Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years) in Belgium
Belgium: Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years) was 2 years in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
2 years
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
205th
of 221 countries
All-time high
3 years
in 1970
All-time low
2 years
in 1993
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Belgium, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Belgium is 2 years, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Belgium peaked at 3 years in 1970 and was at its lowest, 2 years, in 1993.
That places Belgium 205th out of 221 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 56 years of available data.
Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years) in Belgium, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 3 years | — |
| 1971 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 2 years | -33.3% |
| 1994 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 2 years | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 2 years | +0.0% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 2 years is below the median for high income countries, which is 3 years, 67% of the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 2 years is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4 years, 50% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 10 |
| 1980s | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.3 years | 2 years | 3 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 205 Aruba 2 years compare
- 205 Bolivia 2 years compare
- 205 Brunei 2 years compare
- 205 Chile 2 years compare
- 205 Democratic Republic of Congo 2 years compare
- 205 Micronesia (country) 2 years compare
- 205 Kenya 2 years compare
- 205 Marshall Islands 2 years compare
- 205 Palau 2 years compare
- 205 Singapore 2 years compare
- 205 South Sudan 2 years compare
- 205 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 2 years compare
- 205 Samoa 2 years compare
- 205 South Africa 2 years compare
- 205 Zambia 2 years compare
- 205 Zimbabwe 2 years compare
More education data for Belgium
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 137,795 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 17,384 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 221,494 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 210,503 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.18 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 814,388 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1356 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0691 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Belgium?
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Belgium was 2 years in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest theoretical duration of lower secondary education recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 3 years in 1970.
- What is the lowest theoretical duration of lower secondary education recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 2 years in 1993.
- How does Belgium rank for theoretical duration of lower secondary education?
- Belgium ranks 205th out of 221 countries with data for 2025.
- Is theoretical duration of lower secondary education rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release