School life expectancy, secondary, both sexes (years) (life both) in Ethiopia
Ethiopia: School life expectancy, secondary, both sexes (years) (life both) was 2.05 years in 2015. ◆ Volatile
School life expectancy, secondary, both sexes in Ethiopia, 1971–2015
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
Ethiopia recorded 2.05 years for school life expectancy, secondary, both sexes in 2015.
The figure is down 5.8% on the previous year and up 41.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school life expectancy, secondary, both sexes in Ethiopia peaked at 2.17 years in 2012 and was at its lowest, 0.246 years, in 1971.
That places Ethiopia 204th out of 214 countries with data for 2015, 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, secondary, both sexes (years) (life both) in Ethiopia, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 0.246 years | — |
| 1972 | 0.2636 years | +7.2% |
| 1973 | 0.289 years | +9.6% |
| 1974 | 0.3146 years | +8.9% |
| 1984 | 0.6978 years | +121.8% |
| 1986 | 0.7516 years | +7.7% |
| 1987 | 0.8268 years | +10.0% |
| 1988 | 0.9092 years | +10.0% |
| 1989 | 0.9092 years | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 0.8322 years | -8.5% |
| 1992 | 0.7183 years | -13.7% |
| 1993 | 0.6391 years | -11.0% |
| 1994 | 0.6197 years | -3.0% |
| 1995 | 0.629 years | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 0.6642 years | +5.6% |
| 1999 | 0.8019 years | +20.7% |
| 2000 | 0.8946 years | +11.6% |
| 2001 | 1.05 years | +17.4% |
| 2002 | 1.16 years | +10.2% |
| 2003 | 1.18 years | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 1.3 years | +10.2% |
| 2005 | 1.44 years | +11.5% |
| 2006 | 1.69 years | +16.8% |
| 2007 | 1.86 years | +10.2% |
| 2008 | 1.93 years | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 1.95 years | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 2.02 years | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 2.07 years | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 2.17 years | +5.1% |
| 2015 | 2.05 years | -5.8% |
Ethiopia compared with similar countries
- Ethiopia's 2.05 years is below the median for low income countries, which is 2.3 years, 89% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Ethiopia's 2.05 years is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.05 years, 67% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where School life expectancy, secondary, both sexes (years) (life both) in Ethiopia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | +121.8% | 0.3146 years | 0.6978 years |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.2783 years | 0.246 years | 0.3146 years | 4 |
| 1980s | 0.8189 years | 0.6978 years | 0.9092 years | 5 |
| 1990s | 0.7006 years | 0.6197 years | 0.8322 years | 7 |
| 2000s | 1.44 years | 0.8946 years | 1.95 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.08 years | 2.02 years | 2.17 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ethiopia
- 201 Malawi 2.3 years compare
- 202 Burkina Faso 2.21 years compare
- 203 Sudan 2.18 years compare
- 205 Mozambique 1.96 years compare
- 206 Burundi 1.79 years compare
- 207 Guinea-Bissau 1.72 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, secondary, both sexes in Ethiopia?
- School life expectancy, secondary, both sexes in Ethiopia was 2.05 years in 2015, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school life expectancy, secondary, both sexes recorded in Ethiopia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.17 years in 2012.
- What is the lowest school life expectancy, secondary, both sexes recorded in Ethiopia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.246 years in 1971.
- How does Ethiopia rank for school life expectancy, secondary, both sexes?
- Ethiopia ranks 204th out of 214 countries with data for 2015.
- Is school life expectancy, secondary, both sexes rising or falling in Ethiopia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 41.6%. 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, secondary, both sexes (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release