Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Netherlands

Netherlands: Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population was 38.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
38.8%
Change on year
up 1.8%
World rank
39th
of 111 countries
All-time high
38.8%
in 2023
All-time low
4.8%
in 1971
Years of data
20
1971–2023

Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Netherlands, 1971–2023

0102030401971199720231971: 4.8 cumulative2005: 25.6 cumulative2006: 24.9 cumulative2007: 28.4 cumulative2008: 27.9 cumulative2009: 28.8 cumulative2010: 29 cumulative2011: 28.7 cumulative2012: 29.2 cumulative2013: 27.6 cumulative2014: 28.3 cumulative2015: 29.2 cumulative2016: 30.1 cumulative2017: 32.2 cumulative2018: 31.9 cumulative2019: 35.1 cumulative2020: 35.7 cumulative2021: 37.1 cumulative2022: 38.1 cumulative2023: 38.8 cumulative

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.

Analysis

In 2023, educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Netherlands stood at 38.8%. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.

The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 40.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Netherlands peaked at 38.8% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 4.8%, in 1971.

Netherlands ranks 39th of 111 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.

Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Netherlands, year by year

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population 25+, female (%) (cumulative) in Netherlands, 1971 to 2023.
Year cumulative Change
1971 4.8%
2005 25.6% +433.7%
2006 24.9% -2.9%
2007 28.4% +14.1%
2008 27.9% -1.6%
2009 28.8% +3.3%
2010 29.0% +0.4%
2011 28.7% -1.0%
2012 29.2% +1.7%
2013 27.6% -5.2%
2014 28.3% +2.4%
2015 29.2% +3.1%
2016 30.1% +3.1%
2017 32.2% +7.0%
2018 31.9% -0.9%
2019 35.1% +10.2%
2020 35.7% +1.5%
2021 37.1% +4.2%
2022 38.1% +2.6%
2023 38.8% +1.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 4.8% 4.8% 4.8% 1
2000s 27.1% 24.9% 28.8% 5
2010s 30.1% 27.6% 35.1% 10
2020s 37.4% 35.7% 38.8% 4

Countries ranked near Netherlands

  1. 36 Andorra 40.2% compare
  2. 37 Slovenia 39.4% compare
  3. 38 France 39.0% compare
  4. 40 Malta 38.7% compare
  5. 41 Greece 37.9% compare
  6. 42 Spain 37.3% compare

See the full ranking of 111 places →

More education data for Netherlands

All data for Netherlands →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Netherlands?
Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Netherlands was 38.8% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population recorded in Netherlands?
The highest recorded value was 38.8% in 2023.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population recorded in Netherlands?
The lowest recorded value was 4.8% in 1971.
How does Netherlands rank for educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population?
Netherlands ranks 39th out of 111 countries with data for 2023.
Is educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population rising or falling in Netherlands?
Over the last ten years it is up 40.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Netherlands data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population 25+, female (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Netherlands. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-post-secondary-population-25-female-percent/netherlands/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population 25+, female (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
111 places, 1,333 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed post-secondary non-tertiary education.