Average years of schooling in Portugal
Portugal: Average years of schooling was 9.58 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Portugal, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Portugal recorded 9.58 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 22.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Portugal peaked at 9.58 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.46 years, in 1870.
That places Portugal 78th 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 Portugal, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.46 years | — |
| 1880 | 0.72 years | +56.5% |
| 1890 | 1.03 years | +43.1% |
| 1900 | 1.38 years | +34.0% |
| 1913 | 1.6 years | +15.9% |
| 1925 | 1.83 years | +14.5% |
| 1929 | 1.95 years | +6.5% |
| 1933 | 2.04 years | +4.6% |
| 1938 | 2.13 years | +4.4% |
| 1950 | 2.5 years | +17.4% |
| 1955 | 2.86 years | +14.4% |
| 1960 | 3.22 years | +12.6% |
| 1965 | 3.65 years | +13.4% |
| 1970 | 4.19 years | +14.8% |
| 1975 | 4.98 years | +19.0% |
| 1980 | 5.67 years | +13.8% |
| 1985 | 5.66 years | -0.1% |
| 1990 | 5.98 years | +5.6% |
| 1995 | 6.66 years | +11.4% |
| 2000 | 7.34 years | +10.2% |
| 2005 | 7.58 years | +3.3% |
| 2010 | 7.82 years | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 8.88 years | +13.6% |
| 2020 | 9.58 years | +7.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.46 years | 0.46 years | 0.46 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.72 years | 0.72 years | 0.72 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 1.03 years | 1.03 years | 1.03 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 1.38 years | 1.38 years | 1.38 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 1.6 years | 1.6 years | 1.6 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 1.89 years | 1.83 years | 1.95 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 2.08 years | 2.04 years | 2.13 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 2.68 years | 2.5 years | 2.86 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.44 years | 3.22 years | 3.65 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 4.59 years | 4.19 years | 4.98 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 5.67 years | 5.66 years | 5.67 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 6.32 years | 5.98 years | 6.66 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 7.46 years | 7.34 years | 7.58 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 8.35 years | 7.82 years | 8.88 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 9.58 years | 9.58 years | 9.58 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More education data for Portugal
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 82,664 (2018)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 11,380 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 136,282 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 128,743 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 741,752 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 598,661 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0566 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Portugal?
- Average years of schooling in Portugal was 9.58 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 9.58 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.46 years in 1870.
- How does Portugal rank for average years of schooling?
- Portugal ranks 78th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Portugal 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.