Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Japan

Japan: Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary was 86.1% in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
86.1%
World rank
21st
of 140 countries
All-time high
86.1%
in 2020
All-time low
41.8%
in 1970
Years of data
5
1970–2020

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

0204060801970199520201970: 41.8 cumulative1980: 56.6 cumulative1990: 68.1 cumulative2010: 81.7 cumulative2020: 86.1 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 Japan is 86.1%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

The figure is up 5.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Japan peaked at 86.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 41.8%, in 1970.

Japan ranks 21st of 140 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+, male (%) (cumulative) in Japan, 1970 to 2020.
Year cumulative Change
1970 41.8%
1980 56.6% +35.5%
1990 68.1% +20.3%
2010 81.7% +20.1%
2020 86.1% +5.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 41.8% 41.8% 41.8% 1
1980s 56.6% 56.6% 56.6% 1
1990s 68.1% 68.1% 68.1% 1
2010s 81.7% 81.7% 81.7% 1
2020s 86.1% 86.1% 86.1% 1

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 18 Hungary 86.8% compare
  2. 19 Austria 86.5% compare
  3. 20 Montenegro 86.5% compare
  4. 22 Slovenia 86.0% compare
  5. 23 Croatia 85.9% compare
  6. 24 Seychelles 85.8% compare

See the full ranking of 140 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 86.1% 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 86.1% in 2020.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 41.8% in 1970.
How does Japan rank for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary?
Japan ranks 21st out of 140 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 5.3%. 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+, male (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).

Share, cite or embed this page

Cite this page

Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Japan. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-upper-secondary-population-25-male-percent/japan/

Embed or link this data

Paste this into a page to link back to these figures. The data itself is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data); please keep the attribution.

<a href="https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-upper-secondary-population-25-male-percent/japan/">Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Japan</a> — Statizoid

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.