Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Italy

Italy: Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary was 55.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
55.3%
Change on year
up 4.7%
World rank
74th
of 142 countries
All-time high
55.3%
in 2023
All-time low
15.3%
in 1981
Years of data
33
1981–2023

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

20304050601981200220231981: 15.3 cumulative1992: 27.7 cumulative1993: 27.6 cumulative1994: 29.4 cumulative1995: 30.7 cumulative1996: 31.8 cumulative1997: 33.3 cumulative1998: 36.3 cumulative1999: 37.9 cumulative2000: 39.4 cumulative2001: 35.4 cumulative2002: 36.6 cumulative2003: 38.8 cumulative2004: 39.6 cumulative2005: 40.5 cumulative2006: 41.4 cumulative2007: 43.1 cumulative2008: 44 cumulative2009: 44.7 cumulative2010: 45.5 cumulative2011: 46.2 cumulative2012: 47.3 cumulative2013: 48 cumulative2014: 48.6 cumulative2015: 49.2 cumulative2016: 50.1 cumulative2017: 51 cumulative2018: 52 cumulative2019: 52.6 cumulative2020: 52.5 cumulative2021: 52.4 cumulative2022: 52.8 cumulative2023: 55.3 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 55.3%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 33 years on record.

The figure is up 4.7% on the previous year and up 15.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Italy peaked at 55.3% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 15.3%, in 1981.

That places Italy 74th out of 142 countries with data for 2023, putting it 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+, total (%) (cumulative) in Italy, 1981 to 2023.
Year cumulative Change
1981 15.3%
1992 27.7% +81.1%
1993 27.6% -0.5%
1994 29.4% +6.8%
1995 30.7% +4.1%
1996 31.8% +3.8%
1997 33.3% +4.7%
1998 36.3% +9.0%
1999 37.9% +4.3%
2000 39.4% +4.0%
2001 35.4% -10.0%
2002 36.6% +3.2%
2003 38.8% +6.0%
2004 39.6% +2.3%
2005 40.5% +2.2%
2006 41.4% +2.2%
2007 43.1% +4.1%
2008 44.0% +2.1%
2009 44.7% +1.7%
2010 45.5% +1.7%
2011 46.2% +1.5%
2012 47.3% +2.4%
2013 48.0% +1.5%
2014 48.6% +1.4%
2015 49.2% +1.1%
2016 50.1% +1.9%
2017 51.0% +1.8%
2018 52.0% +2.0%
2019 52.6% +1.2%
2020 52.5% -0.4%
2021 52.4% -0.0%
2022 52.8% +0.7%
2023 55.3% +4.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 15.3% 15.3% 15.3% 1
1990s 31.8% 27.6% 37.9% 8
2000s 40.4% 35.4% 44.7% 10
2010s 49.0% 45.5% 52.6% 10
2020s 53.2% 52.4% 55.3% 4

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 71 Malta 56.2% compare
  2. 72 Egypt 55.7% compare
  3. 73 Spain 55.7% compare
  4. 75 Albania 54.0% compare
  5. 76 Grenada 53.6% compare
  6. 77 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 53.1% compare

See the full ranking of 142 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 55.3% 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 55.3% in 2023.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 15.3% in 1981.
How does Italy rank for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary?
Italy ranks 74th out of 142 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 15.2%. 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+, total (%) (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 25 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-upper-secondary-population-25-total-percent/italy/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary, population 25+, total (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
142 places, 2,311 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

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