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
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in Norway, 1970–2023
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
| 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | +53.9% | 11.9% | 18.4% |
| 1996 | +34.3% | 18.4% | 24.7% |
| 1980 | +31.2% | 9.1% | 11.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More education data for Norway
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.62 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 98.62 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 59,473 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (1993)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 85,282 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 80,636 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 469,508 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 434,422 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7841 % change on previous year (2024)
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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About this data
The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed short-cycle tertiary education.