Countries With the Highest Compulsory Schooling
Every country with a figure for compulsory schooling, ranked from highest to lowest. The top three are Venezuela, RB (17), Guatemala (16) and Dominican Republic (15). The middle country of the 197 has 10.
What this measures
Compulsory education, duration (years). Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. For this measure, no agreed better direction.
The full ranking
Each country’s latest figure, from 2025–2025. The year beside each value says when it was measured.
| Rank | Country | Compulsory schooling | Year | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Venezuela, RB | 17 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 2 | Guatemala | 16 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 3 | Dominican Republic | 15 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 4 | Ecuador | 15 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 5 | Israel | 15 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 6 | El Salvador | 15 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 7 | Tonga | 15 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 8 | Argentina | 14 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 9 | Bolivia | 14 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 10 | Brazil | 14 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 11 | Curacao | 14 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 12 | Mexico | 14 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 13 | Naoero | 14 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 14 | Peru | 14 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 15 | Sint Maarten (Dutch part) | 14 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 16 | Uruguay | 14 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 17 | Aruba | 13 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 18 | Austria | 13 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 19 | Belgium | 13 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 20 | Bermuda | 13 | 2025 | North America |
| 21 | Costa Rica | 13 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 22 | Germany | 13 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 23 | France | 13 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 24 | Gibraltar | 13 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 25 | Hungary | 13 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 26 | Marshall Islands | 13 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 27 | North Macedonia | 13 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 28 | Netherlands | 13 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 29 | Philippines | 13 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 30 | Puerto Rico (US) | 13 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 31 | Paraguay | 13 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 32 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 13 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 33 | United Arab Emirates | 12 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 34 | Armenia | 12 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 35 | Bulgaria | 12 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 36 | Bahamas, The | 12 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 37 | Chile | 12 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 38 | Colombia | 12 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 39 | Cayman Islands | 12 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 40 | Dominica | 12 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 41 | Egypt, Arab Rep. | 12 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 42 | Finland | 12 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 43 | Grenada | 12 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 44 | Honduras | 12 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 45 | Italy | 12 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 46 | Kenya | 12 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 47 | St. Kitts and Nevis | 12 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 48 | Luxembourg | 12 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 49 | Maldives | 12 | 2025 | South Asia |
| 50 | Mongolia | 12 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 51 | Mauritius | 12 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 52 | Pakistan | 12 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 53 | Palau | 12 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 54 | Korea, Dem. People's Rep. | 12 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 55 | Portugal | 12 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 56 | Qatar | 12 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 57 | Turkmenistan | 12 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 58 | Turkiye | 12 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 59 | United States | 12 | 2025 | North America |
| 60 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | 12 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 61 | British Virgin Islands | 12 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 62 | Antigua and Barbuda | 11 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 63 | Australia | 11 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 64 | Belarus | 11 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 65 | Barbados | 11 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 66 | Switzerland | 11 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 67 | United Kingdom | 11 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 68 | Ghana | 11 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 69 | Sri Lanka | 11 | 2025 | South Asia |
| 70 | Lithuania | 11 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 71 | Latvia | 11 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 72 | Monaco | 11 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 73 | Malta | 11 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 74 | Panama | 11 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 75 | Russian Federation | 11 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 76 | Senegal | 11 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 77 | Slovak Republic | 11 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 78 | Seychelles | 11 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 79 | Ukraine | 11 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 80 | Uzbekistan | 11 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 81 | Angola | 10 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 82 | Andorra | 10 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 83 | Burkina Faso | 10 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 84 | Central African Republic | 10 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 85 | Canada | 10 | 2025 | North America |
| 86 | Cote d'Ivoire | 10 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 87 | Congo, Rep. | 10 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 88 | Cabo Verde | 10 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 89 | Cyprus | 10 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 90 | Czechia | 10 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 91 | Djibouti | 10 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 92 | Denmark | 10 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 93 | Algeria | 10 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 94 | Spain | 10 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 95 | Gabon | 10 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 96 | Greece | 10 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 97 | Ireland | 10 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 98 | Iceland | 10 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 99 | Jordan | 10 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 100 | Kyrgyz Republic | 10 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 101 | Lebanon | 10 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 102 | St. Lucia | 10 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 103 | Macao SAR, China | 10 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 104 | Moldova | 10 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 105 | Norway | 10 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 106 | New Zealand | 10 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 107 | Oman | 10 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 108 | West Bank and Gaza | 10 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 109 | Romania | 10 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 110 | San Marino | 10 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 111 | Sweden | 10 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 112 | Chad | 10 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 113 | Togo | 10 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 114 | Viet Nam | 10 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 115 | Afghanistan | 9 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 116 | Albania | 9 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 117 | Azerbaijan | 9 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 118 | Bahrain | 9 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 119 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 9 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 120 | Brunei Darussalam | 9 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 121 | China | 9 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 122 | Cuba | 9 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 123 | Estonia | 9 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 124 | Georgia | 9 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 125 | Gambia, The | 9 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 126 | Guinea-Bissau | 9 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 127 | Hong Kong SAR, China | 9 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 128 | Indonesia | 9 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 129 | Iran, Islamic Rep. | 9 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 130 | Japan | 9 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 131 | Kazakhstan | 9 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 132 | Kiribati | 9 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 133 | Korea, Rep. | 9 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 134 | Kuwait | 9 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 135 | Lao PDR | 9 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 136 | Libya | 9 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 137 | Liechtenstein | 9 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 138 | Morocco | 9 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 139 | Mali | 9 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 140 | Montenegro | 9 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 141 | Mauritania | 9 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 142 | Nigeria | 9 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 143 | Nepal | 9 | 2025 | South Asia |
| 144 | Poland | 9 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 145 | Saudi Arabia | 9 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 146 | Sierra Leone | 9 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 147 | Slovenia | 9 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 148 | Syrian Arab Republic | 9 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 149 | Thailand | 9 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 150 | Tajikistan | 9 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 151 | Timor-Leste | 9 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 152 | Tunisia | 9 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 153 | Tuvalu | 9 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 154 | Yemen, Rep. | 9 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 155 | South Africa | 9 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 156 | Belize | 8 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 157 | Eritrea | 8 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 158 | Ethiopia | 8 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 159 | Micronesia, Fed. Sts. | 8 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 160 | Croatia | 8 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 161 | India | 8 | 2025 | South Asia |
| 162 | Malawi | 8 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 163 | Sudan | 8 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 164 | Somalia, Fed. Rep. | 8 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 165 | Serbia | 8 | 2025 | Europe & Central Asia |
| 166 | South Sudan | 8 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 167 | Samoa | 8 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 168 | Lesotho | 7 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 169 | Namibia | 7 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 170 | Nicaragua | 7 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 171 | Eswatini | 7 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 172 | Trinidad and Tobago | 7 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 173 | Tanzania | 7 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 174 | Uganda | 7 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 175 | Zambia | 7 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 176 | Zimbabwe | 7 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 177 | Benin | 6 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 178 | Cameroon | 6 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 179 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 6 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 180 | Comoros | 6 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 181 | Guinea | 6 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 182 | Equatorial Guinea | 6 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 183 | Guyana | 6 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 184 | Haiti | 6 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 185 | Iraq | 6 | 2025 | Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan |
| 186 | Jamaica | 6 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 187 | Liberia | 6 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 188 | Malaysia | 6 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 189 | Rwanda | 6 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 190 | Singapore | 6 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 191 | Sao Tome and Principe | 6 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 192 | Suriname | 6 | 2025 | Latin America & Caribbean |
| 193 | Bangladesh | 5 | 2025 | South Asia |
| 194 | Madagascar | 5 | 2025 | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| 195 | Myanmar | 5 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 196 | Guam | 0 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
| 197 | New Caledonia | 0 | 2025 | East Asia & Pacific |
More on compulsory schooling
- Countries With the Lowest Compulsory Schooling
- Compulsory schooling by country: trend over time and what it goes with
Related rankings
- Countries With the Highest PISA Maths
- Countries With the Highest PISA Reading
- Countries With the Highest PISA Science
- Countries With the Highest Primary Completion
- Countries With the Highest Expected Schooling
- Countries With the Highest Mean Years of Schooling
- Countries With the Highest Education Spending
- Countries With the Highest Primary Enrollment
A ranking describes countries, not the people in them, and a high or low place does not by itself say why. All country rankings.