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

Sweden: Educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population was 52.5% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
52.5%
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
10th
of 110 countries
All-time high
52.5%
in 2023
All-time low
8.3%
in 1970
Years of data
31
1970–2023

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

10203040501970199620231970: 8.3 cumulative1974: 11.7 cumulative1979: 15.4 cumulative1986: 16.6 cumulative1987: 17.2 cumulative1988: 17.6 cumulative1989: 18.1 cumulative1990: 19 cumulative1991: 19.3 cumulative1992: 21 cumulative1993: 21.7 cumulative1994: 22.3 cumulative1995: 23.3 cumulative2004: 31.9 cumulative2005: 32.7 cumulative2006: 33.5 cumulative2007: 34.3 cumulative2008: 32.3 cumulative2009: 33 cumulative2010: 33.8 cumulative2011: 34.6 cumulative2012: 35.2 cumulative2013: 35.9 cumulative2014: 36.6 cumulative2015: 37.2 cumulative2016: 37.9 cumulative2017: 38.6 cumulative2019: 40 cumulative2021: 49.3 cumulative2022: 50.8 cumulative2023: 52.5 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 Sweden is 52.5%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.

The figure is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 46.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population in Sweden peaked at 52.5% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 8.3%, in 1970.

Sweden ranks 10th of 110 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 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+, total (%) (cumulative) in Sweden, 1970 to 2023.
Year cumulative Change
1970 8.3%
1974 11.7% +41.2%
1979 15.4% +31.2%
1986 16.6% +7.7%
1987 17.2% +3.7%
1988 17.6% +2.6%
1989 18.1% +2.4%
1990 19.0% +4.9%
1991 19.3% +1.9%
1992 21.0% +8.5%
1993 21.7% +3.2%
1994 22.3% +3.1%
1995 23.3% +4.5%
2004 31.9% +36.6%
2005 32.7% +2.7%
2006 33.5% +2.4%
2007 34.3% +2.3%
2008 32.3% -5.8%
2009 33.0% +2.3%
2010 33.8% +2.3%
2011 34.6% +2.2%
2012 35.2% +2.0%
2013 35.9% +1.9%
2014 36.6% +1.8%
2015 37.2% +1.8%
2016 37.9% +1.8%
2017 38.6% +1.7%
2019 40.0% +3.8%
2021 49.3% +23.2%
2022 50.8% +3.1%
2023 52.5% +3.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 11.8% 8.3% 15.4% 3
1980s 17.4% 16.6% 18.1% 4
1990s 21.1% 19.0% 23.3% 6
2000s 32.9% 31.9% 34.3% 6
2010s 36.6% 33.8% 40.0% 9
2020s 50.9% 49.3% 52.5% 3

Countries ranked near Sweden

  1. 7 Cayman Islands 54.9% compare
  2. 8 Bermuda 54.7% compare
  3. 9 Georgia 52.9% compare
  4. 11 Armenia 52.5% compare
  5. 12 Australia 52.4% compare
  6. 13 New Zealand 51.1% compare

See the full ranking of 110 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 52.5% 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 Sweden?
The highest recorded value was 52.5% in 2023.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population recorded in Sweden?
The lowest recorded value was 8.3% in 1970.
How does Sweden rank for educational attainment, at least completed post-secondary, population?
Sweden ranks 10th out of 110 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 46.2%. 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+, total (%) (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 24 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-post-secondary-population-25-total-percent/sweden/

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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.