Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary was 50.5% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
50.5%
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
11th
of 128 countries
All-time high
50.5%
in 2021
All-time low
6.6%
in 1971
Years of data
10
1971–2021

Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971–2021

10203040501971199620211971: 6.6 cumulative2009: 31.3 cumulative2010: 33.9 cumulative2011: 31.9 cumulative2012: 37.3 cumulative2013: 38.5 cumulative2014: 40.1 cumulative2017: 45.1 cumulative2020: 49.2 cumulative2021: 50.5 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 short-cycle tertiary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 50.5%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.

That represents a change of up 2.7% on the previous year and up 58.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 50.5% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6.6%, in 1971.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 11th out of 128 countries with data for 2021, 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 short-cycle tertiary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, female (%) (cumulative) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971 to 2021.
Year cumulative Change
1971 6.6%
2009 31.3% +374.9%
2010 33.9% +8.1%
2011 31.9% -5.9%
2012 37.3% +17.0%
2013 38.5% +3.3%
2014 40.1% +4.1%
2017 45.1% +12.4%
2020 49.2% +9.0%
2021 50.5% +2.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 6.6% 6.6% 6.6% 1
2000s 31.3% 31.3% 31.3% 1
2010s 37.8% 31.9% 45.1% 6
2020s 49.9% 49.2% 50.5% 2

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 8 Sweden 51.2% compare
  2. 9 Singapore 51.1% compare
  3. 10 Australia 51.0% compare
  4. 12 Bahrain 50.3% compare
  5. 13 Armenia 50.2% compare
  6. 14 Norway 48.7% compare

See the full ranking of 128 places →

More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 50.5% in 2021, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 50.5% in 2021.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 6.6% in 1971.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 11th out of 128 countries with data for 2021.
Is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 58.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, female (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 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-short-cycle-tertiary-population-25-female/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, female (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
128 places, 2,110 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed short-cycle tertiary education.