Average years of schooling in Poland
Poland: Average years of schooling was 13.16 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Poland, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Poland recorded 13.16 years for average years of schooling in 2020. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 35.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Poland peaked at 13.16 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.9889 years, in 1870.
Poland ranks 12th 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 Poland, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.9889 years | — |
| 1880 | 1.15 years | +15.9% |
| 1890 | 1.32 years | +15.0% |
| 1900 | 1.51 years | +14.7% |
| 1913 | 2.04 years | +34.6% |
| 1925 | 2.4 years | +17.9% |
| 1929 | 2.5 years | +4.0% |
| 1933 | 2.7 years | +8.1% |
| 1938 | 3 years | +11.2% |
| 1950 | 3.16 years | +5.3% |
| 1955 | 3.6 years | +13.8% |
| 1960 | 4.23 years | +17.6% |
| 1965 | 4.84 years | +14.3% |
| 1970 | 5.34 years | +10.4% |
| 1975 | 6.23 years | +16.6% |
| 1980 | 6.72 years | +7.8% |
| 1985 | 6.99 years | +4.1% |
| 1990 | 7.56 years | +8.2% |
| 1995 | 8.09 years | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 8.81 years | +8.9% |
| 2005 | 9.2 years | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 9.7 years | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 11.9 years | +22.8% |
| 2020 | 13.16 years | +10.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.9889 years | 0.9889 years | 0.9889 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 1.15 years | 1.15 years | 1.15 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 1.32 years | 1.32 years | 1.32 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 1.51 years | 1.51 years | 1.51 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 2.04 years | 2.04 years | 2.04 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 2.45 years | 2.4 years | 2.5 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 2.85 years | 2.7 years | 3 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 3.38 years | 3.16 years | 3.6 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 4.53 years | 4.23 years | 4.84 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 5.79 years | 5.34 years | 6.23 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 6.85 years | 6.72 years | 6.99 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 7.82 years | 7.56 years | 8.09 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.01 years | 8.81 years | 9.2 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 10.8 years | 9.7 years | 11.9 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 13.16 years | 13.16 years | 13.16 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Poland
More education data for Poland
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 735,804 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.33 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.60 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.04 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0438 units per person (2024)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.60 million (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.04 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Poland?
- Average years of schooling in Poland was 13.16 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 Poland?
- The highest recorded value was 13.16 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Poland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9889 years in 1870.
- How does Poland rank for average years of schooling?
- Poland ranks 12th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Poland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Poland 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.