Australia vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary

Australia
79.9%
in 2024
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
80.5%
in 2021
Australia rank
38th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
35th

Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary over time

  • Australia
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
20406080197119972024

How they compare

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland currently reports 80.5% against 79.9% in Australia, a difference of 0.6%.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 9 shared years of data; in 2009 it was United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.

Australia ranks 38th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 35th of 142 countries.

Across the 3 decades both report, Australia averaged higher in 1 and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade Australia United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
2000s 70.9% 84.7% 13.8% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2010s 74.4% 81.0% 6.6% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
2020s 80.6% 80.2% 0.4% Australia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary, Australia or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at 80.5% against 79.9% in Australia as of 2021.
What is the difference in educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary between Australia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
0.6%, with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
9 years are reported by both, from 2009 to 2021.
How do Australia and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary?
Australia ranks 38th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 35th of 142 countries.
Where does this data come from?
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Australia vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Educational attainment, at least completed upper 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-upper-secondary-population-25-total-percent/australia/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed upper 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
142 places, 2,311 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

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