Average years of schooling in Guatemala
Guatemala: Average years of schooling was 5.68 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Guatemala, 1913–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2020, average years of schooling in Guatemala stood at 5.68 years.
That represents a change of up 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Guatemala peaked at 6.3 years in 2015 and was at its lowest, 1.09 years, in 1913.
Guatemala ranks 129th 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 Guatemala, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1913 | 1.09 years | — |
| 1925 | 1.15 years | +5.3% |
| 1929 | 1.2 years | +4.6% |
| 1933 | 1.33 years | +10.4% |
| 1938 | 1.42 years | +7.2% |
| 1950 | 1.68 years | +18.3% |
| 1955 | 1.77 years | +5.1% |
| 1960 | 1.84 years | +4.2% |
| 1965 | 1.82 years | -1.0% |
| 1970 | 2 years | +9.8% |
| 1975 | 2.11 years | +5.3% |
| 1980 | 2.8 years | +32.9% |
| 1985 | 3.37 years | +20.3% |
| 1990 | 4.01 years | +19.1% |
| 1995 | 4.45 years | +10.9% |
| 2000 | 4.92 years | +10.6% |
| 2005 | 4.77 years | -3.0% |
| 2010 | 5.5 years | +15.3% |
| 2015 | 6.3 years | +14.6% |
| 2020 | 5.68 years | -9.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 1.09 years | 1.09 years | 1.09 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 1.17 years | 1.15 years | 1.2 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 1.37 years | 1.33 years | 1.42 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 1.72 years | 1.68 years | 1.77 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 1.83 years | 1.82 years | 1.84 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 2.05 years | 2 years | 2.11 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 3.08 years | 2.8 years | 3.37 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 4.23 years | 4.01 years | 4.45 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 4.85 years | 4.77 years | 4.92 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 5.9 years | 5.5 years | 6.3 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 5.68 years | 5.68 years | 5.68 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Guatemala
More education data for Guatemala
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 247,917 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 335,306 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 328,468 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.13 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.42 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.3948 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1317 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 Guatemala?
- Average years of schooling in Guatemala was 5.68 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 Guatemala?
- The highest recorded value was 6.3 years in 2015.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Guatemala?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.09 years in 1913.
- How does Guatemala rank for average years of schooling?
- Guatemala ranks 129th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Guatemala?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Guatemala 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.