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

Netherlands: Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population was 39.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
39.1%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
35th
of 110 countries
All-time high
39.1%
in 2023
All-time low
7.2%
in 1971
Years of data
20
1971–2023

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

102030401971199720231971: 7.2 cumulative2005: 29.3 cumulative2006: 28.3 cumulative2007: 31.5 cumulative2008: 31.2 cumulative2009: 31.7 cumulative2010: 32.2 cumulative2011: 31.6 cumulative2012: 32.1 cumulative2013: 30.3 cumulative2014: 30.6 cumulative2015: 31.2 cumulative2016: 31.8 cumulative2017: 33.9 cumulative2018: 33.3 cumulative2019: 36.7 cumulative2020: 37 cumulative2021: 37.9 cumulative2022: 39.1 cumulative2023: 39.1 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 39.1%. That is the highest value across all 20 years on record.

That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 29.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Netherlands peaked at 39.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 7.2%, in 1971.

Netherlands ranks 35th of 110 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+, total (%) (cumulative) in Netherlands, 1971 to 2023.
Year cumulative Change
1971 7.2%
2005 29.3% +307.0%
2006 28.3% -3.5%
2007 31.5% +11.4%
2008 31.2% -1.1%
2009 31.7% +1.7%
2010 32.2% +1.6%
2011 31.6% -1.7%
2012 32.1% +1.4%
2013 30.3% -5.5%
2014 30.6% +0.9%
2015 31.2% +2.1%
2016 31.8% +1.9%
2017 33.9% +6.7%
2018 33.3% -1.8%
2019 36.7% +10.3%
2020 37.0% +0.6%
2021 37.9% +2.6%
2022 39.1% +3.1%
2023 39.1% +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 7.2% 7.2% 7.2% 1
2000s 30.4% 28.3% 31.7% 5
2010s 32.4% 30.3% 36.7% 10
2020s 38.3% 37.0% 39.1% 4

Countries ranked near Netherlands

  1. 32 Andorra 40.2% compare
  2. 33 Belgium 39.4% compare
  3. 34 Malta 39.4% compare
  4. 36 Brunei Darussalam 38.9% compare
  5. 37 Puerto Rico 38.6% compare
  6. 38 Denmark 38.5% compare

See the full ranking of 110 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 39.1% 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 39.1% in 2023.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population recorded in Netherlands?
The lowest recorded value was 7.2% in 1971.
How does Netherlands rank for educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population?
Netherlands ranks 35th out of 110 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 29.2%. 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+, total (%) (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 23 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-post-secondary-population-25-total-percent/netherlands/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
110 places, 1,336 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

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