Start month of the academic school year (tertiary education) by country
February 2026 Data Release
Countries reporting
211
Highest
12 tertiary education
Central African Republic
Lowest
1 tertiary education
Zimbabwe
Median
9 tertiary education
Years covered
35
1991–2025
Data points
5,363
What the numbers show
Start month of the academic school year (tertiary education) is currently reported for 211 countries. The highest value is 12 tertiary education in Central African Republic; the lowest is 1 tertiary education in Zimbabwe.
The median across all reporting countries is 9 tertiary education, and the mean is 7.09 tertiary education.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 12.
Over the past decade 25 countries rose and 29 fell. The largest increase was in Tanzania, United Republic of (up 1,000.0%), and the largest decrease in Iraq (down 90.0%).
Start month of the academic school year: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central African Republic | 12 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 1 | Myanmar | 12 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 1 | Anguilla | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Montserrat | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 3 | Congo | 11 tertiary education | 2023 | up 10.0% | rising |
| 3 | Guinea | 11 tertiary education | 2023 | up 22.2% | flat |
| 3 | Madagascar | 11 tertiary education | 2023 | up 450.0% | volatile |
| 3 | Suriname | 11 tertiary education | 2022 | up 37.5% | rising |
| 3 | Togo | 11 tertiary education | 2022 | up 22.2% | rising |
| 3 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 11 tertiary education | 2024 | up 1,000.0% | volatile |
| 3 | Cook Islands | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | down 50.0% | rising |
| 3 | Niue | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | rising |
| 3 | Tokelau | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | rising |
| 9 | Albania | 10 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | rising |
| 9 | Benin | 10 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 9 | Burkina Faso | 10 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 9 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 9 | Côte d'Ivoire | 10 tertiary education | 2024 | up 11.1% | flat |
| 9 | Cameroon | 10 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 9 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 10 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 9 | Cape Verde | 10 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 9 | Djibouti | 10 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 9 | Egypt | 10 tertiary education | 2024 | up 11.1% | falling |
| 9 | Gabon | 10 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 9 | Guinea-Bissau | 10 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 9 | Haiti | 10 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 9 | Jordan | 10 tertiary education | 2024 | up 11.1% | rising |
| 9 | Liberia | 10 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 9 | Mali | 10 tertiary education | 2022 | down 9.1% | flat |
| 9 | Mauritania | 10 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 9 | Nepal | 10 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 9 | Senegal | 10 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 9 | Sierra Leone | 10 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 9 | Somalia | 10 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 9 | Sao Tome and Principe | 10 tertiary education | 2022 | up 11.1% | flat |
| 9 | Chad | 10 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | falling |
| 32 | Aruba | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | up 12.5% | rising |
| 32 | Angola | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | up 200.0% | volatile |
| 32 | Andorra | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | United Arab Emirates | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Armenia | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Antigua and Barbuda | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 32 | Austria | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 32 | Azerbaijan | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Burundi | 9 tertiary education | 2025 | up 800.0% | volatile |
| 32 | Belgium | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Bulgaria | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Bahrain | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Bahamas | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Belarus | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Barbados | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Canada | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | China | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Comoros | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | falling |
| 32 | Curaçao | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Cayman Islands | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Cyprus | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Czechia | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Germany | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 32 | Algeria | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Spain | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Estonia | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Ethiopia | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | France | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 32 | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Georgia | 9 tertiary education | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Gibraltar | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Gambia | 9 tertiary education | 2025 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Equatorial Guinea | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Greece | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Grenada | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | up 12.5% | flat |
| 32 | Guyana | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Hong Kong, China | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Croatia | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Hungary | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Indonesia | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | rising |
| 32 | Ireland | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | rising |
| 32 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Israel | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | down 10.0% | flat |
| 32 | Italy | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | falling |
| 32 | Jamaica | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | rising |
| 32 | Kazakhstan | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Kyrgyzstan | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Kuwait | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Libya | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | falling |
| 32 | Saint Lucia | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | up 12.5% | flat |
| 32 | Lithuania | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Luxembourg | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | rising |
| 32 | Latvia | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Macau, China | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | rising |
| 32 | Morocco | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Monaco | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Republic of Moldova | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | North Macedonia | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Malta | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Mongolia | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Malawi | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Niger | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | down 10.0% | falling |
| 32 | Nigeria | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | down 10.0% | falling |
| 32 | Oman | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Pakistan | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Philippines | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 32 | Palau | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | up 12.5% | falling |
| 32 | Poland | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Portugal | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | rising |
| 32 | Qatar | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Romania | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Russian Federation | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Rwanda | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | rising |
| 32 | Sudan | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | San Marino | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | down 10.0% | rising |
| 32 | Serbia | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | rising |
| 32 | Slovakia | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Slovenia | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Syrian Arab Republic | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Tajikistan | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Turkmenistan | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Trinidad and Tobago | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Tunisia | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | falling |
| 32 | Türkiye | 9 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Ukraine | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Uzbekistan | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | up 800.0% | volatile |
| 32 | British Virgin Islands | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | up 12.5% | flat |
| 32 | Viet Nam | 9 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 32 | Yemen | 9 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 126 | Belize | 8 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 126 | Bermuda | 8 tertiary education | 2023 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 126 | Switzerland | 8 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 126 | Denmark | 8 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 126 | Finland | 8 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 126 | Micronesia, Federated States of | 8 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | falling |
| 126 | Ghana | 8 tertiary education | 2024 | down 11.1% | falling |
| 126 | Iceland | 8 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 126 | Liechtenstein | 8 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 126 | Mexico | 8 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 126 | Marshall Islands | 8 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 126 | Netherlands | 8 tertiary education | 2023 | down 20.0% | falling |
| 126 | Norway | 8 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 126 | Puerto Rico | 8 tertiary education | 2023 | up 14.3% | falling |
| 126 | Saudi Arabia | 8 tertiary education | 2024 | down 11.1% | flat |
| 126 | Sint Maarten | 8 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 126 | Uganda | 8 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | falling |
| 143 | American Samoa | 7 tertiary education | 2009 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Bangladesh | 7 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Brunei Darussalam | 7 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 143 | Botswana | 7 tertiary education | 2023 | down 12.5% | falling |
| 143 | Eritrea | 7 tertiary education | 2022 | down 22.2% | falling |
| 143 | India | 7 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | rising |
| 143 | Mauritius | 7 tertiary education | 2024 | up 600.0% | falling |
| 143 | South Sudan | 7 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 143 | Sweden | 7 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 143 | United States of America | 7 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 153 | Dominica | 6 tertiary education | 2022 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 153 | Lesotho | 6 tertiary education | 2022 | down 14.3% | falling |
| 155 | Thailand | 5 tertiary education | 2024 | down 16.7% | flat |
| 156 | Argentina | 4 tertiary education | 2023 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 156 | Japan | 4 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 156 | Panama | 4 tertiary education | 2022 | up 33.3% | flat |
| 156 | Korea, Democratic People's Republic of | 4 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | falling |
| 156 | Singapore | 4 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | Afghanistan | 3 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | Bhutan | 3 tertiary education | 2024 | down 57.1% | volatile |
| 161 | Chile | 3 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | Republic of Korea | 3 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 161 | Peru | 3 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 161 | Uruguay | 3 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 167 | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | 2 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 167 | Brazil | 2 tertiary education | 2024 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 167 | Cuba | 2 tertiary education | 2024 | down 77.8% | falling |
| 167 | Fiji | 2 tertiary education | 2024 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 167 | Mozambique | 2 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | volatile |
| 167 | Tuvalu | 2 tertiary education | 2024 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 167 | Vanuatu | 2 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Australia | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Colombia | 1 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Costa Rica | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Dominican Republic | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | volatile |
| 174 | Ecuador | 1 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | volatile |
| 174 | Guatemala | 1 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | volatile |
| 174 | Honduras | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Iraq | 1 tertiary education | 2022 | down 90.0% | falling |
| 174 | Kenya | 1 tertiary education | 2022 | down 88.9% | falling |
| 174 | Cambodia | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | volatile |
| 174 | Kiribati | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | rising |
| 174 | Lebanon | 1 tertiary education | 2023 | down 90.0% | falling |
| 174 | Sri Lanka | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Maldives | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Montenegro | 1 tertiary education | 2023 | down 88.9% | falling |
| 174 | Malaysia | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Namibia | 1 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Nicaragua | 1 tertiary education | 2023 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 174 | Naoero | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | rising |
| 174 | New Zealand | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Papua New Guinea | 1 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Paraguay | 1 tertiary education | 2022 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 174 | Palestine, State of | 1 tertiary education | 2023 | down 88.9% | falling |
| 174 | Solomon Islands | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | rising |
| 174 | El Salvador | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Eswatini | 1 tertiary education | 2022 | down 87.5% | falling |
| 174 | Seychelles | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Timor-Leste | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | down 85.7% | falling |
| 174 | Tonga | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 174 | Samoa | 1 tertiary education | 2024 | down 50.0% | falling |
| 174 | South Africa | 1 tertiary education | 2023 | unchanged | flat |
| 174 | Zambia | 1 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | falling |
| 174 | Zimbabwe | 1 tertiary education | 2022 | unchanged | flat |
About this data
February 2026 Data Release