Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary was 80.5% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in United Kingdom, 2009–2021
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 United Kingdom is 80.5%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and down 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in United Kingdom peaked at 87.7% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 74.0%, in 2013.
That places United Kingdom 35th out of 142 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 84.7% | — |
| 2010 | 86.4% | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 86.1% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 87.7% | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 74.0% | -15.7% |
| 2014 | 74.7% | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 77.1% | +3.2% |
| 2020 | 79.9% | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 80.5% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 84.7% | 84.7% | 84.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 81.0% | 74.0% | 87.7% | 6 |
| 2020s | 80.2% | 79.9% | 80.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More education data for United Kingdom
- 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 281,128 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre-primary education 2 years (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in United Kingdom?
- Educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary in United Kingdom was 80.5% 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 87.7% in 2012.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 74.0% in 2013.
- How does United Kingdom rank for educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary?
- United Kingdom ranks 35th out of 142 countries with data for 2021.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed upper secondary rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed upper secondary education.