Average years of schooling among adults in Rwanda
Rwanda: Average years of schooling among adults was 4.88 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling among adults in Rwanda, 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 Rwanda is 4.88 years, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling among adults in Rwanda peaked at 4.88 years in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.9 years, in 1990.
That places Rwanda 170th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling among adults in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.9 years | — |
| 1991 | 1.95 years | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 2 years | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 2.04 years | +2.3% |
| 1994 | 2.09 years | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 2.13 years | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 2.2 years | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 2.26 years | +3.0% |
| 1998 | 2.33 years | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 2.39 years | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 2.46 years | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 2.57 years | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 2.69 years | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 2.81 years | +4.3% |
| 2004 | 2.92 years | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 3.04 years | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 3.19 years | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 3.33 years | +4.6% |
| 2008 | 3.48 years | +4.4% |
| 2009 | 3.62 years | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 3.77 years | +4.0% |
| 2011 | 3.77 years | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 3.77 years | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 3.92 years | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 4.06 years | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 4.1 years | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 4.17 years | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 4.25 years | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 4.33 years | +1.8% |
| 2019 | 4.6 years | +6.3% |
| 2020 | 4.88 years | +6.0% |
| 2021 | 4.88 years | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 4.88 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 4.88 years | +0.0% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 4.88 years is above the median for low income countries, which is 4.59 years, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 4.88 years is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.96 years, 82% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.13 years | 1.9 years | 2.39 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.01 years | 2.46 years | 3.62 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.07 years | 3.77 years | 4.6 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.88 years | 4.88 years | 4.88 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 167 Cambodia 5.2 years compare
- 168 Eritrea 5.09 years compare
- 169 Papua New Guinea 4.96 years compare
- 171 Cote d'Ivoire 4.87 years compare
- 172 Mauritania 4.85 years compare
- 173 Gambia 4.67 years compare
More education data for Rwanda
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 34,324 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 795,920 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 305,636 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 299,593 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 901,617 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.01 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 5.93 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.2109 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling among adults in Rwanda?
- Average years of schooling among adults in Rwanda was 4.88 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 4.88 years in 2022.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling among adults recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9 years in 1990.
- How does Rwanda rank for average years of schooling among adults?
- Rwanda ranks 170th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling among adults rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.