Average years of schooling in Nepal
Nepal: Average years of schooling was 5.12 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Nepal, 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 Nepal is 5.12 years, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Nepal peaked at 5.12 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.1 years, in 1870.
Nepal ranks 135th of 162 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in Nepal, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.1 years | — |
| 1880 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 0.1 years | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.1688 years | +68.8% |
| 1929 | 0.1688 years | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 0.1899 years | +12.5% |
| 1938 | 0.1899 years | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.232 years | +22.2% |
| 1955 | 0.232 years | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.2742 years | +18.2% |
| 1965 | 0.3053 years | +11.3% |
| 1970 | 0.4382 years | +43.5% |
| 1975 | 0.6194 years | +41.3% |
| 1980 | 0.8437 years | +36.2% |
| 1985 | 1.25 years | +47.9% |
| 1990 | 1.62 years | +30.1% |
| 1995 | 2.33 years | +43.8% |
| 2000 | 3.18 years | +36.5% |
| 2005 | 3.72 years | +16.9% |
| 2010 | 4.37 years | +17.3% |
| 2015 | 4.07 years | -6.8% |
| 2020 | 5.12 years | +25.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 0.1 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 0.1688 years | 0.1688 years | 0.1688 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 0.1899 years | 0.1899 years | 0.1899 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 0.232 years | 0.232 years | 0.232 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.2898 years | 0.2742 years | 0.3053 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.5288 years | 0.4382 years | 0.6194 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 1.05 years | 0.8437 years | 1.25 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 1.98 years | 1.62 years | 2.33 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 3.45 years | 3.18 years | 3.72 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 4.22 years | 4.07 years | 4.37 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 5.12 years | 5.12 years | 5.12 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
- 132 Angola 5.42 years compare
- 133 Lao People's Democratic Republic 5.37 years compare
- 134 Côte d'Ivoire 5.2 years compare
- 136 Madagascar 5.12 years compare
- 137 Syrian Arab Republic 5.1 years compare
- 138 Cambodia 5.09 years compare
More education data for Nepal
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 609,324 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.67 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.57 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1204 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 3.57 million (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Nepal?
- Average years of schooling in Nepal was 5.12 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 5.12 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1 years in 1870.
- How does Nepal rank for average years of schooling?
- Nepal ranks 135th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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.