Share of population with no formal education in Italy

Italy: Share of population with no formal education was 1.0% in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
1.0%
World rank
84th
of 111 countries
All-time high
71.9%
in 1870
All-time low
1.0%
in 2020
Years of data
31
1870–2020

Share of population with no formal education in Italy, 1870–2020

0204060801870194520201870: 71.9 %1875: 69.4 %1880: 65.3 %1885: 60.7 %1890: 56.4 %1895: 52.5 %1900: 48.2 %1905: 44.7 %1910: 43.3 %1915: 38.6 %1920: 33.7 %1925: 29.1 %1930: 26.4 %1935: 23 %1940: 18.2 %1945: 13.7 %1950: 11.6 %1955: 9.9 %1960: 7.8 %1965: 5.9 %1970: 4.1 %1975: 4.9 %1980: 5.3 %1985: 5.9 %1990: 4.8 %1995: 3.8 %2000: 2.6 %2005: 2 %2010: 1.5 %2015: 1.2 %2020: 1 %

Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

Italy recorded 1.0% for share of population with no formal education in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 31 years on record.

That represents a change of down 33.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of population with no formal education in Italy peaked at 71.9% in 1870 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 2020.

Italy ranks 84th of 111 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Share of population with no formal education in Italy, year by year

Annual values for Share of population with no formal education in Italy, 1870 to 2020.
Year % Change
1870 71.9%
1875 69.4% -3.5%
1880 65.3% -5.9%
1885 60.7% -7.0%
1890 56.4% -7.1%
1895 52.5% -6.9%
1900 48.2% -8.2%
1905 44.7% -7.3%
1910 43.3% -3.1%
1915 38.6% -10.9%
1920 33.7% -12.7%
1925 29.1% -13.6%
1930 26.4% -9.3%
1935 23.0% -12.9%
1940 18.2% -20.9%
1945 13.7% -24.7%
1950 11.6% -15.3%
1955 9.9% -14.7%
1960 7.8% -21.2%
1965 5.9% -24.4%
1970 4.1% -30.5%
1975 4.9% +19.5%
1980 5.3% +8.2%
1985 5.9% +11.3%
1990 4.8% -18.6%
1995 3.8% -20.8%
2000 2.6% -31.6%
2005 2.0% -23.1%
2010 1.5% -25.0%
2015 1.2% -20.0%
2020 1.0% -16.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1870s 70.7% 69.4% 71.9% 2
1880s 63.0% 60.7% 65.3% 2
1890s 54.5% 52.5% 56.4% 2
1900s 46.5% 44.7% 48.2% 2
1910s 41.0% 38.6% 43.3% 2
1920s 31.4% 29.1% 33.7% 2
1930s 24.7% 23.0% 26.4% 2
1940s 15.9% 13.7% 18.2% 2
1950s 10.8% 9.9% 11.6% 2
1960s 6.8% 5.9% 7.8% 2
1970s 4.5% 4.1% 4.9% 2
1980s 5.6% 5.3% 5.9% 2
1990s 4.3% 3.8% 4.8% 2
2000s 2.3% 2.0% 2.6% 2
2010s 1.4% 1.2% 1.5% 2
2020s 1.0% 1.0% 1.0% 1

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 81 Fiji 1.1% compare
  2. 81 France 1.1% compare
  3. 81 Switzerland 1.1% compare
  4. 84 Albania 1.0% compare
  5. 84 Chile 1.0% compare
  6. 84 Mauritius 1.0% compare
  7. 84 Romania 1.0% compare
  8. 84 Russia 1.0% compare

See the full ranking of 111 places →

More education data for Italy

All data for Italy →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of population with no formal education in Italy?
Share of population with no formal education in Italy was 1.0% in 2020, according to Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of population with no formal education recorded in Italy?
The highest recorded value was 71.9% in 1870.
What is the lowest share of population with no formal education recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 2020.
How does Italy rank for share of population with no formal education?
Italy ranks 84th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of population with no formal education rising or falling in Italy?
Over the last ten years it is down 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Italy data come from?
The figures come from Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population with no formal education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of population with no formal education in Italy. Statizoid, drawing on Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-population-15-years-and-older-with-no-education/italy/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of population with no formal education
Unit
%
Source
Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
111 places, 3,441 data points, 1870–2020
Last refreshed

The share of adults aged between 15 and 64 years old with no formal education.