Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Netherlands

Netherlands: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary was 39.2% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
39.2%
Change on year
down 1.8%
World rank
18th
of 129 countries
All-time high
39.9%
in 2022
All-time low
23.2%
in 1996
Years of data
28
1996–2023

Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Netherlands, 1996–2023

0102030401996200920231996: 23.2 cumulative1997: 24.5 cumulative1998: 23.9 cumulative1999: 24.1 cumulative2000: 25.2 cumulative2001: 24.9 cumulative2002: 25.8 cumulative2003: 28.3 cumulative2004: 30.4 cumulative2005: 29.5 cumulative2006: 28.2 cumulative2007: 31.1 cumulative2008: 30.7 cumulative2009: 31 cumulative2010: 31.9 cumulative2011: 31.4 cumulative2012: 32 cumulative2013: 32.6 cumulative2014: 32.6 cumulative2015: 33.1 cumulative2016: 33.3 cumulative2017: 35.4 cumulative2018: 34.5 cumulative2019: 38 cumulative2020: 38.1 cumulative2021: 38.5 cumulative2022: 39.9 cumulative2023: 39.2 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 Netherlands is 39.2%, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.8% on the previous year and up 20.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Netherlands peaked at 39.9% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 23.2%, in 1996.

That places Netherlands 18th out of 129 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.

Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Netherlands, year by year

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative) in Netherlands, 1996 to 2023.
Year cumulative Change
1996 23.2%
1997 24.5% +5.8%
1998 23.9% -2.4%
1999 24.1% +0.7%
2000 25.2% +4.7%
2001 24.9% -1.2%
2002 25.8% +3.4%
2003 28.3% +9.8%
2004 30.4% +7.4%
2005 29.5% -2.8%
2006 28.2% -4.6%
2007 31.1% +10.3%
2008 30.7% -1.3%
2009 31.0% +1.2%
2010 31.9% +2.9%
2011 31.4% -1.6%
2012 32.0% +1.9%
2013 32.6% +1.7%
2014 32.6% +0.0%
2015 33.1% +1.6%
2016 33.3% +0.5%
2017 35.4% +6.5%
2018 34.5% -2.8%
2019 38.0% +10.4%
2020 38.1% +0.0%
2021 38.5% +1.2%
2022 39.9% +3.6%
2023 39.2% -1.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 23.9% 23.2% 24.5% 4
2000s 28.5% 24.9% 31.1% 10
2010s 33.5% 31.4% 38.0% 10
2020s 38.9% 38.1% 39.9% 4

Countries ranked near Netherlands

  1. 15 Cyprus 42.4% compare
  2. 16 Armenia 41.7% compare
  3. 17 Seychelles 40.4% compare
  4. 19 Norway 37.9% compare
  5. 20 Sweden 37.6% compare
  6. 21 Andorra 37.4% compare

See the full ranking of 129 places →

More education data for Netherlands

All data for Netherlands →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Netherlands?
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Netherlands was 39.2% in 2023, 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 Netherlands?
The highest recorded value was 39.9% in 2022.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in Netherlands?
The lowest recorded value was 23.2% in 1996.
How does Netherlands rank for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
Netherlands ranks 18th out of 129 countries with data for 2023.
Is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary rising or falling in Netherlands?
Over the last ten years it is up 20.4%. 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 short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Netherlands. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-short-cycle-tertiary-population-25-male-percent/netherlands/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, 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
129 places, 2,126 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

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