Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary was 48.7% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1971–2021
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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 48.7%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 47.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 48.7% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 7.9%, in 1971.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 9th of 129 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 7.9% | — |
| 2009 | 31.5% | +297.2% |
| 2010 | 33.7% | +7.0% |
| 2011 | 33.1% | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 37.0% | +11.8% |
| 2013 | 37.9% | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 39.0% | +3.0% |
| 2017 | 44.1% | +13.1% |
| 2020 | 47.2% | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 48.7% | +3.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7.9% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 31.5% | 31.5% | 31.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 37.4% | 33.1% | 44.1% | 6 |
| 2020s | 48.0% | 47.2% | 48.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 6 United States of America 49.8% compare
- 7 Republic of Korea 49.6% compare
- 8 Canada 49.3% compare
- 10 Ukraine 47.8% compare
- 11 Australia 47.5% compare
- 12 Luxembourg 46.4% compare
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 281,128 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 2 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 63.3% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 17.0% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 11 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 5 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 102.17 (2023)
- School enrollment, primary 102.2% (2023)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 48.7% in 2021, 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 48.7% in 2021.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.9% in 1971.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 9th out of 129 countries with data for 2021.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.