Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Italy

Italy: Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary was 55.4% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
55.4%
Change on year
up 5.0%
World rank
76th
of 140 countries
All-time high
55.4%
in 2023
All-time low
18.2%
in 1981
Years of data
33
1981–2023

Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Italy, 1981–2023

20304050601981200220231981: 18.2 cumulative1992: 31.3 cumulative1993: 31.2 cumulative1994: 33.4 cumulative1995: 34.5 cumulative1996: 35.8 cumulative1997: 37.4 cumulative1998: 38.3 cumulative1999: 39.5 cumulative2000: 41 cumulative2001: 37.2 cumulative2002: 38.9 cumulative2003: 41 cumulative2004: 41.5 cumulative2005: 42.5 cumulative2006: 43.3 cumulative2007: 44.7 cumulative2008: 45.4 cumulative2009: 46.3 cumulative2010: 47 cumulative2011: 47.4 cumulative2012: 48.4 cumulative2013: 49 cumulative2014: 49.8 cumulative2015: 50.2 cumulative2016: 50.8 cumulative2017: 51.7 cumulative2018: 52.7 cumulative2019: 53 cumulative2020: 53.2 cumulative2021: 52.6 cumulative2022: 52.8 cumulative2023: 55.4 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 upper secondary in Italy is 55.4%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.

That represents a change of up 5.0% on the previous year and up 13.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Italy peaked at 55.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 18.2%, in 1981.

Italy ranks 76th of 140 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative) in Italy, 1981 to 2023.
Year cumulative Change
1981 18.2%
1992 31.3% +72.1%
1993 31.2% -0.4%
1994 33.4% +6.9%
1995 34.5% +3.5%
1996 35.8% +3.7%
1997 37.4% +4.2%
1998 38.3% +2.4%
1999 39.5% +3.2%
2000 41.0% +3.8%
2001 37.2% -9.2%
2002 38.9% +4.4%
2003 41.0% +5.5%
2004 41.5% +1.1%
2005 42.5% +2.5%
2006 43.3% +2.0%
2007 44.7% +3.1%
2008 45.4% +1.6%
2009 46.3% +2.1%
2010 47.0% +1.5%
2011 47.4% +0.8%
2012 48.4% +2.0%
2013 49.0% +1.4%
2014 49.8% +1.6%
2015 50.2% +0.7%
2016 50.8% +1.2%
2017 51.7% +1.7%
2018 52.7% +1.9%
2019 53.0% +0.6%
2020 53.2% +0.4%
2021 52.6% -1.1%
2022 52.8% +0.3%
2023 55.4% +5.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 18.2% 18.2% 18.2% 1
1990s 35.2% 31.2% 39.5% 8
2000s 42.2% 37.2% 46.3% 10
2010s 50.0% 47.0% 53.0% 10
2020s 53.5% 52.6% 55.4% 4

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 73 Trinidad and Tobago 56.2% compare
  2. 74 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 55.7% compare
  3. 75 Spain 55.5% compare
  4. 77 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 54.7% compare
  5. 78 Macao 53.2% compare
  6. 79 Jamaica 52.0% compare

See the full ranking of 140 places →

More education data for Italy

All data for Italy →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Italy?
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Italy was 55.4% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in Italy?
The highest recorded value was 55.4% in 2023.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 18.2% in 1981.
How does Italy rank for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary?
Italy ranks 76th out of 140 countries with data for 2023.
Is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary rising or falling in Italy?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Italy 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+, male (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Italy. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-upper-secondary-population-25-male-percent/italy/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
140 places, 2,299 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

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