United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland vs United States of America: Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
48.7%
in 2021
United States of America
49.8%
in 2024
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
9th
United States of America rank
6th
Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education over time
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- United States of America
How they compare
United States of America currently reports 49.8% against 48.7% in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 1.1%.
The two have swapped places 1 time across 9 shared years of data; in 2009 it was United States of America ahead.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 9th and United States of America ranks 6th of 129 countries.
United States of America has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | United States of America | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 31.5% | 38.6% | 7.1% | United States of America |
| 2010s | 37.4% | 41.3% | 3.9% | United States of America |
| 2020s | 48.0% | 48.0% | 0.0% | United States of America |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or United States of America?
- United States of America, at 49.8% against 48.7% in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2024.
- What is the difference in educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education between United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America?
- 1.1%, with United States of America ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America?
- 9 years are reported by both, from 2009 to 2021.
- How do United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America rank globally for educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 9th and United States of America ranks 6th of 129 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, 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