Average years of schooling in Kenya
Kenya: Average years of schooling was 6.65 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Kenya, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 6.65 years for average years of schooling in 2020. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Kenya peaked at 6.65 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.21 years, in 1870.
That places Kenya 119th 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.21 years | — |
| 1880 | 0.29 years | +38.1% |
| 1890 | 0.37 years | +27.6% |
| 1900 | 0.45 years | +21.6% |
| 1913 | 0.53 years | +17.8% |
| 1925 | 0.6516 years | +23.0% |
| 1929 | 0.68 years | +4.4% |
| 1933 | 0.72 years | +5.9% |
| 1938 | 0.76 years | +5.6% |
| 1950 | 1.19 years | +56.6% |
| 1955 | 1.5 years | +26.2% |
| 1960 | 1.87 years | +24.6% |
| 1965 | 2.15 years | +15.2% |
| 1970 | 2.82 years | +30.9% |
| 1975 | 3.26 years | +15.5% |
| 1980 | 4.01 years | +23.2% |
| 1985 | 4.67 years | +16.4% |
| 1990 | 5.25 years | +12.4% |
| 1995 | 5.69 years | +8.4% |
| 2000 | 6.08 years | +6.8% |
| 2005 | 6.63 years | +9.0% |
| 2010 | 6.46 years | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 6.31 years | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 6.65 years | +5.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.21 years | 0.21 years | 0.21 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.29 years | 0.29 years | 0.29 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.37 years | 0.37 years | 0.37 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.45 years | 0.45 years | 0.45 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.53 years | 0.53 years | 0.53 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 0.6658 years | 0.6516 years | 0.68 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 0.74 years | 0.72 years | 0.76 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 1.35 years | 1.19 years | 1.5 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 2.01 years | 1.87 years | 2.15 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 3.04 years | 2.82 years | 3.26 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 4.34 years | 4.01 years | 4.67 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 5.47 years | 5.25 years | 5.69 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 6.35 years | 6.08 years | 6.63 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 6.39 years | 6.31 years | 6.46 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 6.65 years | 6.65 years | 6.65 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 116 Honduras 7.09 years compare
- 117 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 7.02 years compare
- 118 India 6.66 years compare
- 120 Myanmar 6.38 years compare
- 121 Tanzania, United Republic of 6.37 years compare
- 122 Sao Tome and Principe 6.22 years compare
More education data for Kenya
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.04 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7181 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1453 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 8.04 million (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth -0.7181 % change on previous year (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.1453 units per person (2023)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3.93 million (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Kenya?
- Average years of schooling in Kenya was 6.65 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 6.65 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.21 years in 1870.
- How does Kenya rank for average years of schooling?
- Kenya ranks 119th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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.