Average years of schooling in Mexico
Mexico: Average years of schooling was 9.22 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Mexico, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average years of schooling in Mexico is 9.22 years, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Mexico peaked at 9.22 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.56 years, in 1870.
That places Mexico 83rd 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 Mexico, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.56 years | — |
| 1880 | 0.74 years | +32.1% |
| 1890 | 0.91 years | +23.0% |
| 1900 | 1.09 years | +19.8% |
| 1913 | 1.26 years | +15.6% |
| 1925 | 1.46 years | +15.6% |
| 1929 | 1.52 years | +4.4% |
| 1933 | 1.74 years | +14.5% |
| 1938 | 1.92 years | +10.3% |
| 1950 | 2.54 years | +32.3% |
| 1955 | 2.96 years | +16.6% |
| 1960 | 3.42 years | +15.5% |
| 1965 | 3.91 years | +14.4% |
| 1970 | 4.39 years | +12.2% |
| 1975 | 4.89 years | +11.4% |
| 1980 | 5.52 years | +12.9% |
| 1985 | 6.31 years | +14.4% |
| 1990 | 6.92 years | +9.6% |
| 1995 | 7.62 years | +10.1% |
| 2000 | 8.03 years | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 8.48 years | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 8.48 years | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 8.55 years | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 9.22 years | +7.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.56 years | 0.56 years | 0.56 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.74 years | 0.74 years | 0.74 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.91 years | 0.91 years | 0.91 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 1.09 years | 1.09 years | 1.09 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 1.26 years | 1.26 years | 1.26 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 1.49 years | 1.46 years | 1.52 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 1.83 years | 1.74 years | 1.92 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 2.75 years | 2.54 years | 2.96 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.67 years | 3.42 years | 3.91 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 4.64 years | 4.39 years | 4.89 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 5.92 years | 5.52 years | 6.31 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 7.27 years | 6.92 years | 7.62 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 8.26 years | 8.03 years | 8.48 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 8.52 years | 8.48 years | 8.55 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 9.22 years | 9.22 years | 9.22 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Mexico
More education data for Mexico
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 13.19 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1 units per person (2025)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 13.19 million (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), per capita 0.1 units per person (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 6.49 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Mexico?
- Average years of schooling in Mexico was 9.22 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 Mexico?
- The highest recorded value was 9.22 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Mexico?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.56 years in 1870.
- How does Mexico rank for average years of schooling?
- Mexico ranks 83rd out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Mexico?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Mexico 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.