Educational attainment rate, completed Master's … Master urban both in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Educational attainment rate, completed Master's … Master urban both was 14.9% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment rate, completed Master's or equivalent in United Kingdom, 2013–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment rate, completed master's or equivalent in United Kingdom is 14.9%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 6.7% on the previous year and up 75.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment rate, completed master's or equivalent in United Kingdom peaked at 14.9% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 8.5%, in 2013.
That places United Kingdom 28th out of 67 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Educational attainment rate, completed Master's … Master urban both in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 8.5% | — |
| 2014 | 8.6% | +1.9% |
| 2017 | 12.2% | +41.4% |
| 2020 | 14.0% | +14.3% |
| 2021 | 14.9% | +6.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 14.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 16.7%, 90% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 14.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 17.6%, 85% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 9.8% | 8.5% | 12.2% | 3 |
| 2020s | 14.4% | 14.0% | 14.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More education data for United Kingdom
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.73 (2018)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.93 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment rate, completed master's or equivalent in United Kingdom?
- Educational attainment rate, completed master's or equivalent in United Kingdom was 14.9% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment rate, completed master's or equivalent recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 14.9% in 2021.
- What is the lowest educational attainment rate, completed master's or equivalent recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.5% in 2013.
- How does United Kingdom rank for educational attainment rate, completed master's or equivalent?
- United Kingdom ranks 28th out of 67 countries with data for 2021.
- Is educational attainment rate, completed master's or equivalent rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 75.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Educational attainment rate, completed Master's or equivalent education or higher, population 25+ years, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release