Average years of schooling among adults in Austria
Austria: Average years of schooling among adults was 12.36 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling among adults in Austria, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
In 2023, average years of schooling among adults in Austria stood at 12.36 years. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling among adults in Austria peaked at 12.36 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 10.2 years, in 1990.
Austria ranks 36th of 192 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling among adults in Austria, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 10.2 years | — |
| 1991 | 10.29 years | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 10.38 years | +0.9% |
| 1993 | 10.47 years | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 10.56 years | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 10.65 years | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 10.74 years | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 10.83 years | +0.8% |
| 1998 | 10.93 years | +0.8% |
| 1999 | 11.02 years | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 11.11 years | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 11.2 years | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 11.29 years | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 11.38 years | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 11.47 years | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 11.56 years | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 11.54 years | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 11.53 years | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 11.47 years | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 11.67 years | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 11.71 years | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 11.71 years | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 11.75 years | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 11.79 years | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 12.01 years | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 12.08 years | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 12.11 years | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 12.16 years | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 12.21 years | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 12.26 years | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 12.31 years | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 12.36 years | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 12.36 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 12.36 years | +0.0% |
Austria compared with similar countries
- Austria's 12.36 years is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.39 years, 100% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Austria's 12.36 years is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.34 years, 1.0× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.61 years | 10.2 years | 11.02 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.42 years | 11.11 years | 11.67 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.98 years | 11.71 years | 12.26 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.35 years | 12.31 years | 12.36 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Austria
More education data for Austria
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 75,436 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 13,699 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 141,883 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 134,270 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 706,802 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 368,502 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 2.46 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0402 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling among adults in Austria?
- Average years of schooling among adults in Austria was 12.36 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling among adults recorded in Austria?
- The highest recorded value was 12.36 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling among adults recorded in Austria?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.2 years in 1990.
- How does Austria rank for average years of schooling among adults?
- Austria ranks 36th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling among adults rising or falling in Austria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Austria data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling among adults. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) adults over 25 years participated in formal education.