Netherlands vs Sweden: Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education

Netherlands
40.2%
in 2023
Sweden
41.8%
in 2022
Netherlands rank
21st
Sweden rank
20th

Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education over time

  • Netherlands
  • Sweden
010203040199520092023

How they compare

Sweden currently reports 41.8% against 40.2% in Netherlands, a difference of 1.6%.

The two have swapped places 4 times across 26 shared years of data; in 1997 it was Sweden ahead.

Netherlands ranks 21st and Sweden ranks 20th of 102 countries.

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

Head to head by decade

Decade Netherlands Sweden Difference Ahead
1990s 24.5% 34.2% 9.7% Sweden
2000s 29.1% 31.7% 2.6% Sweden
2010s 34.5% 35.9% 1.5% Sweden
2020s 39.9% 41.0% 1.1% Sweden

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education, Netherlands or Sweden?
Sweden, at 41.8% against 40.2% in Netherlands as of 2022.
What is the difference in educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education between Netherlands and Sweden?
1.6%, with Sweden ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Netherlands and Sweden?
26 years are reported by both, from 1997 to 2022.
How do Netherlands and Sweden rank globally for educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education?
Netherlands ranks 21st and Sweden ranks 20th of 102 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education or higher, population 25+ years, urban, male (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Netherlands vs Sweden: Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/educational-attainment-rate-completed-short-cycle-tertiary-education-or-higher-population-6/netherlands/sweden/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education or higher, population 25+ years, urban, male (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
102 places, 1,597 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release