Average years of schooling in Brazil
Brazil: Average years of schooling was 8.13 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Brazil, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average years of schooling in Brazil is 8.13 years, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Brazil peaked at 8.14 years in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.46 years, in 1870.
Brazil ranks 103rd of 162 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in Brazil, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.46 years | — |
| 1880 | 0.55 years | +19.6% |
| 1890 | 0.64 years | +16.4% |
| 1900 | 0.742 years | +15.9% |
| 1913 | 0.868 years | +17.0% |
| 1925 | 1.15 years | +32.0% |
| 1929 | 1.27 years | +10.8% |
| 1933 | 1.44 years | +13.8% |
| 1938 | 1.65 years | +14.1% |
| 1950 | 2.35 years | +42.8% |
| 1955 | 2.69 years | +14.2% |
| 1960 | 3.08 years | +14.6% |
| 1965 | 3.34 years | +8.5% |
| 1970 | 3.77 years | +12.8% |
| 1975 | 3.87 years | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 4.68 years | +20.9% |
| 1985 | 5.77 years | +23.3% |
| 1990 | 6.64 years | +15.1% |
| 1995 | 7.06 years | +6.3% |
| 2000 | 7.54 years | +6.8% |
| 2005 | 7.93 years | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 8.14 years | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 7.76 years | -4.7% |
| 2020 | 8.13 years | +4.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.46 years | 0.46 years | 0.46 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.55 years | 0.55 years | 0.55 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.64 years | 0.64 years | 0.64 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.742 years | 0.742 years | 0.742 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.868 years | 0.868 years | 0.868 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 1.21 years | 1.15 years | 1.27 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 1.55 years | 1.44 years | 1.65 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 2.52 years | 2.35 years | 2.69 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.21 years | 3.08 years | 3.34 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 3.82 years | 3.77 years | 3.87 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 5.22 years | 4.68 years | 5.77 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 6.85 years | 6.64 years | 7.06 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 7.74 years | 7.54 years | 7.93 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 7.95 years | 7.76 years | 8.14 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 8.13 years | 8.13 years | 8.13 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More education data for Brazil
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1.44 million (2011)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 2.71 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.59 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 21.50 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 15.11 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1454 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0713 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Brazil?
- Average years of schooling in Brazil was 8.13 years in 2020, according to Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling recorded in Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 8.14 years in 2010.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.46 years in 1870.
- How does Brazil rank for average years of schooling?
- Brazil ranks 103rd out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Brazil data come from?
- The figures come from Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years of total schooling (primary, secondary, and tertiary) for the population aged 15 and over.