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

Sweden: Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population was 47.6% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
47.6%
Change on year
up 4.1%
World rank
17th
of 108 countries
All-time high
47.6%
in 2023
All-time low
9.0%
in 1970
Years of data
32
1970–2023

Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Sweden, 1970–2023

10203040501970199620231970: 9 cumulative1974: 12.5 cumulative1979: 16.7 cumulative1986: 16.8 cumulative1987: 17.3 cumulative1988: 17.7 cumulative1989: 18.1 cumulative1990: 19.1 cumulative1991: 19.4 cumulative1992: 20.8 cumulative1993: 21.4 cumulative1994: 22 cumulative1995: 22.9 cumulative2004: 29.4 cumulative2005: 30.1 cumulative2006: 30.6 cumulative2007: 31.2 cumulative2008: 30.1 cumulative2009: 30.7 cumulative2010: 31.3 cumulative2011: 31.9 cumulative2012: 32.4 cumulative2013: 32.9 cumulative2014: 33.4 cumulative2015: 33.8 cumulative2016: 34.3 cumulative2017: 34.8 cumulative2018: 42.5 cumulative2019: 35.9 cumulative2021: 44.1 cumulative2022: 45.7 cumulative2023: 47.6 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 Sweden is 47.6%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.

The figure is up 4.1% on the previous year and up 44.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Sweden peaked at 47.6% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 9.0%, in 1970.

Sweden ranks 17th of 108 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative) in Sweden, 1970 to 2023.
Year cumulative Change
1970 9.0%
1974 12.5% +39.7%
1979 16.7% +33.3%
1986 16.8% +0.5%
1987 17.3% +3.1%
1988 17.7% +2.4%
1989 18.1% +2.1%
1990 19.1% +5.4%
1991 19.4% +1.8%
1992 20.8% +6.9%
1993 21.4% +2.9%
1994 22.0% +2.8%
1995 22.9% +4.2%
2004 29.4% +28.6%
2005 30.1% +2.2%
2006 30.6% +1.8%
2007 31.2% +1.9%
2008 30.1% -3.4%
2009 30.7% +1.9%
2010 31.3% +1.9%
2011 31.9% +1.9%
2012 32.4% +1.5%
2013 32.9% +1.5%
2014 33.4% +1.5%
2015 33.8% +1.4%
2016 34.3% +1.5%
2017 34.8% +1.4%
2018 42.5% +22.2%
2019 35.9% -15.6%
2021 44.1% +23.0%
2022 45.7% +3.6%
2023 47.6% +4.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 12.7% 9.0% 16.7% 3
1980s 17.5% 16.8% 18.1% 4
1990s 20.9% 19.1% 22.9% 6
2000s 30.4% 29.4% 31.2% 6
2010s 34.3% 31.3% 42.5% 10
2020s 45.8% 44.1% 47.6% 3

Countries ranked near Sweden

  1. 14 Armenia 48.8% compare
  2. 15 Iran 48.2% compare
  3. 16 Georgia 47.8% compare
  4. 18 Saudi Arabia 47.6% compare
  5. 19 United States 47.6% compare
  6. 20 Switzerland 46.1% compare

See the full ranking of 108 places →

More education data for Sweden

All data for Sweden →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Sweden?
Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Sweden was 47.6% 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 Sweden?
The highest recorded value was 47.6% in 2023.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population recorded in Sweden?
The lowest recorded value was 9.0% in 1970.
How does Sweden rank for educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population?
Sweden ranks 17th out of 108 countries with data for 2023.
Is educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population rising or falling in Sweden?
Over the last ten years it is up 44.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sweden 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 Sweden. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-post-secondary-population-25-male-percent/sweden/

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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.