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

Norway: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary was 43.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
43.3%
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
16th
of 129 countries
All-time high
44.3%
in 2021
All-time low
7.4%
in 1970
Years of data
31
1970–2023

Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Norway, 1970–2023

102030401970199620231970: 7.4 cumulative1975: 9.1 cumulative1980: 11.9 cumulative1990: 18.4 cumulative1996: 24.7 cumulative1997: 25.7 cumulative1998: 26.5 cumulative1999: 27.6 cumulative2000: 29.4 cumulative2001: 31.6 cumulative2002: 32.1 cumulative2003: 29.4 cumulative2004: 26.7 cumulative2005: 27.6 cumulative2006: 28.2 cumulative2007: 28.9 cumulative2008: 29.9 cumulative2009: 30.4 cumulative2010: 31.2 cumulative2011: 32.2 cumulative2012: 36.1 cumulative2013: 37.4 cumulative2014: 35.7 cumulative2015: 36.5 cumulative2016: 37.2 cumulative2017: 38 cumulative2018: 41.4 cumulative2019: 39.2 cumulative2021: 44.3 cumulative2022: 42.4 cumulative2023: 43.3 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 Norway is 43.3%, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Norway peaked at 44.3% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 7.4%, in 1970.

That places Norway 16th out of 129 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative) in Norway, 1970 to 2023.
Year cumulative Change
1970 7.4% —
1975 9.1% +23.4%
1980 11.9% +31.2%
1990 18.4% +53.9%
1996 24.7% +34.3%
1997 25.7% +4.3%
1998 26.5% +2.9%
1999 27.6% +4.1%
2000 29.4% +6.7%
2001 31.6% +7.4%
2002 32.1% +1.6%
2003 29.4% -8.4%
2004 26.7% -9.0%
2005 27.6% +3.2%
2006 28.2% +2.2%
2007 28.9% +2.4%
2008 29.9% +3.5%
2009 30.4% +1.8%
2010 31.2% +2.5%
2011 32.2% +3.4%
2012 36.1% +12.0%
2013 37.4% +3.7%
2014 35.7% -4.6%
2015 36.5% +2.2%
2016 37.2% +2.0%
2017 38.0% +2.1%
2018 41.4% +8.9%
2019 39.2% -5.3%
2021 44.3% +12.9%
2022 42.4% -4.4%
2023 43.3% +2.2%

Norway compared with similar countries

  • Norway's 43.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 37.8%, 1.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
  • Norway's 43.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 35.4%, 1.2× the median. (45 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Norway changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
1990 +53.9% 11.9% 18.4%
1996 +34.3% 18.4% 24.7%
1980 +31.2% 9.1% 11.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 8.2% 7.4% 9.1% 2
1980s 11.9% 11.9% 11.9% 1
1990s 24.6% 18.4% 27.6% 5
2000s 29.4% 26.7% 32.1% 10
2010s 36.5% 31.2% 41.4% 10
2020s 43.3% 42.4% 44.3% 3

Countries ranked near Norway

  1. 13 Armenia 46.4% compare
  2. 14 Sweden 45.2% compare
  3. 15 Cyprus 43.9% compare
  4. 17 Saudi Arabia 43.0% compare
  5. 18 Switzerland 41.6% compare
  6. 19 Lithuania 41.3% compare

See the full ranking of 129 places →

More education data for Norway

All data for Norway →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Norway?
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Norway was 43.3% 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 Norway?
The highest recorded value was 44.3% in 2021.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in Norway?
The lowest recorded value was 7.4% in 1970.
How does Norway rank for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
Norway ranks 16th out of 129 countries with data for 2023.
Is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary rising or falling in Norway?
Over the last ten years it is up 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Norway 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 Norway. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 13 November 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-short-cycle-tertiary-population-25-total/norway/

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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.