Average years of schooling in Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe: Average years of schooling was 6.22 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Sao Tome and Principe, 1950–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Sao Tome and Principe recorded 6.22 years for average years of schooling in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 33.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Sao Tome and Principe peaked at 6.22 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.1 years, in 1950.
That places Sao Tome and Principe 122nd out of 162 countries with data for 2020, putting it 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 Sao Tome and Principe, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.1 years | — |
| 1955 | 0.14 years | +40.0% |
| 1960 | 0.2099 years | +50.0% |
| 1965 | 0.3674 years | +75.0% |
| 1970 | 0.5249 years | +42.9% |
| 1975 | 1.1 years | +110.0% |
| 1980 | 1.68 years | +52.4% |
| 1985 | 2.55 years | +51.7% |
| 1990 | 3.39 years | +33.1% |
| 1995 | 3.82 years | +12.6% |
| 2000 | 4.24 years | +11.2% |
| 2005 | 4.24 years | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 4.66 years | +9.8% |
| 2015 | 5.31 years | +13.9% |
| 2020 | 6.22 years | +17.1% |
Sao Tome and Principe compared with similar countries
- Sao Tome and Principe's 6.22 years is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.37 years, 98% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Sao Tome and Principe's 6.22 years is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.16 years, 1.2× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.12 years | 0.1 years | 0.14 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.2887 years | 0.2099 years | 0.3674 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.8135 years | 0.5249 years | 1.1 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 2.11 years | 1.68 years | 2.55 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 3.6 years | 3.39 years | 3.82 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 4.24 years | 4.24 years | 4.24 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 4.98 years | 4.66 years | 5.31 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 6.22 years | 6.22 years | 6.22 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sao Tome and Principe
More education data for Sao Tome and Principe
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 936 (2016)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 4,544 (2017)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4,458 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4,769 (2016)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25,875 (2017)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 37,172 (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.14 % change on previous year (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2017)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1796 units per person (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Average years of schooling in Sao Tome and Principe was 6.22 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 Sao Tome and Principe?
- The highest recorded value was 6.22 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Sao Tome and Principe?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1 years in 1950.
- How does Sao Tome and Principe rank for average years of schooling?
- Sao Tome and Principe ranks 122nd out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Sao Tome and Principe?
- Over the last ten years it is up 33.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sao Tome and Principe 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.