Theoretical duration of primary education (years) in France
France: Theoretical duration of primary education (years) was 5 years in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
5 years
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
162nd
of 224 countries
All-time high
5 years
in 1970
All-time low
5 years
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Theoretical duration of primary education in France, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2025, theoretical duration of primary education in France stood at 5 years. 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 France peaked at 5 years in 1970 and was at its lowest, 5 years, in 1970.
France ranks 162nd of 224 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Theoretical duration of primary education (years) in France, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 5 years | — |
| 1971 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 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 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 5 years | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 5 years | +0.0% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 5 years is below the median for high income countries, which is 6 years, 83% of the median. (80 countries reporting)
- France's 5 years is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5 years, 1.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 10 |
| 1980s | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 6 |
Countries ranked near France
- 162 Albania 5 years compare
- 162 Bangladesh 5 years compare
- 162 Bosnia and Herzegovina 5 years compare
- 162 Brazil 5 years compare
- 162 Colombia 5 years compare
- 162 Comoros 5 years compare
- 162 Czechia 5 years compare
- 162 Djibouti 5 years compare
- 162 Algeria 5 years compare
- 162 Eritrea 5 years compare
- 162 Western Sahara 5 years compare
- 162 Gabon 5 years compare
- 162 Guadeloupe 5 years compare
- 162 French Guiana 5 years compare
- 162 India 5 years compare
- 162 Italy 5 years compare
- 162 Kuwait 5 years compare
- 162 Laos 5 years compare
- 162 Liechtenstein 5 years compare
- 162 Sri Lanka 5 years compare
- 162 Monaco 5 years compare
- 162 Madagascar 5 years compare
- 162 North Macedonia 5 years compare
- 162 Myanmar 5 years compare
- 162 Montenegro 5 years compare
- 162 Mongolia 5 years compare
- 162 Martinique 5 years compare
- 162 New Caledonia 5 years compare
- 162 Nepal 5 years compare
- 162 Pakistan 5 years compare
- 162 North Korea 5 years compare
- 162 French Polynesia 5 years compare
- 162 Reunion 5 years compare
- 162 Romania 5 years compare
- 162 San Marino 5 years compare
- 162 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 5 years compare
- 162 Vietnam 5 years compare
More education data for France
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 457,956 (2019)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 43,533 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.19 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.14 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.27 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.13 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0602 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is theoretical duration of primary education in France?
- Theoretical duration of primary education in France was 5 years in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest theoretical duration of primary education recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 5 years in 1970.
- What is the lowest theoretical duration of primary education recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 5 years in 1970.
- How does France rank for theoretical duration of primary education?
- France ranks 162nd out of 224 countries with data for 2025.
- Is theoretical duration of primary education rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this France data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Theoretical duration of primary education (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release