Average years of schooling among adults in Denmark
Denmark: Average years of schooling among adults was 13.03 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling among adults in Denmark, 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 Denmark stood at 13.03 years.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling among adults in Denmark peaked at 13.16 years in 2016 and was at its lowest, 11.48 years, in 1990.
That places Denmark 15th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling among adults in Denmark, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 11.48 years | — |
| 1991 | 11.5 years | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 11.52 years | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 11.54 years | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 11.56 years | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 11.65 years | +0.8% |
| 1996 | 11.81 years | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 11.98 years | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 12.14 years | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 12.31 years | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 12.47 years | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 12.64 years | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 12.8 years | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 12.97 years | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 12.92 years | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 12.83 years | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 12.74 years | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 12.65 years | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 12.88 years | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 12.47 years | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 12.43 years | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 12.47 years | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 12.7 years | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 12.75 years | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 12.39 years | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 12.64 years | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 13.16 years | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 13.01 years | -1.1% |
| 2018 | 12.86 years | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 12.91 years | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 12.96 years | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 13.03 years | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 13.03 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 13.03 years | +0.0% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 13.03 years is above the median for high income countries, which is 12.39 years, 1.1× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 13.03 years is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.34 years, 1.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11.75 years | 11.48 years | 12.31 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.74 years | 12.47 years | 12.97 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.73 years | 12.39 years | 13.16 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.01 years | 12.96 years | 13.03 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More education data for Denmark
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 50,935 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 2,888 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 94,481 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 88,072 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 522,143 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 432,238 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.8558 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0723 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling among adults in Denmark?
- Average years of schooling among adults in Denmark was 13.03 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 Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 13.16 years in 2016.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling among adults recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.48 years in 1990.
- How does Denmark rank for average years of schooling among adults?
- Denmark ranks 15th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling among adults rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Denmark 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.