Average years of schooling among adults in Belize
Belize: Average years of schooling among adults was 8.76 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
8.76 years
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
117th
of 192 countries
All-time high
10.49 years
in 2010
All-time low
5.45 years
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Average years of schooling among adults in Belize, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
Belize recorded 8.76 years for average years of schooling among adults in 2023.
The figure is down 8.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling among adults in Belize peaked at 10.49 years in 2010 and was at its lowest, 5.45 years, in 1990.
Belize ranks 117th of 192 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling among adults in Belize, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.45 years | — |
| 1991 | 5.62 years | +3.1% |
| 1992 | 5.79 years | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 5.96 years | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 6.14 years | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 6.31 years | +2.8% |
| 1996 | 6.48 years | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 6.65 years | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 6.83 years | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 7 years | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 7.17 years | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 7.34 years | +2.4% |
| 2002 | 7.51 years | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 7.69 years | +2.3% |
| 2004 | 7.86 years | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 8.03 years | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 8.52 years | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 9.01 years | +5.8% |
| 2008 | 9.51 years | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 10 years | +5.2% |
| 2010 | 10.49 years | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 10.18 years | -3.0% |
| 2012 | 9.86 years | -3.1% |
| 2013 | 9.55 years | -3.2% |
| 2014 | 9.24 years | -3.3% |
| 2015 | 8.92 years | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 8.91 years | -0.2% |
| 2017 | 8.89 years | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 8.88 years | -0.2% |
| 2019 | 8.86 years | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 8.85 years | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 8.76 years | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 8.76 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 8.76 years | +0.0% |
Belize compared with similar countries
- Belize's 8.76 years is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.11 years, 87% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Belize's 8.76 years is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 9.68 years, 91% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.22 years | 5.45 years | 7 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.26 years | 7.17 years | 10 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.38 years | 8.86 years | 10.49 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.78 years | 8.76 years | 8.85 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belize
More education data for Belize
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2,319 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 2,390 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 3,316 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3,346 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 38,323 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 44,757 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.0671 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1073 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling among adults in Belize?
- Average years of schooling among adults in Belize was 8.76 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 Belize?
- The highest recorded value was 10.49 years in 2010.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling among adults recorded in Belize?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.45 years in 1990.
- How does Belize rank for average years of schooling among adults?
- Belize ranks 117th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling among adults rising or falling in Belize?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belize 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.