Data for 2017
Mean Years of Schooling, 2017
2017, as UNDP Human Development Report Office’s 2025 release gives it · stored as published, never rewritten
Mean Years of Schooling, 2017 covers 192 countries. Germany is highest, at 14.1050; Niger is lowest, at 1.3116. The middle country reads 9.2987. Against 2016, 190 values changed (160 up, 30 down), the same countries are covered.
Mean Years of Schooling · Data for 2017
HighestGermany
14.1050LowestNiger
1.3116Shaded by value in five groups of equal size, darkest at the better end.
01Position · derived
The table
Every country and every column of Mean Years of Schooling, 2017, as published. UNDP Human Development Report Office ranks nobody on this measure; the position is derived here by ordering the published values. “=” marks a shared position.
Showing 25 of 192 countries · select a heading to sort
| derived | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DEUWestern Europe | 14.1050 |
| 2 | CANNorthern America | 13.7580 |
| 3 | CHEWestern Europe | 13.7350 |
| 4 | ESTNorthern Europe | 13.5600 |
| 5 | ISLNorthern Europe | 13.5500 |
| 6 | USANorthern America | 13.4133 |
| 7 | NZLAustralia and New Zealand | 13.2325 |
| 8 | LTUNorthern Europe | 13.1900 |
| 9 | GBRNorthern Europe | 13.1600 |
| 10 | ISRWestern Asia | 13.1488 |
| 11 | PLWMicronesia | 13.0573 |
| 12 | LVANorthern Europe | 13.0550 |
| 13 | POLEastern Europe | 13.0400 |
| 14 | DNKNorthern Europe | 13.0100 |
| 15 | NORNorthern Europe | 12.9500 |
| 16 | GEOWestern Asia | 12.8700 |
| 17 | CZEEastern Europe | 12.7900 |
| 18 | SVKEastern Europe | 12.7700 |
| 19 | FINNorthern Europe | 12.7400 |
| 20 | SVNSouthern Europe | 12.7000 |
| 21 | JPNEastern Asia | 12.6280 |
| 22 | LUXWestern Europe | 12.5024 |
| 23 | SWENorthern Europe | 12.4900 |
| 24 | BHSCaribbean | 12.4588 |
| 25 | RUSEastern Europe | 12.3845 |
| 26 | AUSAustralia and New Zealand | 12.3200 |
| 27 | KOREastern Asia | 12.3175 |
| 28 | NLDWestern Europe | 12.2500 |
| 29 | BELWestern Europe | 12.2400 |
| 30 | LIEWestern Europe | 12.2077 |
| 31 | CYPWestern Asia | 12.1850 |
| 32 | HKGEastern Asia | 12.1700 |
| 33 | MNESouthern Europe | 12.1630 |
| 34 | AUTWestern Europe | 12.1600 |
| 35 | KAZCentral Asia | 12.1393 |
| 36 | AREWestern Asia | 12.0600 |
| 37 | HUNEastern Europe | 11.9800 |
| 38 | BLREastern Europe | 11.9500 |
| 39 | MDAEastern Europe | 11.7533 |
| 40 | UZBCentral Asia | 11.7200 |
| 41 | KGZCentral Asia | 11.6569 |
| 42 | HRVSouthern Europe | 11.6337 |
| 43 | ATGCaribbean | 11.5979 |
| 44 | MLTSouthern Europe | 11.5650 |
| 45 | WSMPolynesia | 11.4714 |
| 46 | IRLNorthern Europe | 11.4300 |
| 47 | TJKCentral Asia | 11.4200 |
| 48 | FRAWestern Europe | 11.4100 |
| 49 | MKDSouthern Europe | 11.4001 |
| 50 | SGPSouth-eastern Asia | 11.3400 |
| 51 | MHLMicronesia | 11.2870 |
| 52 | BGREastern Europe | 11.2400 |
| 53 | ARMWestern Asia | 11.1900 |
| 54 | SRBSouthern Europe | 11.1600 |
| 55 | UKREastern Europe | 11.1512 |
| 56 | ROUEastern Europe | 11.1500 |
| 57 | SYCEastern Africa | 11.1023 |
| 58 | ARGSouth America | 11.0150 |
| 59 | TKMCentral Asia | 10.9515 |
| 60 | CUBCaribbean | 10.9026 |
| 61 | TONPolynesia | 10.8686 |
| 62 | KNACaribbean | 10.8494 |
| 63 | VCTCaribbean | 10.8300 |
| 64 | MNGEastern Asia | 10.7960 |
| 65 | ANDSouthern Europe | 10.7350 |
| 66 | TTOCaribbean | 10.7233 |
| 67 | SMRSouthern Europe | 10.6910 |
| 68 | JORWestern Asia | 10.6836 |
| 69 | AZEWestern Asia | 10.6400 |
| 70 | FJIMelanesia | 10.6300 |
| 71 | CHLSouth America | 10.5900 |
| 72 | LKASouthern Asia | 10.5700 |
| 73 | OMNWestern Asia | 10.5600 |
| 74 | GRCSouthern Europe | 10.5400 |
| 75 | ITASouthern Europe | 10.4820 |
| 76 | MYSSouth-eastern Asia | 10.4633 |
| 77 | IRNSouthern Asia | 10.4152 |
| 78 | TUVPolynesia | 10.2888 |
| 79 | PANCentral America | 10.2600 |
| 80 | SAUWestern Asia | 10.2200 |
| 81 | BWASouthern Africa | 10.1800 |
| 82 | LBNWestern Asia | 10.1582 |
| 83 | ZAFSouthern Africa | 10.1400 |
| 84 | VENSouth America | 10.1361 |
| 85 | ESPSouthern Europe | 10.0750 |
| 86 | ALBSouthern Europe | 9.9767 |
| 87 | BRBCaribbean | 9.7730 |
| 88 | BIHSouthern Europe | 9.7500 |
| 89 | QATWestern Asia | 9.7300 |
| 90 | MUSEastern Africa | 9.6579 |
| 91 | DMACaribbean | 9.6501 |
| 92 | BHRWestern Asia | 9.5900 |
| 93 | PERSouth America | 9.5367 |
| 94 | BOLSouth America | 9.3950 |
| 95 | NICCentral America | 9.3208 |
| 96 | GRDCaribbean | 9.3175 |
| 97 | PSEWestern Asia | 9.2800 |
| 98 | JAMCaribbean | 9.2690 |
| 99 | PRTSouthern Europe | 9.2200 |
| 100 | GABMiddle Africa | 9.2080 |
| 101 | BRNSouth-eastern Asia | 9.1000 |
| 102 | EGYNorthern Africa | 9.0500 |
| 103 | KIRMicronesia | 8.9918 |
| 104 | DOMCaribbean | 8.9818 |
| 105 | BLZCentral America | 8.8941 |
| 106 | URYSouth America | 8.8300 |
| 107 | NRUMicronesia | 8.7755 |
| 108 | ECUSouth America | 8.7700 |
| 109 | MEXCentral America | 8.7400 |
| 110 | CRICentral America | 8.6400 |
| 111 | LCACaribbean | 8.4867 |
| 112 | PRYSouth America | 8.4700 |
| 113 | ZWEEastern Africa | 8.4600 |
| 114 | COLSouth America | 8.3600 |
| 115 | THASouth-eastern Asia | 8.3450 |
| 116 | GUYSouth America | 8.2717 |
| 117 | TURWestern Asia | 8.2700 |
| 118 | SURSouth America | 8.2656 |
| 119 | VNMSouth-eastern Asia | 8.2600 |
| 120 | IDNSouth-eastern Asia | 8.2396 |
| 121 | COGMiddle Africa | 8.1945 |
| 122 | PHLSouth-eastern Asia | 8.1800 |
| 123 | GNQMiddle Africa | 8.1100 |
| 124 | BRASouth America | 7.8500 |
| 125 | LBYNorthern Africa | 7.7986 |
| 126 | CHNEastern Asia | 7.7220 |
| 127 | SWZSouthern Africa | 7.7048 |
| 128 | KENEastern Africa | 7.5114 |
| 129 | TUNNorthern Africa | 7.4113 |
| 130 | FSMMicronesia | 7.3241 |
| 131 | KWTWestern Asia | 7.1900 |
| 132 | NAMSouthern Africa | 7.0880 |
| 133 | LSOSouthern Africa | 7.0213 |
| 134 | NGAWestern Africa | 6.9571 |
| 135 | ZMBEastern Africa | 6.9383 |
| 136 | CODMiddle Africa | 6.9038 |
| 137 | SLVCentral America | 6.8300 |
| 138 | MDVSouthern Asia | 6.7849 |
| 139 | VUTMelanesia | 6.7709 |
| 140 | DZANorthern Africa | 6.6602 |
| 141 | IRQWestern Asia | 6.6577 |
| 142 | HNDCentral America | 6.4100 |
| 143 | BGDSouthern Asia | 6.2700 |
| 144 | CMRMiddle Africa | 6.2672 |
| 145 | GHAWestern Africa | 6.1205 |
| 146 | SYRWestern Asia | 6.0507 |
| 147 | INDSouthern Asia | 6.0139 |
| 148 | UGAEastern Africa | 5.9742 |
| 149 | CPVWestern Africa | 5.9340 |
| 150 | SLBMelanesia | 5.7926 |
| 151 | SSDEastern Africa | 5.7300 |
| 152 | STPMiddle Africa | 5.7099 |
| 153 | LAOSouth-eastern Asia | 5.6660 |
| 154 | MARNorthern Africa | 5.6480 |
| 155 | TZAEastern Africa | 5.5573 |
| 156 | AGOMiddle Africa | 5.5211 |
| 157 | TLSSouth-eastern Asia | 5.4407 |
| 158 | HTICaribbean | 5.3823 |
| 159 | MMRSouth-eastern Asia | 5.3596 |
| 160 | GTMCentral America | 5.3068 |
| 161 | COMEastern Africa | 5.3042 |
| 162 | MWIEastern Africa | 5.2735 |
| 163 | PAKSouthern Asia | 5.1200 |
| 164 | MDGEastern Africa | 5.0243 |
| 165 | LBRWestern Africa | 5.0237 |
| 166 | TGOWestern Africa | 4.8586 |
| 167 | PNGMelanesia | 4.8098 |
| 168 | CIVWestern Africa | 4.7614 |
| 169 | ERIEastern Africa | 4.6216 |
| 170 | MRTWestern Africa | 4.4314 |
| 171 | YEMWestern Asia | 4.3410 |
| 172 | RWAEastern Africa | 4.2517 |
| 173 | KHMSouth-eastern Asia | 4.2342 |
| 174 | BTNSouthern Asia | 4.0600 |
| 175 | GMBWestern Africa | 3.9941 |
| 176 | NPLSouthern Asia | 3.9336 |
| 177 | CAFMiddle Africa | 3.8824 |
| 178 | SDNNorthern Africa | 3.7200 |
| 179 | DJIEastern Africa | 3.6267 |
| 180 | GNBWestern Africa | 3.5840 |
| 181 | SLEWestern Africa | 3.5099 |
| 182 | MOZEastern Africa | 3.0600 |
| 183 | SENWestern Africa | 2.8300 |
| 184 | BDIEastern Africa | 2.8000 |
| 185 | BENWestern Africa | 2.6502 |
| 186 | GINWestern Africa | 2.5810 |
| 187 | AFGSouthern Asia | 2.4129 |
| 188 | ETHEastern Africa | 2.4110 |
| 189 | TCDMiddle Africa | 2.1382 |
| 190 | BFAWestern Africa | 1.7625 |
| 191 | MLIWestern Africa | 1.7000 |
| 192 | NERWestern Africa | 1.3116 |
02In 2017
At either end
The 5 countries at each end of the headline.
Highest
- 1
Germany14.1050
- 2
Canada13.7580
- 3
Switzerland13.7350
- 4
Estonia13.5600
- 5
Iceland13.5500
Lowest
- 192
Niger1.3116
- 191
Mali1.7000
- 190
Burkina Faso1.7625
- 189
Chad2.1382
- 188
Ethiopia2.4110
A higher value is the better result. The middle country reads 9.2987. “Shared” marks a value another country also holds.
032016 → 2017
Since 2016
What changed between 2016 and this one: who joined or left, and how far the headline moved.
- +0 / −0countries joined / left
- 190values changed, of 192 in both
- 160 · 30rose · fell
- 2unchanged
Rose most
United Arab Emirates10.8400 → 12.0600+1.2200
Myanmar4.8493 → 5.3596+0.5102
Oman10.1300 → 10.5600+0.4300
Bhutan3.6920 → 4.0600+0.3680
Greece10.2500 → 10.5400+0.2900
Fell most
Armenia11.6897 → 11.1900−0.4997
Guinea3.0319 → 2.5810−0.4510
Philippines8.4225 → 8.1800−0.2425
Venezuela10.3100 → 10.1361−0.1739
Denmark13.1600 → 13.0100−0.1500
Both years come from the same release, so a difference here is a change in the data, not a revision of it. Every country’s full history is charted on the statistic page.
04Caveats
Read before you use
What this edition’s numbers are and are not, worked out from the file itself.
One year of the 2025 release
Every year in this series comes from UNDP Human Development Report Office’s 2025 release, recalculated on one method. It can differ from what was first published for 2017.
The position is ours
UNDP Human Development Report Office publishes values only; the order is this site’s.
Nothing missing
Every one of the 192 countries has every column.
05The files
Download and cite
The table as a file, digit for digit, what this site changed, and a citation for this edition.
- .csv
For a spreadsheet or code
192 rows · 6.4 KB · UTF-8, opens in Excel
Opens with 11 lines of source notes; the table starts on row 13.
Download mean-years-schooling-2017-nations-inquiry.csv - ↗
The publisher’s original
UNDP Human Development Report Office’s own file, on its own site.
HDR25_Composite_indices_complete_time_series.csv
What this site changed: Reshaped into one row per country: regional and income-group totals are left out, only the columns listed are kept, each row gets its ISO 3166 code, and some country names are brought to one spelling. No value is recalculated, rescaled or rounded.
Licence: CC BY 3.0 IGO · what it allows, in plain words
Cite this edition
UNDP Human Development Report Office (2017). Mean Years of Schooling, 2017 [data set], describing 2017. As held by Nations Inquiry, https://nationsinquiry.com/datasets/mean-years-schooling/2017
0634 held
Other years
‹ The year before
Mean Years of Schooling, 2016192 countries
The year after ›
Mean Years of Schooling, 2018192 countries
All of them
Mean Years of Schooling: every year34 held, with the data dictionary, coverage and licence.
How it has moved, charted by country
07Questions
Mean Years of Schooling, 2017: questions and answers
Which country has the highest mean years of schooling in Mean Years of Schooling, 2017?
Germany, at 14.1050, of the 192 countries in the file.
What year does Mean Years of Schooling, 2017 describe?
2017.
How many countries does Mean Years of Schooling, 2017 cover?
192.
Where can I download Mean Years of Schooling, 2017?
On this page, as a CSV file holding every value exactly as published, or from the publisher’s own site, linked below.
Is Mean Years of Schooling, 2017 the newest?
No. The newest held here is Mean Years of Schooling, 2023.