School life expectancy, primary, both sexes in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: School life expectancy, primary, both sexes was 6.7 years in 2017. ▲ Rising
Latest (2017)
6.7 years
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
43rd
of 218 countries
All-time high
7.62 years
in 2008
All-time low
4.05 years
in 1971
Years of data
37
1971–2017
School life expectancy, primary, both sexes in Sao Tome and Principe, 1971–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school life expectancy, primary, both sexes in Sao Tome and Principe is 6.7 years, measured in 2017.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school life expectancy, primary, both sexes in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 7.62 years in 2008 and was at its lowest, 4.05 years, in 1971.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 43rd out of 218 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.
School life expectancy, primary, both sexes in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 4.05 years | — |
| 1972 | 4.47 years | +10.2% |
| 1973 | 5.27 years | +17.9% |
| 1974 | 4.17 years | -20.9% |
| 1975 | 4.22 years | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 5.35 years | +26.8% |
| 1977 | 4.55 years | -14.9% |
| 1978 | 5.14 years | +12.9% |
| 1980 | 6.16 years | +19.8% |
| 1981 | 6.23 years | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 6.05 years | -2.8% |
| 1983 | 5.93 years | -2.0% |
| 1984 | 5.67 years | -4.4% |
| 1985 | 5.28 years | -6.9% |
| 1987 | 5.4 years | +2.4% |
| 1988 | 5.54 years | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 5.78 years | +4.3% |
| 1991 | 5.77 years | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 5.92 years | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 5.38 years | -9.1% |
| 1998 | 5.04 years | -6.4% |
| 1999 | 6.04 years | +19.9% |
| 2002 | 7.26 years | +20.1% |
| 2003 | 7.38 years | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 7.45 years | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 7.55 years | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 7.55 years | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 7.62 years | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 7.61 years | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 7.41 years | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 7.44 years | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 6.87 years | -7.6% |
| 2013 | 6.82 years | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 6.55 years | -3.9% |
| 2015 | 6.61 years | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 6.52 years | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 6.7 years | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.65 years | 4.05 years | 5.35 years | 8 |
| 1980s | 5.78 years | 5.28 years | 6.23 years | 8 |
| 1990s | 5.66 years | 5.04 years | 6.04 years | 6 |
| 2000s | 7.49 years | 7.26 years | 7.62 years | 7 |
| 2010s | 6.87 years | 6.52 years | 7.44 years | 8 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
- 40 Peru 6.76 years compare
- 41 Sweden 6.75 years compare
- 42 Afghanistan 6.74 years compare
- 44 Falkland Islands, Malvinas 6.7 years compare
- 45 Madagascar 6.68 years compare
- 46 Fiji 6.64 years compare
More education data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 936 (2016)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 4,544 (2017)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4,458 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4,769 (2016)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25,875 (2017)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 37,172 (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.14 % change on previous year (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1796 units per person (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school life expectancy, primary, both sexes in Sao Tome and Principe?
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes in Sao Tome and Principe was 6.7 years in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school life expectancy, primary, both sexes recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 7.62 years in 2008.
- What is the lowest school life expectancy, primary, both sexes recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.05 years in 1971.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for school life expectancy, primary, both sexes?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 43rd out of 218 countries with data for 2017.
- Is school life expectancy, primary, both sexes rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe 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