Official duration and grade structure for primary, general secondary and full secondary education.
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Education in Azerbaijan
DATA2025/26
Grades 1 to 11 · more than 1.6m school students · 3,946 general education institutions
Azerbaijan organizes general education across primary, general secondary and full secondary levels. The official structure is grades I to IV for primary education, V to IX for general secondary education and X to XI for full secondary education. For the 2025/26 school year, the Ministry of Science and Education reports more than 1.6 million students in 3,946 general education institutions.
General education
Grades 1 to 11
School students
>1.6m*
General education institutions
3,946*
Grade 1 completers
131,396*
Azerbaijan Education System
| Stage / measure | Structure | Current interpretation | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary education | Grades I to IV | Four-year primary stage | Part of general education |
| General secondary | Grades V to IX | Five-year stage | Compulsory general secondary level |
| Full secondary | Grades X to XI | Two-year upper stage | Leads to final secondary certification |
| Current school system | 3,946 institutions* | More than 1.6m students in 2025/26 | Static ministry figures |
* Reference period is shown with the figure.
Three levels of general education
The Cabinet-approved structure divides general education into primary education in grades I to IV, general secondary education in grades V to IX and full secondary education in grades X to XI. The Education Law guarantees the right to compulsory general secondary education.
Current 2025/26 scale
The Ministry of Science and Education reports 3,946 general education institutions and more than 1.6 million students in the 2025/26 school year. It also reports that 131,396 pupils completed grade 1 during that year.
Progression and certification
Final assessment is associated with the end of grade IX and grade XI, which correspond to the completion points for general secondary and full secondary education. These stages should not be collapsed into a single undifferentiated secondary level.
How to read the figures
The school and student counts are current ministry figures for 2025/26. They are not population-based attainment measures, so they should not be compared directly with adult education indicators.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is general education structured in Azerbaijan?
Primary education covers grades I to IV, general secondary covers grades V to IX, and full secondary covers grades X to XI.
Is general secondary education compulsory?
Yes. The Education Law guarantees the right to compulsory general secondary education.
How many general education institutions were operating in 2025/26?
The Ministry reports 3,946.
How many students were in general education in 2025/26?
The Ministry reports more than 1.6 million students.
How many pupils completed grade 1 in 2025/26?
The Ministry reports 131,396.
Which grades mark completion points?
Grade IX and grade XI are the key completion points for general secondary and full secondary education.
Sources and Methodology
Official legal guarantee for compulsory general secondary education.
Current school, student and grade 1 completion figures for 2025/26.