Official entrance age to upper secondary education (years) by country
Age at which students would enter upper secondary education, assuming they had started at the official entrance age for the lowest level of education, had studied full-time throughout and had progressed through the system without repeating or skipping a grade.
Countries reporting
209
Highest
18 years
Tanzania, United Republic of
Lowest
13 years
Samoa
Median
15 years
Years covered
51
1970–2020
Data points
10,366
What the numbers show
Official entrance age to upper secondary education (years) is currently reported for 209 countries. The highest value is 18 years in Tanzania, United Republic of; the lowest is 13 years in Samoa.
The median across all reporting countries is 15 years, and the mean is 15.19 years.
Over the past decade 8 countries rose and 7 fell. The largest increase was in Marshall Islands (up 14.3%), and the largest decrease in Malta (down 12.5%).
Official entrance age to upper secondary education: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 18 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 2 | Burundi | 17 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 2 | Bhutan | 17 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 2 | Ethiopia | 17 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 2 | Guinea | 17 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 2 | Equatorial Guinea | 17 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 2 | Lithuania | 17 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 2 | Namibia | 17 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 2 | Niger | 17 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 2 | Tonga | 17 years | 2020 | up 13.3% | flat |
| 2 | Uganda | 17 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Afghanistan | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Andorra | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 12 | American Samoa | 16 years | 2020 | — | flat |
| 12 | Australia | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 12 | Benin | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Burkina Faso | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 12 | Botswana | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Central African Republic | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Switzerland | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Côte d'Ivoire | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Cameroon | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Congo | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Comoros | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Germany | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Denmark | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 12 | Estonia | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 12 | Finland | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Fiji | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Gambia | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 12 | Guatemala | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Indonesia | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Ireland | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 12 | Iceland | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Jordan | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Kyrgyzstan | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 12 | Liechtenstein | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 12 | Lesotho | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Latvia | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Republic of Moldova | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Maldives | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Marshall Islands | 16 years | 2020 | up 14.3% | rising |
| 12 | Mali | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Mozambique | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 12 | Mauritania | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Malawi | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 12 | Norway | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Naoero | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Oman | 16 years | 2020 | up 6.7% | flat |
| 12 | Philippines | 16 years | 2020 | up 6.7% | falling |
| 12 | Poland | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 12 | Russian Federation | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 12 | Rwanda | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 12 | Senegal | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | El Salvador | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Suriname | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Sweden | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Eswatini | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Chad | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Togo | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Tajikistan | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Turkmenistan | 16 years | 2020 | up 6.7% | flat |
| 12 | Tuvalu | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Uzbekistan | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 12 | Vanuatu | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | South Africa | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 12 | Zambia | 16 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Angola | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 68 | Albania | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 68 | United Arab Emirates | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Argentina | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Armenia | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Antigua and Barbuda | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Azerbaijan | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Bulgaria | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Bahrain | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 68 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 68 | Belarus | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Belize | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Brazil | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Canada | 15 years | 2020 | up 7.1% | flat |
| 68 | China | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Colombia | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Cape Verde | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Costa Rica | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Cuba | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Cyprus | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Czechia | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 68 | Djibouti | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Dominica | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Algeria | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Ecuador | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Egypt | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Spain | 15 years | 2020 | down 6.2% | rising |
| 68 | France | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Gabon | 15 years | 2020 | down 6.2% | falling |
| 68 | Georgia | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Ghana | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Guinea-Bissau | 15 years | 2020 | down 6.2% | falling |
| 68 | Greece | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Grenada | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Guyana | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Hong Kong, China | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Honduras | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Croatia | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Haiti | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Hungary | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Iraq | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Israel | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Jamaica | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Japan | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Kazakhstan | 15 years | 2020 | down 6.2% | rising |
| 68 | Cambodia | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Kiribati | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Republic of Korea | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Kuwait | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 68 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Lebanon | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Liberia | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Libya | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Saint Lucia | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Luxembourg | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Macau, China | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Morocco | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Monaco | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Madagascar | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Mexico | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | North Macedonia | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Montenegro | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Mongolia | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Malaysia | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | New Caledonia | 15 years | 2020 | — | flat |
| 68 | Nigeria | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Nicaragua | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Netherlands | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | New Zealand | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Panama | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Peru | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 68 | Papua New Guinea | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Puerto Rico | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Korea, Democratic People's Republic of | 15 years | 2019 | up 7.1% | rising |
| 68 | Portugal | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Paraguay | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Palestine, State of | 15 years | 2019 | down 6.2% | flat |
| 68 | French Polynesia | 15 years | 2020 | — | flat |
| 68 | Qatar | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Romania | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Saudi Arabia | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Sudan | 15 years | 2020 | up 7.1% | flat |
| 68 | Solomon Islands | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Sierra Leone | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Serbia | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Sao Tome and Principe | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Slovakia | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 68 | Slovenia | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Seychelles | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Syrian Arab Republic | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Thailand | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Timor-Leste | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Trinidad and Tobago | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Tunisia | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Ukraine | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Uruguay | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | United States of America | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 68 | British Virgin Islands | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | United States Virgin Islands | 15 years | 2020 | — | flat |
| 68 | Viet Nam | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Yemen | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 68 | Zimbabwe | 15 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Aruba | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Austria | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Belgium | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Bangladesh | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Bahamas | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Bermuda | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Barbados | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Brunei Darussalam | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Chile | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Curaçao | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Cayman Islands | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Dominican Republic | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Eritrea | 14 years | 2020 | down 6.7% | falling |
| 174 | Micronesia, Federated States of | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | India | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Italy | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Kenya | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Sri Lanka | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Malta | 14 years | 2020 | down 12.5% | falling |
| 174 | Myanmar | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Mauritius | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Palau | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Singapore | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | San Marino | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Somalia | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | South Sudan | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Sint Maarten | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Türkiye | 14 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 206 | Gibraltar | 13 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 206 | Nepal | 13 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 206 | Pakistan | 13 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 206 | Samoa | 13 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
About this data
Age at which students would enter upper secondary education, assuming they had started at the official entrance age for the lowest level of education, had studied full-time throughout and had progressed through the system without repeating or skipping a grade.