Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Nepal

Nepal: Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary was 16.4% in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
16.4%
Change on year
up 6.7%
World rank
129th
of 140 countries
All-time high
29.9%
in 2008
All-time low
1.0%
in 1971
Years of data
6
1971–2021

Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Nepal, 1971–2021

01020301971199620211971: 1 cumulative2001: 25.5 cumulative2008: 29.9 cumulative2011: 24.1 cumulative2019: 15.4 cumulative2021: 16.4 cumulative

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

Analysis

Nepal recorded 16.4% for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in 2021.

That represents a change of up 6.7% on the previous year and down 31.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Nepal peaked at 29.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 1971.

Nepal ranks 129th of 140 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative) in Nepal, 1971 to 2021.
Year cumulative Change
1971 1.0%
2001 25.5% +2417.7%
2008 29.9% +17.1%
2011 24.1% -19.4%
2019 15.4% -36.0%
2021 16.4% +6.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 1.0% 1.0% 1.0% 1
2000s 27.7% 25.5% 29.9% 2
2010s 19.7% 15.4% 24.1% 2
2020s 16.4% 16.4% 16.4% 1

Countries ranked near Nepal

  1. 126 Togo 17.4% compare
  2. 127 Uganda 17.0% compare
  3. 128 Zimbabwe 16.7% compare
  4. 130 Mozambique 15.3% compare
  5. 131 Ethiopia 13.3% compare
  6. 132 Cambodia 13.2% compare

See the full ranking of 140 places →

More education data for Nepal

All data for Nepal →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Nepal?
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Nepal was 16.4% in 2021, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in Nepal?
The highest recorded value was 29.9% in 2008.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in Nepal?
The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 1971.
How does Nepal rank for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary?
Nepal ranks 129th out of 140 countries with data for 2021.
Is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary rising or falling in Nepal?
Over the last ten years it is down 31.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Nepal 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 Nepal. 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-male-percent/nepal/

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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.