United Kingdom vs United States: Educational attainment rate, completed Master's or equivalent
United Kingdom
14.4%
in 2021
United States
15.0%
in 2024
United Kingdom rank
22nd
United States rank
19th
Educational attainment rate, completed Master's or equivalent over time
- United Kingdom
- United States
How they compare
United States currently reports 15.0% against 14.4% in United Kingdom, a difference of 0.6%.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 5 shared years of data; in 2013 it was United States ahead.
United Kingdom ranks 22nd and United States ranks 19th of 82 countries.
United States has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | United Kingdom | United States | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 9.8% | 12.0% | 2.3% | United States |
| 2020s | 14.0% | 14.2% | 0.2% | United States |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher educational attainment rate, completed master's or equivalent, United Kingdom or United States?
- United States, at 15.0% against 14.4% in United Kingdom as of 2024.
- What is the difference in educational attainment rate, completed master's or equivalent between United Kingdom and United States?
- 0.6%, with United States ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for United Kingdom and United States?
- 5 years are reported by both, from 2013 to 2021.
- How do United Kingdom and United States rank globally for educational attainment rate, completed master's or equivalent?
- United Kingdom ranks 22nd and United States ranks 19th of 82 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Educational attainment rate, completed Master's or equivalent education or higher, population 25+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
February 2026 Data Release