Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Japan

Japan: Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary was 84.4% in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
84.4%
World rank
21st
of 141 countries
All-time high
84.4%
in 2020
All-time low
35.6%
in 1970
Years of data
5
1970–2020

Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Japan, 1970–2020

0204060801970199520201970: 35.6 cumulative1980: 51.6 cumulative1990: 63.4 cumulative2010: 79.1 cumulative2020: 84.4 cumulative

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

Analysis

In 2020, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Japan stood at 84.4%. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Japan peaked at 84.4% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 35.6%, in 1970.

Japan ranks 21st of 141 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Japan, year by year

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary, population 25+, female (%) (cumulative) in Japan, 1970 to 2020.
Year cumulative Change
1970 35.6%
1980 51.6% +44.9%
1990 63.4% +22.8%
2010 79.1% +24.7%
2020 84.4% +6.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 35.6% 35.6% 35.6% 1
1980s 51.6% 51.6% 51.6% 1
1990s 63.4% 63.4% 63.4% 1
2010s 79.1% 79.1% 79.1% 1
2020s 84.4% 84.4% 84.4% 1

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 18 Sweden 85.4% compare
  2. 19 Israel 85.4% compare
  3. 20 Ireland 85.1% compare
  4. 22 Puerto Rico 83.7% compare
  5. 23 Finland 83.6% compare
  6. 24 Seychelles 83.0% compare

See the full ranking of 141 places →

More education data for Japan

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Japan?
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Japan was 84.4% in 2020, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in Japan?
The highest recorded value was 84.4% in 2020.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 35.6% in 1970.
How does Japan rank for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary?
Japan ranks 21st out of 141 countries with data for 2020.
Is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary rising or falling in Japan?
Over the last ten years it is up 6.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Japan 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 upper secondary, population 25+, female (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Japan. 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-upper-secondary-population-25-female-percent/japan/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary, population 25+, female (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
141 places, 2,290 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed upper secondary education.