Costa Rica vs Mexico: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary

Costa Rica
20.4%
in 2024
Mexico
19.7%
in 2025
Costa Rica rank
75th
Mexico rank
76th

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

  • Costa Rica
  • Mexico
510152025197319992025

How they compare

Costa Rica currently reports 20.4% against 19.7% in Mexico, a difference of 0.7%.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 23 shared years of data; in 2002 it was Costa Rica ahead.

Costa Rica ranks 75th and Mexico ranks 76th of 129 countries.

Costa Rica has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Costa Rica Mexico Difference Ahead
2000s 16.9% 13.2% 3.6% Costa Rica
2010s 20.4% 15.4% 5.0% Costa Rica
2020s 19.8% 18.8% 1.0% Costa Rica

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, Costa Rica or Mexico?
Costa Rica, at 20.4% against 19.7% in Mexico as of 2024.
What is the difference in educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary between Costa Rica and Mexico?
0.7%, with Costa Rica ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Costa Rica and Mexico?
23 years are reported by both, from 2002 to 2024.
How do Costa Rica and Mexico rank globally for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
Costa Rica ranks 75th and Mexico ranks 76th of 129 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+, total (%) (cumulative). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Costa Rica vs Mexico: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-short-cycle-tertiary-population-25-total/costa-rica/mexico/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, 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
129 places, 2,142 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

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