Average years of schooling in Singapore
Singapore: Average years of schooling was 11.92 years in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Average years of schooling in Singapore, 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 Singapore stood at 11.92 years. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling in Singapore peaked at 11.92 years in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.3862 years, in 1870.
That places Singapore 39th out of 162 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Average years of schooling in Singapore, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.3862 years | — |
| 1880 | 0.493 years | +27.7% |
| 1890 | 0.6781 years | +37.6% |
| 1900 | 0.9368 years | +38.1% |
| 1913 | 1.16 years | +23.7% |
| 1925 | 1.59 years | +36.9% |
| 1929 | 1.77 years | +11.3% |
| 1933 | 1.99 years | +12.6% |
| 1938 | 2.21 years | +11.2% |
| 1950 | 2.78 years | +25.8% |
| 1955 | 3.33 years | +19.8% |
| 1960 | 4.11 years | +23.3% |
| 1965 | 4.79 years | +16.5% |
| 1970 | 5.66 years | +18.3% |
| 1975 | 5.44 years | -3.9% |
| 1980 | 5.56 years | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 6.13 years | +10.2% |
| 1990 | 6.68 years | +9.0% |
| 1995 | 8.05 years | +20.4% |
| 2000 | 9.26 years | +15.1% |
| 2005 | 8.76 years | -5.5% |
| 2010 | 10.53 years | +20.3% |
| 2015 | 11.57 years | +9.9% |
| 2020 | 11.92 years | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.3862 years | 0.3862 years | 0.3862 years | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.493 years | 0.493 years | 0.493 years | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.6781 years | 0.6781 years | 0.6781 years | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.9368 years | 0.9368 years | 0.9368 years | 1 |
| 1910s | 1.16 years | 1.16 years | 1.16 years | 1 |
| 1920s | 1.68 years | 1.59 years | 1.77 years | 2 |
| 1930s | 2.1 years | 1.99 years | 2.21 years | 2 |
| 1950s | 3.06 years | 2.78 years | 3.33 years | 2 |
| 1960s | 4.45 years | 4.11 years | 4.79 years | 2 |
| 1970s | 5.55 years | 5.44 years | 5.66 years | 2 |
| 1980s | 5.85 years | 5.56 years | 6.13 years | 2 |
| 1990s | 7.36 years | 6.68 years | 8.05 years | 2 |
| 2000s | 9.01 years | 8.76 years | 9.26 years | 2 |
| 2010s | 11.05 years | 10.53 years | 11.57 years | 2 |
| 2020s | 11.92 years | 11.92 years | 11.92 years | 1 |
Countries ranked near Singapore
- 36 Croatia 12.19 years compare
- 37 Belgium 12.14 years compare
- 38 Taiwan, China 12 years compare
- 40 Uzbekistan 11.9 years compare
- 41 Republic of Moldova 11.82 years compare
- 42 Oman 11.65 years compare
More education data for Singapore
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 13,601 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 336 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 9,429 (1989)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 8,429 (1989)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 163,746 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 238,816 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.4 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0404 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling in Singapore?
- Average years of schooling in Singapore was 11.92 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 Singapore?
- The highest recorded value was 11.92 years in 2020.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling recorded in Singapore?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3862 years in 1870.
- How does Singapore rank for average years of schooling?
- Singapore ranks 39th out of 162 countries with data for 2020.
- Is average years of schooling rising or falling in Singapore?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Singapore 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.