Start month of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non-tertiary education) by country
February 2026 Data Release
Countries reporting
221
Highest
10
Benin
Lowest
1
Zimbabwe
Median
9
Years covered
31
1995–2025
Data points
6,340
What the numbers show
Start month of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non-tertiary education) is currently reported for 221 countries. The highest value is 10 in Benin; the lowest is 1 in Zimbabwe.
The median across all reporting countries is 9, and the mean is 7.02.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 10.
Over the past decade 23 countries rose and 14 fell. The largest increase was in Guinea (up 900.0%), and the largest decrease in Zambia (down 91.7%).
Start month of the academic school year: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benin | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 1 | Burkina Faso | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10 | 2025 | up 11.1% | falling |
| 1 | Central African Republic | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 1 | Côte d'Ivoire | 10 | 2025 | up 11.1% | falling |
| 1 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 10 | 2025 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 1 | Congo | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Comoros | 10 | 2025 | up 11.1% | falling |
| 1 | Germany | 10 | 2025 | up 11.1% | falling |
| 1 | Gabon | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Guinea | 10 | 2025 | up 900.0% | falling |
| 1 | Guinea-Bissau | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Haiti | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Cambodia | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Lebanon | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 1 | Madagascar | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Mali | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Niger | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Senegal | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Somalia | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Sao Tome and Principe | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Chad | 10 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Timor-Leste | 10 | 2025 | up 900.0% | volatile |
| 1 | Anguilla | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Montserrat | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Saint Helena | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 4 | Cook Islands | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 4 | Niue | 1 | 2025 | down 50.0% | rising |
| 4 | Tokelau | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 24 | Albania | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Andorra | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | United Arab Emirates | 9 | 2025 | up 12.5% | flat |
| 24 | Armenia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | American Samoa | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Antigua and Barbuda | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Austria | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Azerbaijan | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Burundi | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Belgium | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Bulgaria | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Bahrain | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Bahamas | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Belarus | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Belize | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Bermuda | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Barbados | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Canada | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | China | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Cameroon | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Cape Verde | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Cuba | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Cayman Islands | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 24 | Cyprus | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Czechia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Djibouti | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Dominica | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Algeria | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Egypt | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 24 | Eritrea | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Spain | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Estonia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Ethiopia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | France | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Georgia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Ghana | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 24 | Gibraltar | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Gambia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Equatorial Guinea | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Greece | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Grenada | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Guam | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Guyana | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Hong Kong | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Croatia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Hungary | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Iran | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Iraq | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 24 | Israel | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Italy | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Jamaica | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 24 | Jordan | 9 | 2025 | up 12.5% | flat |
| 24 | Kazakhstan | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Kyrgyzstan | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Kuwait | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Liberia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Libya | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Saint Lucia | 9 | 2025 | up 12.5% | flat |
| 24 | Lithuania | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Latvia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Macao | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Morocco | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Monaco | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Republic of Moldova | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Mexico | 9 | 2025 | up 12.5% | falling |
| 24 | Marshall Islands | 9 | 2025 | up 12.5% | falling |
| 24 | North Macedonia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Malta | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Montenegro | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Mongolia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Mauritania | 9 | 2025 | down 10.0% | falling |
| 24 | Nigeria | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Netherlands | 9 | 2025 | up 12.5% | falling |
| 24 | Oman | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Palau | 9 | 2025 | up 12.5% | falling |
| 24 | Poland | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | North Korea | 9 | 2025 | up 125.0% | falling |
| 24 | Palestine, State of | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | French Polynesia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Qatar | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Romania | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Russian Federation | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Saudi Arabia | 9 | 2025 | up 12.5% | falling |
| 24 | Sierra Leone | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 24 | San Marino | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Serbia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Slovakia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Slovenia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Syria | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Togo | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Tajikistan | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Turkmenistan | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Trinidad and Tobago | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Tunisia | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Türkiye | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Ukraine | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Uzbekistan | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | British Virgin Islands | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | United States Virgin Islands | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Viet Nam | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Yemen | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | French Guiana | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Guadeloupe | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Martinique | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Reunion | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Western Sahara | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 24 | Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 9 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 137 | Aruba | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 137 | Switzerland | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 137 | Denmark | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 137 | Dominican Republic | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 137 | Finland | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 137 | Micronesia (country) | 8 | 2025 | up 700.0% | falling |
| 137 | Ireland | 8 | 2025 | down 11.1% | rising |
| 137 | Iceland | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 137 | Liechtenstein | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 137 | Luxembourg | 8 | 2025 | down 11.1% | rising |
| 137 | Norway | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 137 | Puerto Rico | 8 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 137 | Portugal | 8 | 2025 | down 11.1% | rising |
| 137 | Suriname | 8 | 2025 | down 20.0% | rising |
| 137 | Sweden | 8 | 2025 | up 14.3% | falling |
| 152 | Curacao | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 152 | Indonesia | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 152 | Nepal | 7 | 2025 | up 75.0% | falling |
| 152 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 152 | United States | 7 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 157 | Myanmar | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 157 | Philippines | 6 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 157 | Sudan | 6 | 2025 | down 14.3% | falling |
| 160 | Thailand | 5 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | Ecuador | 4 | 2025 | down 55.6% | rising |
| 161 | India | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | Japan | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | Pakistan | 4 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | Peru | 4 | 2025 | up 33.3% | falling |
| 166 | Afghanistan | 3 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 166 | Brazil | 3 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 166 | Bhutan | 3 | 2025 | up 50.0% | falling |
| 166 | Chile | 3 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 166 | Republic of Korea | 3 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 166 | Lesotho | 3 | 2025 | up 200.0% | falling |
| 166 | Panama | 3 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 166 | Uruguay | 3 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Angola | 2 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 174 | Argentina | 2 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 174 | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | 2 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Colombia | 2 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Costa Rica | 2 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Paraguay | 2 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | South Sudan | 2 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 174 | Tonga | 2 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Uganda | 2 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Vanuatu | 2 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Samoa | 2 | 2025 | up 100.0% | falling |
| 185 | Australia | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 185 | Bangladesh | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 185 | Brunei Darussalam | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 185 | Botswana | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 185 | Fiji | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 185 | Guatemala | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 185 | Honduras | 1 | 2025 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 185 | Kenya | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 185 | Kiribati | 1 | 2025 | down 50.0% | rising |
| 185 | Sri Lanka | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 185 | Maldives | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 185 | Mozambique | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 185 | Mauritius | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 185 | Malawi | 1 | 2025 | down 88.9% | volatile |
| 185 | Malaysia | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 185 | Namibia | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 185 | Nicaragua | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | falling |
| 185 | Naoero | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 185 | New Zealand | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 185 | Papua New Guinea | 1 | 2025 | down 50.0% | rising |
| 185 | Rwanda | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 185 | Singapore | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 185 | Solomon Islands | 1 | 2025 | down 50.0% | rising |
| 185 | El Salvador | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 185 | Eswatini | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 185 | Seychelles | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 185 | Tuvalu | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 185 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | volatile |
| 185 | South Africa | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | rising |
| 185 | Zambia | 1 | 2025 | down 91.7% | volatile |
| 185 | Zimbabwe | 1 | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
About this data
February 2026 Data Release