Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in New Zealand
New Zealand: Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education was 36.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in New Zealand, 2001–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in New Zealand is 36.6%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in New Zealand peaked at 36.9% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 24.7%, in 2001.
New Zealand ranks 34th of 129 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 24.7% | — |
| 2006 | 30.2% | +22.6% |
| 2011 | 36.9% | +22.0% |
| 2012 | 35.8% | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 31.1% | -13.1% |
| 2015 | 30.2% | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 32.3% | +6.8% |
| 2020 | 36.6% | +13.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 27.4% | 24.7% | 30.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 33.3% | 30.2% | 36.9% | 5 |
| 2020s | 36.6% | 36.6% | 36.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More education data for New Zealand
- 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 2,024 tertiary education (2024)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0494 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 26,597 (2024)
- 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 rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in New Zealand?
- Educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education in New Zealand was 36.6% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 36.9% in 2011.
- What is the lowest educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.7% in 2001.
- How does New Zealand rank for educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education?
- New Zealand ranks 34th out of 129 countries with data for 2020.
- Is educational attainment rate, completed short-cycle tertiary education rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand 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, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release