Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Nepal

Nepal: Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary was 12.8% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
12.8%
Change on year
up 5.3%
World rank
128th
of 142 countries
All-time high
19.8%
in 2008
All-time low
0.5%
in 1971
Years of data
6
1971–2021

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

051015201971199620211971: 0.542 cumulative2001: 16.9 cumulative2008: 19.8 cumulative2011: 16.6 cumulative2019: 12.2 cumulative2021: 12.8 cumulative

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

Analysis

In 2021, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Nepal stood at 12.8%.

That represents a change of up 5.3% on the previous year and down 22.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Nepal peaked at 19.8% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.5%, in 1971.

That places Nepal 128th out of 142 countries with data for 2021, putting it 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+, total (%) (cumulative) in Nepal, 1971 to 2021.
Year cumulative Change
1971 0.5%
2001 16.9% +3024.3%
2008 19.8% +16.9%
2011 16.6% -16.3%
2019 12.2% -26.4%
2021 12.8% +5.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 0.5% 0.5% 0.5% 1
2000s 18.4% 16.9% 19.8% 2
2010s 14.4% 12.2% 16.6% 2
2020s 12.8% 12.8% 12.8% 1

Countries ranked near Nepal

  1. 125 Cameroon 14.3% compare
  2. 126 Zimbabwe 13.3% compare
  3. 127 Uganda 13.2% compare
  4. 129 Afghanistan 12.6% compare
  5. 130 Malawi 12.1% compare
  6. 131 Mozambique 11.6% compare

See the full ranking of 142 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 12.8% 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 19.8% in 2008.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in Nepal?
The lowest recorded value was 0.5% in 1971.
How does Nepal rank for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary?
Nepal ranks 128th out of 142 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 22.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
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+, total (%) (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 22 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-completed-upper-secondary-population-25-total-percent/nepal/

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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.