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Theoretical duration of primary education in years in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Theoretical duration of primary education in years was 6 in 2025. ▬ Flat

Latest (2025)
6
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
5th
of 73 countries
All-time high
6
in 1970
All-time low
6
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025

Theoretical duration of primary education in years in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1970–2025

0246197019972025

Source: UNICEF.

Analysis

In 2025, theoretical duration of primary education in years in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 6. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is unchanged over ten years.

Over the whole period, theoretical duration of primary education in years in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 6 in 1970 and was at its lowest, 6, in 1970.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 5th of 73 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

Theoretical duration of primary education in years in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Year Value Change
1970 6 —
1971 6 +0.0%
1972 6 +0.0%
1973 6 +0.0%
1974 6 +0.0%
1975 6 +0.0%
1976 6 +0.0%
1977 6 +0.0%
1978 6 +0.0%
1979 6 +0.0%
1980 6 +0.0%
1981 6 +0.0%
1982 6 +0.0%
1983 6 +0.0%
1984 6 +0.0%
1985 6 +0.0%
1986 6 +0.0%
1987 6 +0.0%
1988 6 +0.0%
1989 6 +0.0%
1990 6 +0.0%
1991 6 +0.0%
1992 6 +0.0%
1993 6 +0.0%
1994 6 +0.0%
1995 6 +0.0%
1996 6 +0.0%
1997 6 +0.0%
1998 6 +0.0%
1999 6 +0.0%
2000 6 +0.0%
2001 6 +0.0%
2002 6 +0.0%
2003 6 +0.0%
2004 6 +0.0%
2005 6 +0.0%
2006 6 +0.0%
2007 6 +0.0%
2008 6 +0.0%
2009 6 +0.0%
2010 6 +0.0%
2011 6 +0.0%
2012 6 +0.0%
2013 6 +0.0%
2014 6 +0.0%
2015 6 +0.0%
2016 6 +0.0%
2017 6 +0.0%
2018 6 +0.0%
2019 6 +0.0%
2020 6 +0.0%
2021 6 +0.0%
2022 6 +0.0%
2023 6 +0.0%
2024 6 +0.0%
2025 6 +0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 6 6 6 10
1980s 6 6 6 10
1990s 6 6 6 10
2000s 6 6 6 10
2010s 6 6 6 10
2020s 6 6 6 6

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 2 Denmark 7 compare
  2. 2 Norway 7 compare
  3. 2 Iceland 7 compare
  4. 5 Malta 6 compare
  5. 5 Andorra 6 compare
  6. 5 Sweden 6 compare
  7. 5 Saudi Arabia 6 compare
  8. 5 Cyprus 6 compare
  9. 5 Greece 6 compare
  10. 5 Lebanon 6 compare
  11. 5 Qatar 6 compare
  12. 5 Estonia 6 compare
  13. 5 Yemen 6 compare
  14. 5 Jordan 6 compare
  15. 5 Netherlands 6 compare
  16. 5 Syria 6 compare
  17. 5 Morocco 6 compare
  18. 5 Luxembourg 6 compare
  19. 5 Georgia 6 compare
  20. 5 Iran, Islamic Republic of 6 compare
  21. 5 Libya 6 compare
  22. 5 Bahrain 6 compare
  23. 5 Finland 6 compare
  24. 5 Latvia 6 compare
  25. 5 Sudan 6 compare
  26. 5 Egypt 6 compare
  27. 5 Iraq 6 compare
  28. 5 Slovenia 6 compare
  29. 5 Switzerland 6 compare
  30. 5 Portugal 6 compare
  31. 5 Belgium 6 compare
  32. 5 Spain 6 compare
  33. 5 Tunisia 6 compare

See the full ranking of 73 places →

More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is theoretical duration of primary education in years in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Theoretical duration of primary education in years in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 6 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
What is the highest theoretical duration of primary education in years recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 6 in 1970.
What is the lowest theoretical duration of primary education in years recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 6 in 1970.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for theoretical duration of primary education in years?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 5th out of 73 countries with data for 2025.
Is theoretical duration of primary education in years rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Theoretical duration of primary education in years. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Theoretical duration of primary education in years in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on UNICEF. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/theoretical-duration-of-primary-education-in-years/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Theoretical duration of primary education in years
Source
UNICEF
Licence
UNICEF Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
73 places, 4,058 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed