Share of population with no formal education in United States of America
United States of America: Share of population with no formal education was 0.4% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population with no formal education in United States of America, 1870–2020
Source: Barro and Lee (2015); Lee and Lee (2016) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United States of America recorded 0.4% for share of population with no formal education in 2020.
The figure is up 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population with no formal education in United States of America peaked at 25.2% in 1870 and was at its lowest, 0.3%, in 2000.
United States of America ranks 97th 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 United States of America, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 25.2% | — |
| 1875 | 19.7% | -21.8% |
| 1880 | 14.6% | -25.9% |
| 1885 | 10.4% | -28.8% |
| 1890 | 8.4% | -19.2% |
| 1895 | 6.8% | -19.0% |
| 1900 | 5.7% | -16.2% |
| 1905 | 4.9% | -14.0% |
| 1910 | 4.7% | -4.1% |
| 1915 | 4.6% | -2.1% |
| 1920 | 4.6% | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 4.3% | -6.5% |
| 1930 | 3.7% | -14.0% |
| 1935 | 3.1% | -16.2% |
| 1940 | 2.6% | -16.1% |
| 1945 | 2.1% | -19.2% |
| 1950 | 1.7% | -19.0% |
| 1955 | 1.5% | -11.8% |
| 1960 | 1.2% | -20.0% |
| 1965 | 1.1% | -8.3% |
| 1970 | 1.0% | -9.1% |
| 1975 | 1.0% | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 0.6% | -40.0% |
| 1985 | 0.9% | +50.0% |
| 1990 | 1.0% | +11.1% |
| 1995 | 0.4% | -60.0% |
| 2000 | 0.3% | -25.0% |
| 2005 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 0.3% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 0.4% | +33.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 22.4% | 19.7% | 25.2% | 2 |
| 1880s | 12.5% | 10.4% | 14.6% | 2 |
| 1890s | 7.6% | 6.8% | 8.4% | 2 |
| 1900s | 5.3% | 4.9% | 5.7% | 2 |
| 1910s | 4.7% | 4.6% | 4.7% | 2 |
| 1920s | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.6% | 2 |
| 1930s | 3.4% | 3.1% | 3.7% | 2 |
| 1940s | 2.4% | 2.1% | 2.6% | 2 |
| 1950s | 1.6% | 1.5% | 1.7% | 2 |
| 1960s | 1.1% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 2 |
| 1970s | 1.0% | 1.0% | 1.0% | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.7% | 0.4% | 1.0% | 2 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 2 |
| 2010s | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More education data for United States of America
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0708 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population with no formal education in United States of America?
- Share of population with no formal education in United States of America was 0.4% 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 25.2% in 1870.
- What is the lowest share of population with no formal education recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3% in 2000.
- How does United States of America rank for share of population with no formal education?
- United States of America ranks 97th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population with no formal education rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States of America 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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About this data
The share of adults aged between 15 and 64 years old with no formal education.