Average years of schooling among adults in France
France: Average years of schooling among adults was 11.77 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling among adults in France, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average years of schooling among adults in France is 11.77 years, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling among adults in France peaked at 11.77 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 7.55 years, in 1990.
That places France 46th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 France, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 7.55 years | — |
| 1991 | 7.74 years | +2.5% |
| 1992 | 7.93 years | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 8.13 years | +2.4% |
| 1994 | 8.32 years | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 8.51 years | +2.3% |
| 1996 | 8.7 years | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 8.89 years | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 9.09 years | +2.2% |
| 1999 | 9.28 years | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 9.47 years | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 9.66 years | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 9.86 years | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 10.05 years | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 10.24 years | +1.9% |
| 2005 | 10.32 years | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 10.45 years | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 10.57 years | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 10.65 years | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 10.63 years | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 10.78 years | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 10.85 years | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 10.94 years | +0.8% |
| 2013 | 11.08 years | +1.3% |
| 2014 | 11.23 years | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 11.33 years | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 11.35 years | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 11.41 years | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 11.51 years | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 11.61 years | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 11.69 years | +0.7% |
| 2021 | 11.77 years | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 11.77 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 11.77 years | +0.0% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 11.77 years is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.39 years, 95% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- France's 11.77 years is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.34 years, 95% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.41 years | 7.55 years | 9.28 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.19 years | 9.47 years | 10.65 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.21 years | 10.78 years | 11.61 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.75 years | 11.69 years | 11.77 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near France
More education data for France
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 457,956 (2019)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 43,533 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.19 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.14 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.27 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.13 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0602 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling among adults in France?
- Average years of schooling among adults in France was 11.77 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 11.77 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling among adults recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.55 years in 1990.
- How does France rank for average years of schooling among adults?
- France ranks 46th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling among adults rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this France 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.