Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Portugal
Portugal: Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary was 48.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Portugal, 1970–2024
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 Portugal is 48.6%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.8% on the previous year and up 42.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Portugal peaked at 48.6% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 1.6%, in 1970.
Portugal ranks 84th of 142 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Portugal, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 1.6% | — |
| 1981 | 3.5% | +111.6% |
| 1991 | 7.7% | +120.8% |
| 1993 | 16.8% | +118.7% |
| 1994 | 17.6% | +5.0% |
| 1995 | 18.4% | +4.3% |
| 1996 | 18.2% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 18.0% | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 14.5% | -19.3% |
| 1999 | 15.3% | +4.9% |
| 2000 | 15.8% | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 16.4% | +4.1% |
| 2002 | 16.7% | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 18.4% | +10.2% |
| 2004 | 20.3% | +10.2% |
| 2005 | 21.3% | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 22.4% | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 22.3% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 22.8% | +2.3% |
| 2009 | 24.1% | +5.5% |
| 2010 | 25.6% | +6.4% |
| 2011 | 27.9% | +8.9% |
| 2012 | 30.0% | +7.7% |
| 2013 | 31.9% | +6.1% |
| 2014 | 34.2% | +7.3% |
| 2015 | 35.4% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 36.8% | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 37.6% | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 37.1% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 40.7% | +9.7% |
| 2020 | 43.5% | +6.8% |
| 2021 | 42.3% | -2.7% |
| 2022 | 45.7% | +8.0% |
| 2023 | 46.3% | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 48.6% | +4.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1 |
| 1980s | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 15.8% | 7.7% | 18.4% | 8 |
| 2000s | 20.1% | 15.8% | 24.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 33.7% | 25.6% | 40.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 45.3% | 42.3% | 48.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
More education data for Portugal
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,022 tertiary education (2023)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 52,131 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 3 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Portugal?
- Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in Portugal was 48.6% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 48.6% in 2024.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.6% in 1970.
- How does Portugal rank for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary?
- Portugal ranks 84th out of 142 countries with data for 2024.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Portugal 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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About this data
The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed upper secondary education.