Average years of schooling in Malaysia
Malaysia: Average years of schooling was 10.65 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Malaysia, 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 Malaysia stood at 10.65 years. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Malaysia peaked at 10.65 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.11 years, in 1870.
That places Malaysia 64th 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 Malaysia, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.11 years | — |
| 1880 | 0.12 years | +9.1% |
| 1890 | 0.13 years | +8.3% |
| 1900 | 0.2 years | +53.8% |
| 1913 | 0.24 years | +20.0% |
| 1925 | 0.4777 years | +99.0% |
| 1929 | 0.56 years | +17.2% |
| 1933 | 0.7527 years | +34.4% |
| 1938 | 0.92 years | +22.2% |
| 1950 | 1.51 years | +64.1% |
| 1955 | 1.86 years | +23.1% |
| 1960 | 2.34 years | +25.9% |
| 1965 | 2.95 years | +25.9% |
| 1970 | 3.77 years | +28.0% |
| 1975 | 4.56 years | +21.0% |
| 1980 | 5.66 years | +24.0% |
| 1985 | 6.8 years | +20.2% |
| 1990 | 7.23 years | +6.3% |
| 1995 | 8.45 years | +16.9% |
| 2000 | 8.95 years | +5.9% |
| 2005 | 9.24 years | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 9.63 years | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 10.11 years | +5.0% |
| 2020 | 10.65 years | +5.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.11 years | 0.11 years | 0.11 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.12 years | 0.12 years | 0.12 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.13 years | 0.13 years | 0.13 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.2 years | 0.2 years | 0.2 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.24 years | 0.24 years | 0.24 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 0.5189 years | 0.4777 years | 0.56 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 0.8364 years | 0.7527 years | 0.92 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 1.68 years | 1.51 years | 1.86 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 2.64 years | 2.34 years | 2.95 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 4.17 years | 3.77 years | 4.56 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 6.23 years | 5.66 years | 6.8 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 7.84 years | 7.23 years | 8.45 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.09 years | 8.95 years | 9.24 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 9.87 years | 9.63 years | 10.11 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 10.65 years | 10.65 years | 10.65 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 61 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10.83 years compare
- 62 Sri Lanka 10.83 years compare
- 63 Italy 10.74 years compare
- 65 Iran, Islamic Republic of 10.64 years compare
- 66 Spain 10.61 years compare
- 67 Azerbaijan 10.54 years compare
More education data for Malaysia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 217,105 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 475,967 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 460,041 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.64 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.06 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.2 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0859 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Malaysia?
- Average years of schooling in Malaysia was 10.65 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 10.65 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.11 years in 1870.
- How does Malaysia rank for average years of schooling?
- Malaysia ranks 64th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.