School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (both) in Mali
Mali: School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (both) was 6.94 years in 2017. ◆ Volatile
School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Mali, 1971–2017
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
Mali recorded 6.94 years for school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in 2017.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Mali peaked at 7.25 years in 2011 and was at its lowest, 1.67 years, in 1987.
That places Mali 180th out of 186 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (both) in Mali, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1.68 years | — |
| 1974 | 1.84 years | +9.6% |
| 1975 | 1.84 years | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 1.92 years | +4.2% |
| 1977 | 2.03 years | +6.0% |
| 1978 | 2.1 years | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 2.17 years | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 2.15 years | -0.9% |
| 1982 | 1.97 years | -8.2% |
| 1983 | 1.92 years | -2.9% |
| 1984 | 1.87 years | -2.5% |
| 1985 | 1.79 years | -4.3% |
| 1987 | 1.67 years | -6.7% |
| 1989 | 1.89 years | +13.2% |
| 1990 | 1.89 years | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 1.96 years | +3.8% |
| 1992 | 2.1 years | +6.9% |
| 1993 | 2.3 years | +9.7% |
| 1995 | 2.75 years | +19.8% |
| 1996 | 2.98 years | +8.3% |
| 1997 | 3.32 years | +11.3% |
| 1998 | 3.6 years | +8.4% |
| 1999 | 3.99 years | +10.7% |
| 2000 | 4.2 years | +5.5% |
| 2008 | 6.66 years | +58.4% |
| 2009 | 6.93 years | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 7.11 years | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 7.25 years | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 6.89 years | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 7.04 years | +2.2% |
| 2015 | 6.85 years | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 6.9 years | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 6.94 years | +0.6% |
Mali compared with similar countries
- Mali's 6.94 years is below the median for low income countries, which is 8.16 years, 85% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
- Mali's 6.94 years is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.16 years, 68% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years) (both) in Mali changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | +58.4% | 4.2 years | 6.66 years |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.94 years | 1.68 years | 2.17 years | 7 |
| 1980s | 1.89 years | 1.67 years | 2.15 years | 7 |
| 1990s | 2.77 years | 1.89 years | 3.99 years | 9 |
| 2000s | 5.93 years | 4.2 years | 6.93 years | 3 |
| 2010s | 6.99 years | 6.85 years | 7.25 years | 7 |
Countries ranked near Mali
More education data for Mali
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 80,395 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 512,692 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 82,198 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 83,509 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.31 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.97 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.42 % change on previous year (2018)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1251 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Mali?
- School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes in Mali was 6.94 years in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in Mali?
- The highest recorded value was 7.25 years in 2011.
- What is the lowest school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes recorded in Mali?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.67 years in 1987.
- How does Mali rank for school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes?
- Mali ranks 180th out of 186 countries with data for 2017.
- Is school life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes rising or falling in Mali?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mali data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of School life expectancy, primary to tertiary, both sexes (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release