Average years of schooling in Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso: Average years of schooling was 2.11 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
2.11 years
World rank
162nd
of 162 countries
All-time high
2.11 years
in 2020
All-time low
0.1 years
in 1870
Years of data
24
1870–2020
Average years of schooling in Burkina Faso, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Burkina Faso recorded 2.11 years for average years of schooling in 2020. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 48.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Burkina Faso peaked at 2.11 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.1 years, in 1870.
Burkina Faso ranks 162nd of 162 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in Burkina Faso, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.1 years | — |
| 1880 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 0.1588 years | +58.8% |
| 1980 | 0.2179 years | +37.2% |
| 1985 | 0.322 years | +47.8% |
| 1990 | 0.4262 years | +32.3% |
| 1995 | 0.6551 years | +53.7% |
| 2000 | 0.8841 years | +34.9% |
| 2005 | 1.16 years | +30.8% |
| 2010 | 1.43 years | +23.5% |
| 2015 | 1.44 years | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 2.11 years | +46.7% |
Burkina Faso compared with similar countries
- Burkina Faso's 2.11 years is below the median for low income countries, which is 4.08 years, 52% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Burkina Faso's 2.11 years is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.16 years, 41% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.1294 years | 0.1 years | 0.1588 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 0.27 years | 0.2179 years | 0.322 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 0.5406 years | 0.4262 years | 0.6551 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 1.02 years | 0.8841 years | 1.16 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 1.43 years | 1.43 years | 1.44 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 2.11 years | 2.11 years | 2.11 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Burkina Faso
More education data for Burkina Faso
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 68,557 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 105,439 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 78,072 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 75,598 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.19 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 8.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1303 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Burkina Faso?
- Average years of schooling in Burkina Faso was 2.11 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 Burkina Faso?
- The highest recorded value was 2.11 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Burkina Faso?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1 years in 1870.
- How does Burkina Faso rank for average years of schooling?
- Burkina Faso ranks 162nd out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Burkina Faso?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Burkina Faso 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.