Average years of schooling in Cameroon
Cameroon: Average years of schooling was 6.15 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Cameroon, 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 Cameroon is 6.15 years, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Cameroon peaked at 6.15 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.1 years, in 1870.
That places Cameroon 124th out of 162 countries with data for 2020, putting it 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 Cameroon, 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 | 0.1477 years | +47.7% |
| 1938 | 0.26 years | +76.0% |
| 1950 | 0.61 years | +134.6% |
| 1955 | 0.9732 years | +59.5% |
| 1960 | 1.37 years | +40.8% |
| 1965 | 1.61 years | +17.4% |
| 1970 | 1.88 years | +16.9% |
| 1975 | 2.46 years | +30.8% |
| 1980 | 3.05 years | +24.0% |
| 1985 | 3.57 years | +17.1% |
| 1990 | 4.1 years | +14.8% |
| 1995 | 4.46 years | +8.7% |
| 2000 | 4.66 years | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 5.25 years | +12.7% |
| 2010 | 5.91 years | +12.5% |
| 2015 | 6.11 years | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 6.15 years | +0.7% |
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 | 0.2038 years | 0.1477 years | 0.26 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 0.7916 years | 0.61 years | 0.9732 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 1.49 years | 1.37 years | 1.61 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 2.17 years | 1.88 years | 2.46 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 3.31 years | 3.05 years | 3.57 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 4.28 years | 4.1 years | 4.46 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 4.96 years | 4.66 years | 5.25 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 6.01 years | 5.91 years | 6.11 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 6.15 years | 6.15 years | 6.15 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
- 121 Tanzania, United Republic of 6.37 years compare
- 122 Sao Tome and Principe 6.22 years compare
- 123 Congo 6.17 years compare
- 125 Lesotho 6.01 years compare
- 126 Morocco 5.92 years compare
- 127 Equatorial Guinea 5.91 years compare
More education data for Cameroon
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 5.29 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.6 % 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 0.1816 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 5.29 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 2.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.1816 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 2.51 million (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Cameroon?
- Average years of schooling in Cameroon was 6.15 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 Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 6.15 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1 years in 1870.
- How does Cameroon rank for average years of schooling?
- Cameroon ranks 124th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Cameroon 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.