Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in New Zealand
New Zealand: Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population was 54.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in New Zealand, 1981–2020
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 New Zealand is 54.1%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in New Zealand peaked at 54.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 33.8%, in 1981.
That places New Zealand 8th out of 108 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.
Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 33.8% | — |
| 1991 | 45.7% | +35.1% |
| 2001 | 37.4% | -18.3% |
| 2006 | 46.0% | +23.0% |
| 2011 | 52.5% | +14.3% |
| 2012 | 51.0% | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 50.9% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 48.7% | -4.3% |
| 2016 | 50.8% | +4.2% |
| 2020 | 54.1% | +6.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 33.8% | 33.8% | 33.8% | 1 |
| 1990s | 45.7% | 45.7% | 45.7% | 1 |
| 2000s | 41.7% | 37.4% | 46.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 50.8% | 48.7% | 52.5% | 5 |
| 2020s | 54.1% | 54.1% | 54.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 5 Lithuania 56.7% compare
- 6 Republic of Korea 54.7% compare
- 7 United Arab Emirates 54.5% compare
- 9 Cayman Islands 54.0% compare
- 10 Bermuda 51.2% compare
- 11 South Africa 50.2% compare
More education data for New Zealand
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 36,426 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 12,020 (1992)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 56,552 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 53,804 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 562,417 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 383,018 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0724 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in New Zealand?
- Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in New Zealand was 54.1% in 2020, 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 54.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.8% in 1981.
- How does New Zealand rank for educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population?
- New Zealand ranks 8th out of 108 countries with data for 2020.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand 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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About this data
The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed post-secondary non-tertiary education.