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
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.
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 (years): full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sierra Leone | 13.45 years | 2024 | up 50.1% | rising |
| 2 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 12.8 years | 2023 | up 12.6% | rising |
| 3 | Monaco | 12.04 years | 2024 | down 11.0% | flat |
| 4 | Bhutan | 12 years | 2024 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 5 | Namibia | 11.83 years | 2024 | up 2.4% | rising |
| 6 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 11.67 years | 2024 | up 2.0% | rising |
| 7 | Rwanda | 11.22 years | 2024 | up 12.5% | rising |
| 8 | Cook Islands | 11.2 years | 2024 | up 13.2% | rising |
| 9 | Australia | 11.18 years | 2024 | down 4.3% | flat |
| 10 | Eswatini | 11.17 years | 2016 | up 18.7% | rising |
| 11 | Antigua and Barbuda | 11.12 years | 2023 | down 2.7% | flat |
| 12 | Ireland | 11.07 years | 2022 | down 2.3% | flat |
| 13 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 11.04 years | 2024 | up 45.3% | rising |
| 14 | Tonga | 11 years | 2024 | down 15.1% | rising |
| 15 | Suriname | 10.89 years | 2023 | up 8.4% | flat |
| 16 | Montserrat | 10.82 years | 2023 | down 2.4% | rising |
| 17 | Grenada | 10.79 years | 2024 | up 0.8% | falling |
| 18 | Fiji | 10.77 years | 2024 | up 12.5% | rising |
| 19 | Niue | 10.74 years | 2024 | up 11.9% | rising |
| 20 | Aruba | 10.67 years | 2024 | up 4.0% | rising |
| 21 | Anguilla | 10.64 years | 2023 | up 8.6% | falling |
| 22 | Denmark | 10.54 years | 2024 | down 0.4% | rising |
| 23 | Maldives | 10.53 years | 2023 | up 3.8% | falling |
| 24 | Botswana | 10.44 years | 2022 | down 0.2% | flat |
| 25 | Venezuela | 10.36 years | 2024 | up 14.7% | rising |
| 26 | Sweden | 10.33 years | 2024 | down 0.4% | rising |
| 27 | Argentina | 10.33 years | 2023 | down 4.3% | flat |
| 28 | Tuvalu | 10.31 years | 2024 | down 0.4% | flat |
| 29 | Germany | 10.26 years | 2024 | up 2.1% | flat |
| 30 | Peru | 10.24 years | 2024 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 31 | Mexico | 10.23 years | 2024 | down 2.1% | rising |
| 32 | Morocco | 10.18 years | 2024 | up 15.4% | rising |
| 33 | Algeria | 10.17 years | 2024 | down 5.0% | rising |
| 34 | Cote d'Ivoire | 10.14 years | 2024 | up 55.0% | rising |
| 35 | Lithuania | 10.13 years | 2024 | up 0.2% | flat |
| 36 | Malawi | 10.11 years | 2023 | down 3.7% | rising |
| 37 | Vanuatu | 10.1 years | 2023 | down 3.5% | rising |
| 38 | Sao Tome and Principe | 10.09 years | 2017 | up 4.5% | rising |
| 39 | Netherlands | 10.06 years | 2023 | down 2.9% | flat |
| 40 | Norway | 10.01 years | 2024 | up 0.6% | flat |
| 41 | Andorra | 9.99 years | 2024 | up 13.6% | flat |
| 42 | Portugal | 9.99 years | 2023 | up 1.1% | falling |
| 43 | Zambia | 9.95 years | 2024 | up 14.9% | rising |
| 44 | Mauritius | 9.93 years | 2024 | up 8.7% | flat |
| 45 | Papua New Guinea | 9.91 years | 2023 | up 35.5% | rising |
| 46 | Uruguay | 9.89 years | 2023 | down 0.6% | flat |
| 47 | New Zealand | 9.87 years | 2024 | down 1.2% | flat |
| 48 | Nauru | 9.86 years | 2025 | up 3.4% | rising |
| 49 | Trinidad and Tobago | 9.85 years | 2024 | up 1.8% | rising |
| 50 | Iceland | 9.82 years | 2023 | down 0.6% | flat |
| 51 | Albania | 9.78 years | 2024 | up 5.6% | rising |
| 52 | Togo | 9.78 years | 2023 | down 2.0% | rising |
| 53 | Jordan | 9.78 years | 2024 | up 0.1% | rising |
| 54 | Dominica | 9.7 years | 2023 | down 5.5% | falling |
| 55 | Lesotho | 9.68 years | 2017 | down 6.1% | rising |
| 56 | Belize | 9.68 years | 2024 | down 6.1% | flat |
| 57 | Costa Rica | 9.66 years | 2024 | down 1.3% | rising |
| 58 | Saint Lucia | 9.61 years | 2024 | up 0.7% | flat |
| 59 | Uzbekistan | 9.59 years | 2025 | up 12.7% | flat |
| 60 | Cape Verde | 9.56 years | 2022 | down 3.0% | flat |
| 61 | Myanmar | 9.55 years | 2018 | up 22.7% | rising |
| 62 | Hong Kong | 9.54 years | 2024 | up 0.3% | flat |
| 63 | United Kingdom | 9.51 years | 2023 | down 0.6% | flat |
| 64 | Spain | 9.49 years | 2024 | down 2.0% | falling |
| 65 | Cyprus | 9.48 years | 2024 | up 6.4% | rising |
| 66 | Saudi Arabia | 9.47 years | 2024 | down 0.1% | falling |
| 67 | East Timor | 9.47 years | 2020 | down 8.7% | falling |
| 68 | Gibraltar | 9.47 years | 2024 | down 5.8% | rising |
| 69 | Colombia | 9.44 years | 2022 | down 7.3% | flat |
| 70 | Montenegro | 9.43 years | 2023 | up 7.8% | rising |
| 71 | Luxembourg | 9.41 years | 2024 | up 1.1% | flat |
| 72 | Nepal | 9.4 years | 2024 | down 7.0% | rising |
| 73 | Tunisia | 9.38 years | 2023 | down 1.0% | flat |
| 74 | Belgium | 9.38 years | 2023 | down 1.9% | flat |
| 75 | China | 9.35 years | 2012 | up 10.5% | rising |
| 76 | Brazil | 9.34 years | 2024 | down 2.0% | flat |
| 77 | Libya | 9.33 years | 2006 | down 10.6% | falling |
| 78 | Oman | 9.33 years | 2024 | down 3.6% | rising |
| 79 | Russia | 9.29 years | 2023 | up 9.0% | rising |
| 80 | Congo | 9.25 years | 2012 | up 24.2% | rising |
| 81 | Kuwait | 9.22 years | 2012 | up 17.4% | rising |
| 82 | Switzerland | 9.21 years | 2024 | down 1.0% | falling |
| 83 | France | 9.2 years | 2024 | up 1.4% | flat |
| 84 | Greece | 9.18 years | 2023 | up 4.1% | flat |
| 85 | Japan | 9.1 years | 2023 | up 0.6% | flat |
| 86 | Liechtenstein | 9.09 years | 2021 | down 3.0% | flat |
| 87 | Slovakia | 9.06 years | 2024 | up 3.8% | flat |
| 88 | Madagascar | 9.04 years | 2021 | up 3.1% | rising |
| 89 | South Africa | 9 years | 2023 | down 2.7% | rising |
| 90 | Thailand | 9 years | 2025 | down 4.6% | rising |
| 91 | Finland | 9 years | 2024 | down 0.0% | flat |
| 92 | Czechia | 8.98 years | 2023 | down 0.9% | flat |
| 93 | Slovenia | 8.97 years | 2023 | up 1.3% | rising |
| 94 | Mozambique | 8.97 years | 2017 | up 11.7% | rising |
| 95 | Gambia | 8.97 years | 2024 | up 31.2% | rising |
| 96 | South Korea | 8.97 years | 2024 | up 0.3% | flat |
| 97 | Georgia | 8.96 years | 2024 | down 6.2% | flat |
| 98 | Vietnam | 8.95 years | 2023 | up 4.3% | flat |
| 99 | Estonia | 8.91 years | 2024 | down 0.2% | falling |
| 100 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 8.91 years | 2023 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 101 | Iran | 8.9 years | 2023 | up 5.4% | rising |
| 102 | Latvia | 8.9 years | 2024 | down 1.7% | flat |
| 103 | Azerbaijan | 8.87 years | 2024 | up 3.5% | rising |
| 104 | Indonesia | 8.87 years | 2025 | down 5.7% | flat |
| 105 | Armenia | 8.86 years | 2024 | up 13.1% | rising |
| 106 | Ecuador | 8.85 years | 2023 | down 9.0% | rising |
| 107 | Malta | 8.85 years | 2023 | down 3.5% | falling |
| 108 | Philippines | 8.84 years | 2024 | down 0.7% | rising |
| 109 | Guyana | 8.82 years | 2024 | down 8.8% | falling |
| 110 | Israel | 8.81 years | 2024 | down 1.5% | flat |
| 111 | Qatar | 8.81 years | 2024 | up 1.0% | flat |
| 112 | Dominican Republic | 8.8 years | 2024 | up 10.1% | rising |
| 113 | Mauritania | 8.8 years | 2024 | up 19.7% | rising |
| 114 | United States | 8.79 years | 2022 | down 1.3% | flat |
| 115 | Nicaragua | 8.77 years | 2023 | down 7.9% | flat |
| 116 | Kazakhstan | 8.76 years | 2025 | up 3.5% | flat |
| 117 | Ghana | 8.76 years | 2024 | up 4.1% | rising |
| 118 | Cayman Islands | 8.74 years | 2024 | down 0.8% | falling |
| 119 | Bahrain | 8.74 years | 2024 | down 7.9% | flat |
| 120 | Croatia | 8.71 years | 2023 | up 4.0% | rising |
| 121 | Cambodia | 8.7 years | 2024 | up 2.2% | rising |
| 122 | Kyrgyzstan | 8.67 years | 2025 | up 2.6% | rising |
| 123 | Canada | 8.67 years | 2023 | down 3.6% | rising |
| 124 | Egypt | 8.64 years | 2024 | up 9.7% | rising |
| 125 | Kiribati | 8.64 years | 2024 | down 9.7% | rising |
| 126 | Tanzania | 8.61 years | 2021 | down 0.5% | rising |
| 127 | North Macedonia | 8.61 years | 2023 | up 3.3% | rising |
| 128 | Cuba | 8.6 years | 2024 | down 1.9% | flat |
| 129 | Belarus | 8.59 years | 2024 | down 4.4% | flat |
| 130 | Mongolia | 8.52 years | 2024 | down 1.6% | rising |
| 131 | Seychelles | 8.45 years | 2024 | down 20.2% | flat |
| 132 | Zimbabwe | 8.43 years | 2013 | down 5.0% | flat |
| 133 | Marshall Islands | 8.41 years | 2024 | down 18.3% | rising |
| 134 | Cameroon | 8.4 years | 2023 | down 4.9% | rising |
| 135 | Jamaica | 8.4 years | 2024 | up 1.0% | flat |
| 136 | Macao | 8.37 years | 2024 | down 9.7% | falling |
| 137 | Palestine | 8.37 years | 2023 | down 9.5% | flat |
| 138 | Sri Lanka | 8.34 years | 2023 | down 5.0% | falling |
| 139 | Iraq | 8.32 years | 2023 | up 15.0% | rising |
| 140 | Comoros | 8.32 years | 2022 | up 1.6% | rising |
| 141 | United Arab Emirates | 8.3 years | 2024 | up 15.8% | falling |
| 142 | India | 8.29 years | 2025 | down 4.1% | rising |
| 143 | Panama | 8.28 years | 2023 | down 7.2% | flat |
| 144 | Ukraine | 8.25 years | 2024 | down 6.9% | falling |
| 145 | Palau | 8.25 years | 2024 | down 5.2% | falling |
| 146 | Bangladesh | 8.24 years | 2024 | up 3.8% | rising |
| 147 | Turkey | 8.23 years | 2023 | down 7.9% | rising |
| 148 | Benin | 8.22 years | 2022 | down 1.4% | rising |
| 149 | Bermuda | 8.2 years | 2023 | down 9.8% | falling |
| 150 | Italy | 8.15 years | 2023 | down 0.3% | flat |
| 151 | Senegal | 8.13 years | 2023 | up 3.6% | rising |
| 152 | Democratic Republic of Congo | 8.11 years | 2021 | up 38.8% | rising |
| 153 | Austria | 8.1 years | 2024 | up 1.0% | flat |
| 154 | Paraguay | 8.09 years | 2024 | down 16.2% | falling |
| 155 | Tajikistan | 8.07 years | 2017 | up 3.2% | rising |
| 156 | Samoa | 8.06 years | 2023 | down 2.5% | rising |
| 157 | Guatemala | 8.04 years | 2024 | down 1.3% | rising |
| 158 | Malaysia | 8.03 years | 2024 | down 6.7% | falling |
| 159 | Singapore | 8.03 years | 2023 | down 1.2% | flat |
| 160 | Hungary | 8.02 years | 2024 | up 0.5% | flat |
| 161 | Brunei | 7.99 years | 2023 | down 6.0% | falling |
| 162 | Barbados | 7.97 years | 2024 | down 10.0% | falling |
| 163 | Chile | 7.92 years | 2024 | down 1.6% | flat |
| 164 | Puerto Rico | 7.91 years | 2024 | down 10.4% | falling |
| 165 | El Salvador | 7.88 years | 2024 | down 11.8% | flat |
| 166 | British Virgin Islands | 7.86 years | 2024 | down 20.8% | falling |
| 167 | Bahamas | 7.84 years | 2024 | down 9.0% | falling |
| 168 | Afghanistan | 7.81 years | 2023 | up 15.5% | rising |
| 169 | Poland | 7.74 years | 2024 | down 13.1% | falling |
| 170 | Kenya | 7.7 years | 2023 | down 11.9% | rising |
| 171 | San Marino | 7.59 years | 2024 | up 4.3% | flat |
| 172 | Bolivia | 7.57 years | 2024 | down 2.7% | falling |
| 173 | Romania | 7.55 years | 2023 | up 1.1% | flat |
| 174 | Serbia | 7.47 years | 2024 | down 6.7% | flat |
| 175 | Angola | 7.27 years | 2023 | up 1.4% | rising |
| 176 | Burundi | 7.26 years | 2025 | down 26.0% | rising |
| 177 | Laos | 7.18 years | 2025 | down 15.6% | rising |
| 178 | Nigeria | 6.97 years | 2023 | up 3.9% | rising |
| 179 | Lebanon | 6.97 years | 2024 | up 4.0% | falling |
| 180 | Solomon Islands | 6.89 years | 2024 | down 24.0% | rising |
| 181 | Ethiopia | 6.75 years | 2023 | down 3.8% | rising |
| 182 | Bulgaria | 6.75 years | 2024 | down 10.2% | falling |
| 183 | Moldova | 6.71 years | 2024 | down 29.2% | flat |
| 184 | Guinea | 6.69 years | 2014 | up 36.0% | rising |
| 185 | Honduras | 6.62 years | 2024 | down 9.6% | falling |
| 186 | Micronesia (country) | 6.59 years | 2024 | down 9.9% | falling |
| 187 | Burkina Faso | 6.59 years | 2024 | down 2.7% | rising |
| 188 | Syria | 6.56 years | 2024 | up 16.2% | falling |
| 189 | Eritrea | 5.97 years | 2022 | up 4.5% | flat |
| 190 | Tokelau | 5.96 years | 2025 | down 31.6% | falling |
| 191 | Chad | 5.92 years | 2024 | up 2.4% | rising |
| 192 | Pakistan | 5.92 years | 2024 | up 34.0% | rising |
| 193 | Liberia | 5.78 years | 2022 | down 26.5% | flat |
| 194 | Yemen | 5.68 years | 2016 | up 12.8% | rising |
| 195 | Central African Republic | 5.66 years | 2016 | up 68.8% | rising |
| 196 | Mali | 5.4 years | 2023 | down 6.8% | rising |
| 197 | Sudan | 5.4 years | 2019 | up 13.0% | rising |
| 198 | Niger | 4.8 years | 2024 | down 0.6% | rising |
| 199 | Djibouti | 4.78 years | 2023 | up 17.3% | rising |
| 200 | Equatorial Guinea | 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
- UNICEF: Latin America and Caribbean 9.54 years
- ECLAC: All Countries (unsdcode:98300) 9.54 years
- ESCAP: Latin America (lac) (unsdcode:98424) 9.54 years
- MDG: Latin America and the Caribbean 9.54 years
- SDG: Latin America and the Caribbean 9.54 years
- WB: Latin America & Caribbean 9.54 years
- UIS: Latin America and the Caribbean 9.54 years
- ESCAP: Wb High Income Economies (wb_high) (unsdcode:98436) 9.51 years
- MDG: Latin America 9.51 years
- UNESCO: Sids 9.48 years
- SDG: Small Island Developing States 9.46 years
- ECE: Euro Area (e25) (unsdcode:98204) 9.4 years
- WB: Euro Area 9.39 years
- UNICEF: Western Europe 9.32 years
- MDG: Northern Africa 9.27 years
- ESCWA: Arab Non-conflict and Non-ldc Middle Income Countries (unsdcode:98507) 9.24 years
- WB: Oecd Members 9.19 years
- SDG: Europe 9.15 years
- ECE: European Union (emu) (unsdcode:98203) 9.14 years
- WB: European Union 9.14 years
- WB: Upper Middle Income (july 2025) 9.13 years
- UIS: North America and Western Europe 9.12 years
- ECE: Eurasian Economic Union (eaeu) (unsdcode:98206) 9.12 years
- ESCAP: Europe (europe) (unsdcode:98423) 9.11 years
- WB: Post-demographic Dividend 9.1 years
- WB: High Income (july 2025) 9.09 years
- MDG: Developed Regions 9.08 years
- SDG: Europe, Northern America, Australia and New Zealand 9.07 years
About this data
February 2026 Data Release