Official entrance age to compulsory education by country
Countries reporting
199
Highest
7
Afghanistan
Lowest
1
El Salvador
Median
6
Years covered
51
1975–2025
Data points
5,374
What the numbers show
Official entrance age to compulsory education is currently reported for 199 countries. The highest value is 7 in Afghanistan; the lowest is 1 in El Salvador.
The median across all reporting countries is 6, and the mean is 5.55.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 7.
Over the past decade 1 countries rose and 15 fell. The largest increase was in Liechtenstein (up 16.7%), and the largest decrease in France (down 50.0%).
Official entrance age to compulsory education (Official Our World): full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Afghanistan | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Estonia | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Ethiopia | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Guinea | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Gambia | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Equatorial Guinea | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Croatia | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Indonesia | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Liechtenstein | 7 | 2025 | up 16.7% | rising |
| 1 | Mali | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Namibia | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Romania | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Russia | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Serbia | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Suriname | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Tajikistan | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Tanzania | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Uzbekistan | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | South Africa | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Zambia | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Albania | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Andorra | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | United Arab Emirates | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Armenia | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 21 | Australia | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Azerbaijan | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Benin | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Burkina Faso | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Bangladesh | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Bahrain | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Belarus | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Brunei | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Central African Republic | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Canada | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Chile | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | China | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 21 | Cote d'Ivoire | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Cameroon | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Congo | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Comoros | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Cape Verde | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Cuba | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Germany | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Djibouti | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Denmark | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 21 | Algeria | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Egypt | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Eritrea | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 21 | Spain | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Finland | 6 | 2025 | down 14.3% | falling |
| 21 | Micronesia (country) | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Gabon | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Georgia | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Guinea-Bissau | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 21 | Guyana | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Hong Kong | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Haiti | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | India | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Ireland | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Iran | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Iraq | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Iceland | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Italy | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Jamaica | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Jordan | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Japan | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Kazakhstan | 6 | 2025 | down 14.3% | falling |
| 21 | Kenya | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Kyrgyzstan | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 21 | Kiribati | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | South Korea | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Kuwait | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Laos | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Lebanon | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Liberia | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Libya | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Lesotho | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Lithuania | 6 | 2025 | down 14.3% | falling |
| 21 | Morocco | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 21 | Monaco | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Moldova | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 21 | Madagascar | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | North Macedonia | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Montenegro | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Mongolia | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 21 | Mauritania | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Malawi | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Malaysia | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Nigeria | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Norway | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | New Zealand | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Oman | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Palau | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Poland | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 21 | North Korea | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 21 | Portugal | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Palestine | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Qatar | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Rwanda | 6 | 2025 | down 14.3% | falling |
| 21 | Saudi Arabia | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Sudan | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Senegal | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 21 | Singapore | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Sierra Leone | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | San Marino | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Somalia | 6 | 2025 | — | flat |
| 21 | South Sudan | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Sao Tome and Principe | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 21 | Slovenia | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Sweden | 6 | 2025 | down 14.3% | falling |
| 21 | Eswatini | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Seychelles | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Syria | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Chad | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Togo | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Thailand | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Turkmenistan | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 21 | East Timor | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Tunisia | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Turkey | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Tuvalu | 6 | 2025 | down 14.3% | falling |
| 21 | Uganda | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Ukraine | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 21 | United States | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Yemen | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 21 | Zimbabwe | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Angola | 5 | 2025 | down 16.7% | falling |
| 129 | Antigua and Barbuda | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Austria | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 129 | Belgium | 5 | 2025 | down 16.7% | falling |
| 129 | Bahamas | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Belize | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Bermuda | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Barbados | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Colombia | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Cyprus | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 129 | Czechia | 5 | 2025 | down 16.7% | falling |
| 129 | Dominica | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | United Kingdom | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Greece | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 129 | Grenada | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 129 | Honduras | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 129 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Saint Lucia | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Sri Lanka | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Latvia | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Macao | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Marshall Islands | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Malta | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Myanmar | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Mauritius | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Nicaragua | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 129 | Netherlands | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Pakistan | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Philippines | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 129 | Puerto Rico | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Paraguay | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 129 | Slovakia | 5 | 2025 | down 16.7% | falling |
| 129 | Trinidad and Tobago | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 129 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | British Virgin Islands | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Vietnam | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 129 | Samoa | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Anguilla | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Cook Islands | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Montserrat | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Niue | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 129 | Tokelau | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 171 | Aruba | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 171 | Argentina | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 171 | Bulgaria | 4 | 2025 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 171 | Bolivia | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 171 | Brazil | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 171 | Switzerland | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 171 | Costa Rica | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 171 | Curacao | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 171 | Cayman Islands | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 171 | Ghana | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 171 | Gibraltar | 4 | 2025 | down 20.0% | falling |
| 171 | Hungary | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 171 | Luxembourg | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 171 | Maldives | 4 | 2025 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 171 | Mexico | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 171 | Nepal | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 171 | Nauru | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 171 | Panama | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 171 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 171 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 171 | Tonga | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 171 | Uruguay | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 193 | Dominican Republic | 3 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 193 | Ecuador | 3 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 193 | France | 3 | 2025 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 193 | Israel | 3 | 2025 | down 40.0% | falling |
| 193 | Peru | 3 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 193 | Venezuela | 3 | 2016 | unchanged | falling |
| 199 | El Salvador | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |