School life expectancy, primary and lower secondary, female (years) by country
February 2026 Data Release
Countries reporting
200
Highest
13.45 years
Sierra Leone
Lowest
4.12 years
Equatorial Guinea, Republic of
Median
8.91 years
Years covered
41
1985–2025
Data points
10,261
What the numbers show
School life expectancy, primary and lower secondary, female (years) is currently reported for 200 countries. The highest value is 13.45 years in Sierra Leone; the lowest is 4.12 years in Equatorial Guinea, Republic of.
The median across all reporting countries is 8.91 years, and the mean is 8.88 years.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 3.
Over the past decade 93 countries rose and 107 fell. The largest increase was in Central African Republic (up 68.8%), and the largest decrease in Tokelau (down 31.6%).
School life expectancy, primary and lower secondary, female: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra Leone | 13.45 years | 2024 | up 50.1% | rising |
| 1 | Cook Islands | 11.2 years | 2024 | up 13.2% | rising |
| 2 | St. Kitts and Nevis | 12.8 years | 2023 | up 12.6% | rising |
| 2 | Montserrat, United Kingdom-British Overseas Territory | 10.82 years | 2023 | down 2.4% | rising |
| 3 | Monaco | 12.04 years | 2024 | down 11.0% | flat |
| 3 | Niue | 10.74 years | 2024 | up 11.9% | rising |
| 4 | Bhutan | 12 years | 2024 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 4 | Anguilla, United Kingdom-British Overseas Territory | 10.64 years | 2023 | up 8.6% | falling |
| 5 | Namibia | 11.83 years | 2024 | up 2.4% | rising |
| 5 | Tokelau | 5.96 years | 2025 | down 31.6% | falling |
| 6 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 11.67 years | 2024 | up 2.0% | rising |
| 7 | Rwanda | 11.22 years | 2024 | up 12.5% | rising |
| 8 | Australia | 11.18 years | 2024 | down 4.3% | flat |
| 9 | Eswatini, Kingdom of | 11.17 years | 2016 | up 18.7% | rising |
| 10 | Antigua and Barbuda | 11.12 years | 2023 | down 2.7% | flat |
| 11 | Ireland | 11.07 years | 2022 | down 2.3% | flat |
| 12 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 11.04 years | 2024 | up 45.3% | rising |
| 13 | Tonga | 11 years | 2024 | down 15.1% | rising |
| 14 | Suriname | 10.89 years | 2023 | up 8.4% | flat |
| 15 | Grenada | 10.79 years | 2024 | up 0.8% | falling |
| 16 | Fiji, Republic of | 10.77 years | 2024 | up 12.5% | rising |
| 17 | Aruba | 10.67 years | 2024 | up 4.0% | rising |
| 18 | Denmark | 10.54 years | 2024 | down 0.4% | rising |
| 19 | Maldives | 10.53 years | 2023 | up 3.8% | falling |
| 20 | Botswana | 10.44 years | 2022 | down 0.2% | flat |
| 21 | Venezuela, República Bolivariana de | 10.36 years | 2024 | up 14.7% | rising |
| 22 | Sweden | 10.33 years | 2024 | down 0.4% | rising |
| 23 | Argentina | 10.33 years | 2023 | down 4.3% | flat |
| 24 | Tuvalu | 10.31 years | 2024 | down 0.4% | flat |
| 25 | Germany | 10.26 years | 2024 | up 2.1% | flat |
| 26 | Peru | 10.24 years | 2024 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 27 | Mexico | 10.23 years | 2024 | down 2.1% | rising |
| 28 | Morocco | 10.18 years | 2024 | up 15.4% | rising |
| 29 | Algeria | 10.17 years | 2024 | down 5.0% | rising |
| 30 | Côte d’Ivoire | 10.14 years | 2024 | up 55.0% | rising |
| 31 | Lithuania | 10.13 years | 2024 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 32 | Malawi | 10.11 years | 2023 | down 3.7% | rising |
| 33 | Vanuatu | 10.1 years | 2023 | down 3.5% | rising |
| 34 | São Tomé and Príncipe, Democratic Republic of | 10.09 years | 2017 | up 4.5% | rising |
| 35 | Netherlands | 10.06 years | 2023 | down 2.9% | flat |
| 36 | Norway | 10.01 years | 2024 | up 0.6% | flat |
| 37 | Andorra, Principality of | 9.99 years | 2024 | up 13.6% | flat |
| 38 | Portugal | 9.99 years | 2023 | up 1.1% | falling |
| 39 | Zambia | 9.95 years | 2024 | up 14.9% | rising |
| 40 | Mauritius | 9.93 years | 2024 | up 8.7% | flat |
| 41 | Papua New Guinea | 9.91 years | 2023 | up 35.5% | rising |
| 42 | Uruguay | 9.89 years | 2023 | down 0.6% | flat |
| 43 | New Zealand | 9.87 years | 2024 | down 1.2% | flat |
| 44 | Naoero, Republic of | 9.86 years | 2025 | up 3.4% | rising |
| 45 | Trinidad and Tobago | 9.85 years | 2024 | up 1.8% | rising |
| 46 | Iceland | 9.82 years | 2023 | down 0.6% | flat |
| 47 | Albania | 9.78 years | 2024 | up 5.6% | rising |
| 48 | Togo | 9.78 years | 2023 | down 2.0% | rising |
| 49 | Jordan | 9.78 years | 2024 | up 0.1% | rising |
| 50 | Dominica | 9.7 years | 2023 | down 5.5% | falling |
| 51 | Lesotho | 9.68 years | 2017 | down 6.1% | rising |
| 52 | Belize | 9.68 years | 2024 | down 6.1% | flat |
| 53 | Costa Rica | 9.66 years | 2024 | down 1.3% | rising |
| 54 | St. Lucia | 9.61 years | 2024 | up 0.7% | flat |
| 55 | Uzbekistan | 9.59 years | 2025 | up 12.7% | flat |
| 56 | Cabo Verde | 9.56 years | 2022 | down 3.0% | flat |
| 57 | Myanmar | 9.55 years | 2018 | up 22.7% | rising |
| 58 | Hong Kong (China) | 9.54 years | 2024 | up 0.3% | flat |
| 59 | United Kingdom | 9.51 years | 2023 | down 0.6% | flat |
| 60 | Spain | 9.49 years | 2024 | down 2.0% | falling |
| 61 | Cyprus | 9.48 years | 2024 | up 6.4% | rising |
| 62 | Saudi Arabia | 9.47 years | 2024 | down 0.1% | falling |
| 63 | Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of | 9.47 years | 2020 | down 8.7% | falling |
| 64 | Gibraltar | 9.47 years | 2024 | down 5.8% | rising |
| 65 | Colombia | 9.44 years | 2022 | down 7.3% | flat |
| 66 | Montenegro | 9.43 years | 2023 | up 7.8% | rising |
| 67 | Luxembourg | 9.41 years | 2024 | up 1.1% | flat |
| 68 | Nepal | 9.4 years | 2024 | down 7.0% | rising |
| 69 | Tunisia | 9.38 years | 2023 | down 1.0% | flat |
| 70 | Belgium | 9.38 years | 2023 | down 1.9% | flat |
| 71 | China, People's Republic of | 9.35 years | 2012 | up 10.5% | rising |
| 72 | Brazil | 9.34 years | 2024 | down 2.0% | flat |
| 73 | Libya | 9.33 years | 2006 | down 10.6% | falling |
| 74 | Oman | 9.33 years | 2024 | down 3.6% | rising |
| 75 | Russian Federation | 9.29 years | 2023 | up 9.0% | rising |
| 76 | Congo, Republic of | 9.25 years | 2012 | up 24.2% | rising |
| 77 | Kuwait | 9.22 years | 2012 | up 17.4% | rising |
| 78 | Switzerland | 9.21 years | 2024 | down 1.0% | falling |
| 79 | France | 9.2 years | 2024 | up 1.4% | flat |
| 80 | Greece | 9.18 years | 2023 | up 4.1% | flat |
| 81 | Japan | 9.1 years | 2023 | up 0.6% | flat |
| 82 | Liechtenstein | 9.09 years | 2021 | down 3.0% | flat |
| 83 | Slovak Republic | 9.06 years | 2024 | up 3.8% | flat |
| 84 | Madagascar, Republic of | 9.04 years | 2021 | up 3.1% | rising |
| 85 | South Africa | 9 years | 2023 | down 2.7% | rising |
| 86 | Thailand | 9 years | 2025 | down 4.6% | rising |
| 87 | Finland | 9 years | 2024 | down 0.0% | flat |
| 88 | Czechia | 8.98 years | 2023 | down 0.9% | flat |
| 89 | Slovenia | 8.97 years | 2023 | up 1.3% | rising |
| 90 | Mozambique | 8.97 years | 2017 | up 11.7% | rising |
| 91 | Gambia, The | 8.97 years | 2024 | up 31.2% | rising |
| 92 | Korea | 8.97 years | 2024 | up 0.3% | flat |
| 93 | Georgia | 8.96 years | 2024 | down 6.2% | flat |
| 94 | Vietnam | 8.95 years | 2023 | up 4.3% | flat |
| 95 | Estonia | 8.91 years | 2024 | down 0.2% | falling |
| 96 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 8.91 years | 2023 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 97 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 8.9 years | 2023 | up 5.4% | rising |
| 98 | Latvia | 8.9 years | 2024 | down 1.7% | flat |
| 99 | Azerbaijan, Republic of | 8.87 years | 2024 | up 3.5% | rising |
| 100 | Indonesia | 8.87 years | 2025 | down 5.7% | flat |
| 101 | Armenia, Republic of | 8.86 years | 2024 | up 13.1% | rising |
| 102 | Ecuador | 8.85 years | 2023 | down 9.0% | rising |
| 103 | Malta | 8.85 years | 2023 | down 3.5% | falling |
| 104 | Philippines | 8.84 years | 2024 | down 0.7% | rising |
| 105 | Guyana | 8.82 years | 2024 | down 8.8% | falling |
| 106 | Israel | 8.81 years | 2024 | down 1.5% | flat |
| 107 | Qatar | 8.81 years | 2024 | up 1.0% | flat |
| 108 | Dominican Republic | 8.8 years | 2024 | up 10.1% | rising |
| 109 | Mauritania, Islamic Republic of | 8.8 years | 2024 | up 19.7% | rising |
| 110 | United States | 8.79 years | 2022 | down 1.3% | flat |
| 111 | Nicaragua | 8.77 years | 2023 | down 7.9% | flat |
| 112 | Kazakhstan, Republic of | 8.76 years | 2025 | up 3.5% | flat |
| 113 | Ghana | 8.76 years | 2024 | up 4.1% | rising |
| 114 | Cayman Islands | 8.74 years | 2024 | down 0.8% | falling |
| 115 | Bahrain, Kingdom of | 8.74 years | 2024 | down 7.9% | flat |
| 116 | Croatia | 8.71 years | 2023 | up 4.0% | rising |
| 117 | Cambodia | 8.7 years | 2024 | up 2.2% | rising |
| 118 | Kyrgyz Republic | 8.67 years | 2025 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 119 | Canada | 8.67 years | 2023 | down 3.6% | rising |
| 120 | Egypt | 8.64 years | 2024 | up 9.7% | rising |
| 121 | Kiribati | 8.64 years | 2024 | down 9.7% | rising |
| 122 | Tanzania | 8.61 years | 2021 | down 0.5% | rising |
| 123 | North Macedonia, Republic of | 8.61 years | 2023 | up 3.3% | rising |
| 124 | Cuba | 8.6 years | 2024 | down 1.9% | flat |
| 125 | Belarus, Republic of | 8.59 years | 2024 | down 4.4% | flat |
| 126 | Mongolia | 8.52 years | 2024 | down 1.6% | rising |
| 127 | Seychelles | 8.45 years | 2024 | down 20.2% | flat |
| 128 | Zimbabwe | 8.43 years | 2013 | down 5.0% | flat |
| 129 | Marshall Islands, Republic of the | 8.41 years | 2024 | down 18.3% | rising |
| 130 | Cameroon | 8.4 years | 2023 | down 4.9% | rising |
| 131 | Jamaica | 8.4 years | 2024 | up 1.0% | flat |
| 132 | Macau (China) | 8.37 years | 2024 | down 9.7% | falling |
| 133 | Palestine | 8.37 years | 2023 | down 9.5% | flat |
| 134 | Sri Lanka | 8.34 years | 2023 | down 5.0% | falling |
| 135 | Iraq | 8.32 years | 2023 | up 15.0% | rising |
| 136 | Comoros, Union of the | 8.32 years | 2022 | up 1.6% | rising |
| 137 | United Arab Emirates | 8.3 years | 2024 | up 15.8% | falling |
| 138 | India | 8.29 years | 2025 | down 4.1% | rising |
| 139 | Panama | 8.28 years | 2023 | down 7.2% | flat |
| 140 | Ukraine | 8.25 years | 2024 | down 6.9% | falling |
| 141 | Palau, Republic of | 8.25 years | 2024 | down 5.2% | falling |
| 142 | Bangladesh | 8.24 years | 2024 | up 3.8% | rising |
| 143 | Türkiye | 8.23 years | 2023 | down 7.9% | rising |
| 144 | Benin | 8.22 years | 2022 | down 1.4% | rising |
| 145 | Bermuda | 8.2 years | 2023 | down 9.8% | falling |
| 146 | Italy | 8.15 years | 2023 | down 0.3% | flat |
| 147 | Senegal | 8.13 years | 2023 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 148 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 8.11 years | 2021 | up 38.8% | rising |
| 149 | Austria | 8.1 years | 2024 | up 1.0% | flat |
| 150 | Paraguay | 8.09 years | 2024 | down 16.2% | falling |
| 151 | Tajikistan, Republic of | 8.07 years | 2017 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 152 | Samoa | 8.06 years | 2023 | down 2.5% | rising |
| 153 | Guatemala | 8.04 years | 2024 | down 1.3% | rising |
| 154 | Malaysia | 8.03 years | 2024 | down 6.7% | falling |
| 155 | Singapore | 8.03 years | 2023 | down 1.2% | flat |
| 156 | Hungary | 8.02 years | 2024 | up 0.5% | flat |
| 157 | Brunei Darussalam | 7.99 years | 2023 | down 6.0% | falling |
| 158 | Barbados | 7.97 years | 2024 | down 10.0% | falling |
| 159 | Chile | 7.92 years | 2024 | down 1.6% | flat |
| 160 | Puerto Rico | 7.91 years | 2024 | down 10.4% | falling |
| 161 | El Salvador | 7.88 years | 2024 | down 11.8% | flat |
| 162 | British Virgin Islands | 7.86 years | 2024 | down 20.8% | falling |
| 163 | Bahamas, The | 7.84 years | 2024 | down 9.0% | falling |
| 164 | Afghanistan, Islamic Republic of | 7.81 years | 2023 | up 15.5% | rising |
| 165 | Poland | 7.74 years | 2024 | down 13.1% | falling |
| 166 | Kenya | 7.7 years | 2023 | down 11.9% | rising |
| 167 | San Marino, Republic of | 7.59 years | 2024 | up 4.3% | flat |
| 168 | Bolivia | 7.57 years | 2024 | down 2.7% | falling |
| 169 | Romania | 7.55 years | 2023 | up 1.1% | flat |
| 170 | Serbia, Republic of | 7.47 years | 2024 | down 6.7% | flat |
| 171 | Angola | 7.27 years | 2023 | up 1.4% | rising |
| 172 | Burundi | 7.26 years | 2025 | down 26.0% | rising |
| 173 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 7.18 years | 2025 | down 15.6% | rising |
| 174 | Nigeria | 6.97 years | 2023 | up 3.9% | rising |
| 175 | Lebanon | 6.97 years | 2024 | up 4.0% | falling |
| 176 | Solomon Islands | 6.89 years | 2024 | down 24.0% | rising |
| 177 | Ethiopia, The Federal Democratic Republic of | 6.75 years | 2023 | down 3.8% | rising |
| 178 | Bulgaria | 6.75 years | 2024 | down 10.2% | falling |
| 179 | Moldova, Republic of | 6.71 years | 2024 | down 29.2% | flat |
| 180 | Guinea | 6.69 years | 2014 | up 36.0% | rising |
| 181 | Honduras | 6.62 years | 2024 | down 9.6% | falling |
| 182 | Micronesia, Federated States of | 6.59 years | 2024 | down 9.9% | falling |
| 183 | Burkina Faso | 6.59 years | 2024 | down 2.7% | rising |
| 184 | Syrian Arab Republic | 6.56 years | 2024 | up 16.2% | falling |
| 185 | Eritrea, The State of | 5.97 years | 2022 | up 4.5% | flat |
| 186 | Chad | 5.92 years | 2024 | up 2.4% | rising |
| 187 | Pakistan | 5.92 years | 2024 | up 34.0% | rising |
| 188 | Liberia | 5.78 years | 2022 | down 26.5% | flat |
| 189 | Yemen, Republic of | 5.68 years | 2016 | up 12.8% | rising |
| 190 | Central African Republic | 5.66 years | 2016 | up 68.8% | rising |
| 191 | Mali | 5.4 years | 2023 | down 6.8% | rising |
| 192 | Sudan | 5.4 years | 2019 | up 13.0% | rising |
| 193 | Niger | 4.8 years | 2024 | down 0.6% | rising |
| 194 | Djibouti | 4.78 years | 2023 | up 17.3% | rising |
| 195 | Equatorial Guinea, Republic of | 4.12 years | 2015 | down 4.1% | falling |
Regions and income groups
Aggregates are excluded from the country ranking above so that a region can never outrank a country.
- SDG: Australia and New Zealand 10.97 years
- ESCWA: Maghreb Subregion (unsdcode:98504) 10.04 years
- MDG: Caribbean 10.02 years
- ESCAP: Pacific (pac) (unsdcode:98418) 10 years
- AIMS: Pacific 10 years
- SDG: Oceania 10 years
- ALECSO: Maghreb Countries 9.95 years
- ECA: Amu (unsdcode:98111) 9.95 years
- ECA: Small Island States (unsdcode:98125) 9.59 years
- WB: Latin America & Caribbean (ida & Ibrd) 9.55 years
- ECLAC: Latin America (unsdcode:98302) 9.55 years
- WB: Latin America & Caribbean (excluding High Income) 9.55 years
About this data
February 2026 Data Release