Canada vs United States of America: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary

Canada
52.9%
in 2021
United States of America
52.0%
in 2024
Canada rank
5th
United States of America rank
6th

Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary over time

  • Canada
  • United States of America
2030405060197019972024

How they compare

Canada currently reports 52.9% against 52.0% in United States of America, a difference of 0.9%.

Across all 19 years both countries report, Canada has been ahead every year.

Canada ranks 5th and United States of America ranks 6th of 128 countries.

Canada has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Canada United States of America Difference Ahead
1990s 44.7% 31.2% 13.5% Canada
2000s 50.0% 35.9% 14.0% Canada
2010s 58.0% 42.9% 15.1% Canada
2020s 52.9% 49.8% 3.1% Canada

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, Canada or United States of America?
Canada, at 52.9% against 52.0% in United States of America as of 2021.
What is the difference in educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary between Canada and United States of America?
0.9%, with Canada ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Canada and United States of America?
19 years are reported by both, from 1998 to 2021.
How do Canada and United States of America rank globally for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
Canada ranks 5th and United States of America ranks 6th of 128 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, female (%) (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 short-cycle tertiary. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-short-cycle-tertiary-population-25-female/canada/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, female (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
128 places, 2,110 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed short-cycle tertiary education.