School life expectancy, primary, both sexes (years) (School both) in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: School life expectancy, primary, both sexes (years) (School both) was 5.1 years in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
5.1 years
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
165th
of 218 countries
All-time high
6.85 years
in 2020
All-time low
0.9125 years
in 1971
Years of data
50
1971–2024
School life expectancy, primary, both sexes in Ethiopia, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2024, school life expectancy, primary, both sexes in Ethiopia stood at 5.1 years.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school life expectancy, primary, both sexes in Ethiopia peaked at 6.85 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.9125 years, in 1971.
Ethiopia ranks 165th of 218 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School life expectancy, primary, both sexes (years) (School both) in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 0.9125 years | — |
| 1972 | 0.9587 years | +5.1% |
| 1973 | 0.9853 years | +2.8% |
| 1974 | 1.07 years | +8.9% |
| 1975 | 1.16 years | +7.9% |
| 1976 | 1.27 years | +9.4% |
| 1977 | 1.33 years | +5.2% |
| 1978 | 1.28 years | -4.3% |
| 1979 | 1.5 years | +17.7% |
| 1980 | 1.96 years | +30.5% |
| 1981 | 2.31 years | +17.7% |
| 1982 | 2.46 years | +6.6% |
| 1983 | 2.52 years | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 2.44 years | -3.4% |
| 1985 | 2.28 years | -6.5% |
| 1986 | 2.24 years | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 2.56 years | +14.0% |
| 1988 | 2.6 years | +1.8% |
| 1989 | 2.49 years | -4.4% |
| 1990 | 2.14 years | -14.0% |
| 1991 | 1.93 years | -9.6% |
| 1992 | 1.56 years | -19.2% |
| 1993 | 1.36 years | -12.9% |
| 1994 | 1.68 years | +23.4% |
| 1995 | 1.93 years | +14.8% |
| 1996 | 2.31 years | +19.6% |
| 1997 | 2.46 years | +6.6% |
| 1998 | 3.28 years | +33.1% |
| 1999 | 3.14 years | -4.0% |
| 2000 | 3.35 years | +6.6% |
| 2001 | 3.68 years | +9.8% |
| 2002 | 3.83 years | +4.1% |
| 2003 | 3.9 years | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 4.05 years | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 4.67 years | +15.4% |
| 2006 | 4.96 years | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 5.32 years | +7.3% |
| 2008 | 5.66 years | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 5.57 years | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 5.47 years | -1.8% |
| 2011 | 5.56 years | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 5.49 years | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 5.65 years | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 5.7 years | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 6.12 years | +7.4% |
| 2020 | 6.85 years | +11.9% |
| 2021 | 6.15 years | -10.1% |
| 2022 | 5.09 years | -17.2% |
| 2023 | 5.06 years | -0.7% |
| 2024 | 5.1 years | +0.8% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 5.1 years is below the median for low income countries, which is 5.81 years, 88% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 5.1 years is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 6.13 years, 83% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.16 years | 0.9125 years | 1.5 years | 9 |
| 1980s | 2.39 years | 1.96 years | 2.6 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.18 years | 1.36 years | 3.28 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.5 years | 3.35 years | 5.66 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.66 years | 5.47 years | 6.12 years | 6 |
| 2020s | 5.65 years | 5.06 years | 6.85 years | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 162 Italy 5.14 years compare
- 163 British Virgin Islands 5.13 years compare
- 164 Senegal 5.13 years compare
- 166 Solomon Islands 5.05 years compare
- 167 Bosnia and Herzegovina 5.04 years compare
- 168 Syria 5 years compare
More education data for Ethiopia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 272,545 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 900,151 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.32 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.16 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.03 million (2015)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.93 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.45 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1206 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school life expectancy, primary, both sexes in Ethiopia?
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes in Ethiopia was 5.1 years in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school life expectancy, primary, both sexes recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.85 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest school life expectancy, primary, both sexes recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9125 years in 1971.
- How does Ethiopia rank for school life expectancy, primary, both sexes?
- Ethiopia ranks 165th out of 218 countries with data for 2024.
- Is school life expectancy, primary, both sexes rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ethiopia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School life expectancy, primary, both sexes (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release