Educational attainment rate … both short-cycle tertiary urban in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Educational attainment rate … both short-cycle tertiary urban was 49.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in United Kingdom, 2009–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in United Kingdom stood at 49.1%. 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 48.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in United Kingdom peaked at 49.1% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 30.8%, in 2009.
That places United Kingdom 13th out of 101 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
Educational attainment rate … both short-cycle tertiary urban in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 30.8% | — |
| 2010 | 32.7% | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 33.0% | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 36.4% | +10.5% |
| 2013 | 37.1% | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 38.4% | +3.6% |
| 2017 | 44.0% | +14.5% |
| 2020 | 47.6% | +8.0% |
| 2021 | 49.1% | +3.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 49.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 40.2%, 1.2× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 49.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 40.3%, 1.2× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.8% | 30.8% | 30.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 37.0% | 32.7% | 44.0% | 6 |
| 2020s | 48.3% | 47.6% | 49.1% | 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 short-cycle tertiary education in United Kingdom?
- Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in United Kingdom was 49.1% 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 49.1% in 2021.
- What is the lowest educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 30.8% in 2009.
- How does United Kingdom rank for educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education?
- United Kingdom ranks 13th out of 101 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 48.8%. 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, urban, both sexes (%). 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