Average years of schooling in Gambia
Gambia: Average years of schooling was 4.64 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Gambia, 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 Gambia is 4.64 years, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 28.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Gambia peaked at 4.64 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.1 years, in 1870.
Gambia ranks 143rd 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 Gambia, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.1 years | — |
| 1880 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.1426 years | +42.6% |
| 1913 | 0.1782 years | +25.0% |
| 1925 | 0.1782 years | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 0.1797 years | +0.8% |
| 1933 | 0.1803 years | +0.4% |
| 1938 | 0.1877 years | +4.1% |
| 1950 | 0.2946 years | +57.0% |
| 1955 | 0.3853 years | +30.8% |
| 1960 | 0.485 years | +25.9% |
| 1965 | 0.5413 years | +11.6% |
| 1970 | 0.5975 years | +10.4% |
| 1975 | 0.7608 years | +27.3% |
| 1980 | 1.01 years | +32.4% |
| 1985 | 1.36 years | +35.3% |
| 1990 | 1.91 years | +40.3% |
| 1995 | 2.57 years | +34.6% |
| 2000 | 2.7 years | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 3.19 years | +18.3% |
| 2010 | 3.6 years | +12.7% |
| 2015 | 3.29 years | -8.5% |
| 2020 | 4.64 years | +40.9% |
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 | 0.1426 years | 0.1426 years | 0.1426 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.1782 years | 0.1782 years | 0.1782 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 0.1789 years | 0.1782 years | 0.1797 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 0.184 years | 0.1803 years | 0.1877 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 0.34 years | 0.2946 years | 0.3853 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.5131 years | 0.485 years | 0.5413 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.6792 years | 0.5975 years | 0.7608 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 1.19 years | 1.01 years | 1.36 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 2.24 years | 1.91 years | 2.57 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 2.95 years | 2.7 years | 3.19 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 3.44 years | 3.29 years | 3.6 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 4.64 years | 4.64 years | 4.64 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Gambia
More education data for Gambia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 12,452 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 16,389 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 71,238 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 77,061 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 369,783 (2021)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 442,901 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1569 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Gambia?
- Average years of schooling in Gambia was 4.64 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 Gambia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.64 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Gambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1 years in 1870.
- How does Gambia rank for average years of schooling?
- Gambia ranks 143rd out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Gambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Gambia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Average number of years of total schooling (primary, secondary, and tertiary) for the population aged 15 and over.