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

Kuwait: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary was 18.5% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
18.5%
Change on year
up 6.4%
World rank
79th
of 129 countries
All-time high
18.5%
in 2018
All-time low
4.6%
in 1970
Years of data
14
1970–2018

Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Kuwait, 1970–2018

51015201970199420181970: 4.6 cumulative1975: 6.6 cumulative1980: 10.1 cumulative1985: 12.7 cumulative1988: 16.4 cumulative2005: 13.5 cumulative2006: 13.1 cumulative2007: 12.8 cumulative2008: 13.2 cumulative2012: 16.5 cumulative2013: 13.8 cumulative2015: 15 cumulative2017: 17.4 cumulative2018: 18.5 cumulative

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.

Analysis

In 2018, educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Kuwait stood at 18.5%. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.

The figure is up 6.4% on the previous year and up 40.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Kuwait peaked at 18.5% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 4.6%, in 1970.

Kuwait ranks 79th of 129 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative) in Kuwait, 1970 to 2018.
Year cumulative Change
1970 4.6% —
1975 6.6% +43.5%
1980 10.1% +52.9%
1985 12.7% +25.4%
1988 16.4% +29.5%
2005 13.5% -17.5%
2006 13.1% -2.7%
2007 12.8% -2.5%
2008 13.2% +2.8%
2012 16.5% +25.2%
2013 13.8% -16.5%
2015 15.0% +9.1%
2017 17.4% +15.8%
2018 18.5% +6.4%

Kuwait compared with similar countries

  • Kuwait's 18.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 37.8%, 49% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
  • Kuwait's 18.5% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 22.5%, 82% of the median. (13 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 5.6% 4.6% 6.6% 2
1980s 13.0% 10.1% 16.4% 3
2000s 13.2% 12.8% 13.5% 4
2010s 16.2% 13.8% 18.5% 5

Countries ranked near Kuwait

  1. 76 Mexico 19.7% compare
  2. 77 Argentina 19.6% compare
  3. 78 Trinidad and Tobago 19.2% compare
  4. 80 Grenada 18.5%
  5. 81 Egypt 18.1% compare
  6. 82 Italy 17.7% compare

See the full ranking of 129 places →

More education data for Kuwait

All data for Kuwait →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Kuwait?
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Kuwait was 18.5% in 2018, 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 Kuwait?
The highest recorded value was 18.5% in 2018.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in Kuwait?
The lowest recorded value was 4.6% in 1970.
How does Kuwait rank for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
Kuwait ranks 79th out of 129 countries with data for 2018.
Is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary rising or falling in Kuwait?
Over the last ten years it is up 40.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Kuwait 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+, total (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Kuwait. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 27 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-short-cycle-tertiary-population-25-total/kuwait/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, 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
129 places, 2,142 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

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