Average years of schooling in Japan
Japan: Average years of schooling was 13.37 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Japan, 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 Japan stood at 13.37 years. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Japan peaked at 13.37 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.97 years, in 1870.
Japan ranks 9th of 162 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in Japan, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.97 years | — |
| 1880 | 1.13 years | +16.5% |
| 1890 | 1.54 years | +36.3% |
| 1900 | 2.18 years | +41.6% |
| 1913 | 2.88 years | +32.1% |
| 1925 | 4.39 years | +52.3% |
| 1929 | 4.95 years | +12.9% |
| 1933 | 5.46 years | +10.3% |
| 1938 | 5.83 years | +6.7% |
| 1950 | 6.75 years | +15.8% |
| 1955 | 7.63 years | +13.1% |
| 1960 | 8.63 years | +13.1% |
| 1965 | 9.01 years | +4.4% |
| 1970 | 10.14 years | +12.6% |
| 1975 | 10.48 years | +3.4% |
| 1980 | 11.04 years | +5.3% |
| 1985 | 11.65 years | +5.5% |
| 1990 | 11.84 years | +1.7% |
| 1995 | 12.42 years | +4.9% |
| 2000 | 12.69 years | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 12.95 years | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 13.15 years | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 12.46 years | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 13.37 years | +7.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.97 years | 0.97 years | 0.97 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 1.13 years | 1.13 years | 1.13 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 1.54 years | 1.54 years | 1.54 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 2.18 years | 2.18 years | 2.18 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 2.88 years | 2.88 years | 2.88 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 4.67 years | 4.39 years | 4.95 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 5.65 years | 5.46 years | 5.83 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 7.19 years | 6.75 years | 7.63 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 8.82 years | 8.63 years | 9.01 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 10.31 years | 10.14 years | 10.48 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 11.34 years | 11.04 years | 11.65 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 12.13 years | 11.84 years | 12.42 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 12.82 years | 12.69 years | 12.95 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 12.81 years | 12.46 years | 13.15 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 13.37 years | 13.37 years | 13.37 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More education data for Japan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 627,777 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (1999)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.50 million (1999)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.46 million (1999)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.25 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0502 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Japan?
- Average years of schooling in Japan was 13.37 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 13.37 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.97 years in 1870.
- How does Japan rank for average years of schooling?
- Japan ranks 9th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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
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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.