spain | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 132 | Gabon | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 132 | Ireland | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 132 | Iceland | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 132 | Saint Lucia | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 132 | Norway | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 132 | Senegal | 10 | 2025 | down 9.1% | falling |
| 132 | Chad | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 144 | Angola | 9 | 2025 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 144 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 144 | China | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 144 | Ghana | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 144 | Gambia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 144 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 144 | Japan | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 144 | Cambodia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 144 | Kiribati | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 144 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 9 | 2025 | up 80.0% | rising |
| 144 | Lebanon | 9 | 2025 | down 10.0% | flat |
| 144 | Morocco | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 144 | Nigeria | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 144 | Rwanda | 9 | 2025 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 144 | Sierra Leone | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 144 | Timor-Leste | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 144 | Yemen | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | Belize | 8 | 2025 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 161 | Cape Verde | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 161 | Eritrea | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | Ethiopia | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | Micronesia, Federated States of | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | Croatia | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | India | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | Italy | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | Malawi | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | South Sudan | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | Tonga | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 161 | Samoa | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 173 | Lesotho | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 173 | Namibia | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 173 | Eswatini | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 173 | Zambia | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Benin | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Cameroon | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Guinea | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Equatorial Guinea | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 177 | Guyana | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Haiti | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Jamaica | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Liberia | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Sao Tome and Principe | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 177 | Suriname | 6 | 2015 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | Bangladesh | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | Myanmar | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | Togo | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | Viet Nam | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
About this data
February 2026 Data Release