Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in New Zealand
New Zealand: Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary was 74.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in New Zealand, 1991–2020
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.
Analysis
In 2020, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in New Zealand stood at 74.6%. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in New Zealand peaked at 74.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 40.9%, in 1991.
That places New Zealand 47th out of 141 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 40.9% | — |
| 2001 | 71.3% | +74.5% |
| 2006 | 72.4% | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 65.6% | -9.3% |
| 2012 | 66.8% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 67.1% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 67.5% | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 68.3% | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 74.6% | +9.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 40.9% | 40.9% | 40.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 71.8% | 71.3% | 72.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 67.1% | 65.6% | 68.3% | 5 |
| 2020s | 74.6% | 74.6% | 74.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 44 Republic of Korea 76.1% compare
- 45 Luxembourg 76.0% compare
- 46 Qatar 75.2% compare
- 48 Republic of Moldova 74.0% compare
- 49 Belgium 74.0% compare
- 50 Saudi Arabia 73.6% compare
More education data for New Zealand
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 36,426 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 12,020 (1992)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 56,552 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 53,804 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 562,417 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 383,018 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.15 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0724 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in New Zealand?
- Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in New Zealand was 74.6% 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 74.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.9% in 1991.
- How does New Zealand rank for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary?
- New Zealand ranks 47th out of 141 countries with data for 2020.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.7%. 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 upper secondary, population 25+, female (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed upper secondary education.