Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years) by country
Number of grades (years) in lower secondary education.
Countries reporting
209
Highest
6 years
Germany
Lowest
2 years
Zimbabwe
Median
3 years
Years covered
51
1970–2020
Data points
10,366
What the numbers show
Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years) is currently reported for 209 countries. The highest value is 6 years in Germany; the lowest is 2 years in Zimbabwe.
The median across all reporting countries is 3 years, and the mean is 3.38 years.
The gap between the highest and lowest reporting country is a factor of about 3.
Over the past decade 8 countries rose and 6 fell. The largest increase was in Oman (up 100.0%), and the largest decrease in Malta (down 40.0%).
Theoretical duration of lower secondary education: full country ranking
| # | Country | Latest | Year | 10-year change | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 6 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 1 | Lithuania | 6 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 1 | Oman | 6 years | 2020 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 1 | Turkmenistan | 6 years | 2020 | up 20.0% | rising |
| 5 | Armenia | 5 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 5 | Azerbaijan | 5 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 5 | Belarus | 5 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 5 | Kazakhstan | 5 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 5 | Kyrgyzstan | 5 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 5 | Republic of Moldova | 5 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 5 | Palestine, State of | 5 years | 2019 | down 16.7% | flat |
| 5 | Russia | 5 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 5 | Slovak Republic | 5 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 5 | Tajikistan | 5 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 5 | Tonga | 5 years | 2020 | up 25.0% | rising |
| 5 | Ukraine | 5 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 5 | Uzbekistan | 5 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Albania | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Andorra | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | United Arab Emirates | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 18 | American Samoa | 4 years | 2020 | — | rising |
| 18 | Australia | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 18 | Austria | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Burundi | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Benin | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Burkina Faso | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Bulgaria | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Belize | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Brazil | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Bhutan | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 18 | Central African Republic | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Côte d'Ivoire | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Cameroon | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Congo | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Colombia | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Comoros | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Czechia | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Djibouti | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Algeria | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Ethiopia | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 18 | Fiji | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | France | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Gabon | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Guinea | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 18 | Equatorial Guinea | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Croatia | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Hungary | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Jordan | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Kuwait | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Lao People's Democratic Republic | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 18 | Liechtenstein | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Sri Lanka | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 18 | Monaco | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Madagascar | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Marshall Islands | 4 years | 2020 | up 100.0% | rising |
| 18 | North Macedonia | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Myanmar | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Montenegro | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Mongolia | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 18 | Mauritania | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 18 | Malawi | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 18 | New Caledonia | 4 years | 2020 | — | flat |
| 18 | Niger | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Naoero | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 18 | New Zealand | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Philippines | 4 years | 2020 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 18 | French Polynesia | 4 years | 2020 | — | flat |
| 18 | Romania | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Senegal | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Serbia | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Suriname | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Chad | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Togo | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Türkiye | 4 years | 2020 | up 33.3% | rising |
| 18 | Tuvalu | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Tanzania, United Republic of | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Uganda | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 18 | Viet Nam | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 18 | Vanuatu | 4 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Afghanistan | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Angola | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Argentina | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Antigua and Barbuda | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Bangladesh | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Bahrain | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | Bahamas | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Bermuda | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Barbados | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Botswana | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | Canada | 3 years | 2020 | up 50.0% | falling |
| 81 | Switzerland | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | China (People’s Republic of) | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | Cape Verde | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Costa Rica | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Cuba | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Cayman Islands | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Cyprus | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Dominica | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Denmark | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Ecuador | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Egypt | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Eritrea | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | Spain | 3 years | 2020 | down 25.0% | rising |
| 81 | Estonia | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Finland | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | United Kingdom | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Georgia | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Ghana | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Gambia | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Guinea-Bissau | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Greece | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Grenada | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Guatemala | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Guyana | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Hong Kong, China | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Honduras | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Haiti | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Indonesia | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | India | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Ireland | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Iraq | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Iceland | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Israel | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Italy | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Jamaica | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Japan | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Cambodia | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Kiribati | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Korea | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Lebanon | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Liberia | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Libya | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Saint Lucia | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Lesotho | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Luxembourg | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Latvia | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Macau, China | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Morocco | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Maldives | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Mexico | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Mali | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Malta | 3 years | 2020 | down 40.0% | falling |
| 81 | Mozambique | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | Mauritius | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Malaysia | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Namibia | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Nigeria | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Nicaragua | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Netherlands | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Norway | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Nepal | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | Pakistan | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Panama | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Peru | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | Poland | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 81 | Puerto Rico | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Democratic People’s Republic of Korea | 3 years | 2019 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Portugal | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Paraguay | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Qatar | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Rwanda | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Saudi Arabia | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Sudan | 3 years | 2020 | up 50.0% | rising |
| 81 | Solomon Islands | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Sierra Leone | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | El Salvador | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | San Marino | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Sao Tome and Principe | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Slovenia | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Sweden | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Eswatini | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Seychelles | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Syrian Arab Republic | 3 years | 2020 | down 40.0% | rising |
| 81 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Thailand | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Timor-Leste | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Trinidad and Tobago | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Tunisia | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Uruguay | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | United States | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 81 | Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | British Virgin Islands | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 81 | United States Virgin Islands | 3 years | 2020 | — | flat |
| 81 | Yemen | 3 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | Aruba | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | Belgium | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 188 | Bolivia, Plurinational State of | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | Brunei Darussalam | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 188 | Chile | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | Curaçao | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | Dominican Republic | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
| 188 | Micronesia, Federated States of | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | Gibraltar | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 188 | Iran, Islamic Republic of | 2 years | 2020 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 188 | Kenya | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 188 | Palau | 2 years | 2020 | down 33.3% | falling |
| 188 | Papua New Guinea | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 188 | Singapore | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 188 | Somalia | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | South Sudan | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | Sint Maarten | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | Samoa | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | flat |
| 188 | South Africa | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 188 | Zambia | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | falling |
| 188 | Zimbabwe | 2 years | 2020 | unchanged | rising |
About this data
Number of grades (years) in lower secondary education.