Average years of schooling among adults in Spain
Spain: Average years of schooling among adults was 10.76 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling among adults in Spain, 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 Spain stood at 10.76 years. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 11.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling among adults in Spain peaked at 10.76 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 5.88 years, in 1990.
That places Spain 80th 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 Spain, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.88 years | — |
| 1991 | 6.07 years | +3.3% |
| 1992 | 6.27 years | +3.3% |
| 1993 | 6.47 years | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 6.66 years | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 6.86 years | +3.0% |
| 1996 | 7.06 years | +2.9% |
| 1997 | 7.26 years | +2.8% |
| 1998 | 7.45 years | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 7.65 years | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 7.85 years | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 8.05 years | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 8.24 years | +2.5% |
| 2003 | 8.44 years | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 8.64 years | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 8.92 years | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 9.03 years | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 9.12 years | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 9.19 years | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 9.25 years | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 9.36 years | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 9.48 years | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 9.51 years | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 9.62 years | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 9.72 years | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 9.91 years | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 10.01 years | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 10.07 years | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 10.14 years | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 10.38 years | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 10.61 years | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 10.76 years | +1.4% |
| 2022 | 10.76 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 10.76 years | +0.0% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 10.76 years is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.39 years, 87% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Spain's 10.76 years is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.34 years, 87% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6.76 years | 5.88 years | 7.65 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.67 years | 7.85 years | 9.25 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.82 years | 9.36 years | 10.38 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.72 years | 10.61 years | 10.76 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More education data for Spain
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 344,203 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 37,817 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 570,954 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 538,977 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.71 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.83 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.058 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling among adults in Spain?
- Average years of schooling among adults in Spain was 10.76 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 10.76 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling among adults recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.88 years in 1990.
- How does Spain rank for average years of schooling among adults?
- Spain ranks 80th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling among adults rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain 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.