Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years) in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years) was 3 years in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
3 years
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
91st
of 221 countries
All-time high
5 years
in 1988
All-time low
2 years
in 1999
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Sao Tome and Principe, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Sao Tome and Principe is 3 years, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 5 years in 1988 and was at its lowest, 2 years, in 1999.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 91st out of 221 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 56 years of available data.
Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years) in Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4 years | — |
| 1971 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 4 years | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 5 years | +25.0% |
| 1989 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 2 years | -60.0% |
| 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 | 3 years | +50.0% |
| 2007 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 3 years | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 3 years | +0.0% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 3 years is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3 years, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 3 years is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3 years, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4 years | 4 years | 4 years | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.2 years | 4 years | 5 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.7 years | 2 years | 5 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.4 years | 2 years | 3 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 3 years | 3 years | 3 years | 6 |
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More education data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 936 (2016)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 4,544 (2017)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4,458 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4,769 (2016)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25,875 (2017)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 37,172 (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.14 % change on previous year (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1796 units per person (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education in Sao Tome and Principe was 3 years in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest theoretical duration of lower secondary education recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 5 years in 1988.
- What is the lowest theoretical duration of lower secondary education recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 2 years in 1999.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for theoretical duration of lower secondary education?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 91st out of 221 countries with data for 2025.
- Is theoretical duration of lower secondary education rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe 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
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release