Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education was 1.15 GPIA in 2021. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in United Kingdom, 2009–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in GPIA.
Analysis
In 2021, educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in United Kingdom stood at 1.15 GPIA. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in United Kingdom peaked at 1.15 GPIA in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.9555 GPIA, in 2011.
United Kingdom ranks 46th of 88 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | GPIA | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1.05 GPIA | — |
| 2010 | 1.03 GPIA | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 0.9555 GPIA | -7.1% |
| 2012 | 1.05 GPIA | +9.6% |
| 2013 | 1.07 GPIA | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 1.08 GPIA | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 1.08 GPIA | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 1.11 GPIA | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 1.15 GPIA | +3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.05 GPIA | 1.05 GPIA | 1.05 GPIA | 1 |
| 2010s | 1.04 GPIA | 0.9555 GPIA | 1.08 GPIA | 6 |
| 2020s | 1.13 GPIA | 1.11 GPIA | 1.15 GPIA | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 43 Namibia 1.16 GPIA compare
- 44 Palestine, State of 1.15 GPIA compare
- 45 United States 1.15 GPIA compare
- 47 South Africa 1.15 GPIA compare
- 48 France 1.14 GPIA compare
- 49 Israel 1.13 GPIA compare
- 49 Russia 1.13 GPIA compare
More education data for United Kingdom
- 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 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 63.3% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 17.0% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 11 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 5 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 102.17 (2023)
- School enrollment, primary 102.2% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in United Kingdom?
- Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in United Kingdom was 1.15 GPIA in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 1.15 GPIA in 2021.
- What is the lowest educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9555 GPIA in 2011.
- How does United Kingdom rank for educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education?
- United Kingdom ranks 46th out of 88 countries with data for 2021.
- Is educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.1%. 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 short-cycle tertiary education or higher, population 25+ years, rural, adjusted gender parity index (GPIA). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release