Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in New Zealand

New Zealand: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary was 36.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
36.6%
World rank
34th
of 129 countries
All-time high
36.9%
in 2011
All-time low
24.7%
in 2001
Years of data
8
2001–2020

Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in New Zealand, 2001–2020

0102030402001201020202001: 24.7 cumulative2006: 30.2 cumulative2011: 36.9 cumulative2012: 35.8 cumulative2014: 31.1 cumulative2015: 30.2 cumulative2016: 32.3 cumulative2020: 36.6 cumulative

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

Analysis

In 2020, educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in New Zealand stood at 36.6%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in New Zealand peaked at 36.9% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 24.7%, in 2001.

New Zealand ranks 34th of 129 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative) in New Zealand, 2001 to 2020.
Year cumulative Change
2001 24.7%
2006 30.2% +22.6%
2011 36.9% +22.0%
2012 35.8% -2.9%
2014 31.1% -13.1%
2015 30.2% -2.7%
2016 32.3% +6.8%
2020 36.6% +13.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 27.4% 24.7% 30.2% 2
2010s 33.3% 30.2% 36.9% 5
2020s 36.6% 36.6% 36.6% 1

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 31 Belgium 37.9% compare
  2. 32 Andorra 37.6% compare
  3. 33 France 37.2% compare
  4. 35 Latvia 36.4% compare
  5. 36 Republic of Moldova 36.2% compare
  6. 37 Spain 35.4% compare

See the full ranking of 129 places →

More education data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in New Zealand?
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in New Zealand was 36.6% in 2020, 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 New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 36.9% in 2011.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 24.7% in 2001.
How does New Zealand rank for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
New Zealand ranks 34th out of 129 countries with data for 2020.
Is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this New Zealand 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 New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-short-cycle-tertiary-population-25-total/new-zealand/

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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.