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

Netherlands: Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population was 39.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
39.5%
Change on year
down 1.7%
World rank
29th
of 108 countries
All-time high
40.2%
in 2022
All-time low
9.6%
in 1971
Years of data
20
1971–2023

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

102030401971199720231971: 9.6 cumulative2005: 33.1 cumulative2006: 31.9 cumulative2007: 34.8 cumulative2008: 34.5 cumulative2009: 34.7 cumulative2010: 35.6 cumulative2011: 34.7 cumulative2012: 35.1 cumulative2013: 33 cumulative2014: 32.9 cumulative2015: 33.3 cumulative2016: 33.6 cumulative2017: 35.7 cumulative2018: 34.7 cumulative2019: 38.4 cumulative2020: 38.3 cumulative2021: 38.7 cumulative2022: 40.2 cumulative2023: 39.5 cumulative

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Netherlands is 39.5%, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and up 19.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Netherlands peaked at 40.2% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 9.6%, in 1971.

Netherlands ranks 29th of 108 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+, male (%) (cumulative) in Netherlands, 1971 to 2023.
Year cumulative Change
1971 9.6%
2005 33.1% +244.5%
2006 31.9% -3.8%
2007 34.8% +9.1%
2008 34.5% -0.7%
2009 34.7% +0.4%
2010 35.6% +2.5%
2011 34.7% -2.4%
2012 35.1% +1.1%
2013 33.0% -5.8%
2014 32.9% -0.4%
2015 33.3% +1.3%
2016 33.6% +0.7%
2017 35.7% +6.3%
2018 34.7% -2.7%
2019 38.4% +10.5%
2020 38.3% -0.2%
2021 38.7% +1.1%
2022 40.2% +3.7%
2023 39.5% -1.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 9.6% 9.6% 9.6% 1
2000s 33.8% 31.9% 34.8% 5
2010s 34.7% 32.9% 38.4% 10
2020s 39.2% 38.3% 40.2% 4

Countries ranked near Netherlands

  1. 26 Iceland 42.2% compare
  2. 27 Andorra 40.2% compare
  3. 28 Malta 39.9% compare
  4. 30 Estonia 39.2% compare
  5. 31 Norway 39.0% compare
  6. 32 Belgium 37.6% compare

See the full ranking of 108 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 39.5% 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 40.2% in 2022.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population recorded in Netherlands?
The lowest recorded value was 9.6% in 1971.
How does Netherlands rank for educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population?
Netherlands ranks 29th out of 108 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 19.5%. 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+, male (%) (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 29 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-post-secondary-population-25-male-percent/netherlands/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
108 places, 1,328 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

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