Average years of schooling among adults in Libya
Libya: Average years of schooling among adults was 7.78 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling among adults in Libya, 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 Libya stood at 7.78 years.
The figure is down 0.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling among adults in Libya peaked at 7.81 years in 2012 and was at its lowest, 3.81 years, in 1990.
That places Libya 128th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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 Libya, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 3.81 years | — |
| 1991 | 3.99 years | +4.6% |
| 1992 | 4.16 years | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 4.34 years | +4.2% |
| 1994 | 4.51 years | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 4.69 years | +3.9% |
| 1996 | 4.87 years | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 5.05 years | +3.7% |
| 1998 | 5.22 years | +3.5% |
| 1999 | 5.4 years | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 5.58 years | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 5.75 years | +3.1% |
| 2002 | 5.92 years | +3.0% |
| 2003 | 6.1 years | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 6.27 years | +2.8% |
| 2005 | 6.44 years | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 6.61 years | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 6.79 years | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 6.96 years | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 7.14 years | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 7.31 years | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 7.56 years | +3.4% |
| 2012 | 7.81 years | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 7.81 years | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 7.81 years | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 7.8 years | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 7.8 years | -0.0% |
| 2017 | 7.8 years | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 7.79 years | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 7.79 years | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 7.78 years | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 7.78 years | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 7.78 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 7.78 years | +0.0% |
Libya compared with similar countries
- Libya's 7.78 years is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 10.11 years, 77% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Libya's 7.78 years is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 10.13 years, 77% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 4.6 years | 3.81 years | 5.4 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.36 years | 5.58 years | 7.14 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.73 years | 7.31 years | 7.81 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.78 years | 7.78 years | 7.78 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Libya
More education data for Libya
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 30,673 (1983)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 69,173 (1983)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 11,554 (2006)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 10,692 (2006)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 732,614 (2006)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 755,338 (2006)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 5.8 % change on previous year (2006)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2006)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1263 units per person (2006)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling among adults in Libya?
- Average years of schooling among adults in Libya was 7.78 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 Libya?
- The highest recorded value was 7.81 years in 2012.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling among adults recorded in Libya?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.81 years in 1990.
- How does Libya rank for average years of schooling among adults?
- Libya ranks 128th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling among adults rising or falling in Libya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Libya 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.