Average years of schooling in Italy
Italy: Average years of schooling was 10.74 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Italy, 1870–2020
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 Italy stood at 10.74 years.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Italy peaked at 10.95 years in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.84 years, in 1870.
That places Italy 63rd out of 162 countries with data for 2020, putting it 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 Italy, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.84 years | — |
| 1880 | 1.33 years | +58.3% |
| 1890 | 1.86 years | +39.8% |
| 1900 | 2.38 years | +28.0% |
| 1913 | 2.84 years | +19.3% |
| 1925 | 3.75 years | +31.9% |
| 1929 | 3.94 years | +5.2% |
| 1933 | 4.21 years | +6.8% |
| 1938 | 4.38 years | +4.1% |
| 1950 | 4.97 years | +13.5% |
| 1955 | 5.2 years | +4.5% |
| 1960 | 5.52 years | +6.2% |
| 1965 | 6.01 years | +8.9% |
| 1970 | 6.6 years | +9.8% |
| 1975 | 7.22 years | +9.4% |
| 1980 | 7.84 years | +8.6% |
| 1985 | 8.41 years | +7.3% |
| 1990 | 9.09 years | +8.1% |
| 1995 | 9.69 years | +6.5% |
| 2000 | 10.28 years | +6.1% |
| 2005 | 10.56 years | +2.7% |
| 2010 | 10.95 years | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 10.87 years | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 10.74 years | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.84 years | 0.84 years | 0.84 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 1.33 years | 1.33 years | 1.33 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 1.86 years | 1.86 years | 1.86 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 2.38 years | 2.38 years | 2.38 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 2.84 years | 2.84 years | 2.84 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 3.84 years | 3.75 years | 3.94 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 4.29 years | 4.21 years | 4.38 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 5.08 years | 4.97 years | 5.2 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 5.76 years | 5.52 years | 6.01 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 6.91 years | 6.6 years | 7.22 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 8.13 years | 7.84 years | 8.41 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 9.39 years | 9.09 years | 9.69 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 10.42 years | 10.28 years | 10.56 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 10.91 years | 10.87 years | 10.95 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 10.74 years | 10.74 years | 10.74 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More education data for Italy
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 423,797 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 6,592 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 667,641 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 620,157 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.63 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.167 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0445 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Italy?
- Average years of schooling in Italy was 10.74 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 10.95 years in 2010.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.84 years in 1870.
- How does Italy rank for average years of schooling?
- Italy ranks 63rd out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy 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.