Average years of schooling in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Average years of schooling was 4.58 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Sierra Leone, 1870–2020
Source: Leandro Prados de la Escosura (2021) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2020, average years of schooling in Sierra Leone stood at 4.58 years. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
The figure is up 14.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Sierra Leone peaked at 4.58 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.11 years, in 1870.
That places Sierra Leone 144th 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.11 years | — |
| 1880 | 0.16 years | +45.5% |
| 1890 | 0.21 years | +31.2% |
| 1900 | 0.27 years | +28.6% |
| 1913 | 0.28 years | +3.7% |
| 1925 | 0.266 years | -5.0% |
| 1929 | 0.25 years | -6.0% |
| 1933 | 0.2374 years | -5.0% |
| 1938 | 0.26 years | +9.5% |
| 1950 | 0.38 years | +46.2% |
| 1955 | 0.5965 years | +57.0% |
| 1960 | 0.8 years | +34.1% |
| 1965 | 0.975 years | +21.9% |
| 1970 | 1.15 years | +17.9% |
| 1975 | 1.55 years | +34.9% |
| 1980 | 2.01 years | +29.5% |
| 1985 | 2.47 years | +23.0% |
| 1990 | 2.92 years | +18.1% |
| 1995 | 3.31 years | +13.3% |
| 2000 | 3.63 years | +9.7% |
| 2005 | 3.5 years | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 3.99 years | +14.0% |
| 2015 | 3.33 years | -16.5% |
| 2020 | 4.58 years | +37.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.11 years | 0.11 years | 0.11 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.16 years | 0.16 years | 0.16 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.21 years | 0.21 years | 0.21 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.27 years | 0.27 years | 0.27 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.28 years | 0.28 years | 0.28 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 0.258 years | 0.25 years | 0.266 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 0.2487 years | 0.2374 years | 0.26 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 0.4882 years | 0.38 years | 0.5965 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.8875 years | 0.8 years | 0.975 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 1.35 years | 1.15 years | 1.55 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 2.24 years | 2.01 years | 2.47 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 3.11 years | 2.92 years | 3.31 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 3.57 years | 3.5 years | 3.63 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 3.66 years | 3.33 years | 3.99 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 4.58 years | 4.58 years | 4.58 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
More education data for Sierra Leone
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 38,043 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 73,295 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 85,708 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 92,723 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.16 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.07 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.52 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2393 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Sierra Leone?
- Average years of schooling in Sierra Leone was 4.58 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 4.58 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.11 years in 1870.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for average years of schooling?
- Sierra Leone ranks 144th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.