Canada vs United States of America: Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary

Canada
96.4%
in 2024
United States of America
96.6%
in 2024
Canada rank
19th
United States of America rank
18th

Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary over time

  • Canada
  • United States of America
020406080100197019972024

How they compare

United States of America currently reports 96.6% against 96.4% in Canada, a difference of 0.2%.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 34 shared years of data; in 1970 it was United States of America ahead.

Canada ranks 19th and United States of America ranks 18th of 134 countries.

United States of America has averaged higher in every one of the 6 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Canada United States of America Difference Ahead
1970s 60.2% 65.7% 5.5% United States of America
1980s 74.3% 93.0% 18.7% United States of America
1990s 86.0% 94.6% 8.6% United States of America
2000s 90.5% 95.4% 4.8% United States of America
2010s 94.1% 95.5% 1.4% United States of America
2020s 96.1% 96.3% 0.2% United States of America

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary, Canada or United States of America?
United States of America, at 96.6% against 96.4% in Canada as of 2024.
What is the difference in educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary between Canada and United States of America?
0.2%, with United States of America ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Canada and United States of America?
34 years are reported by both, from 1970 to 2024.
How do Canada and United States of America rank globally for educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary?
Canada ranks 19th and United States of America ranks 18th of 134 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Canada vs United States of America: Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-lower-secondary-population-25-total-percent/canada/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed lower secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
134 places, 1,905 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed lower secondary education.