Enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes was 3.56 million in 2023. ▲ Rising
Enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1993–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 3.56 million, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and down 13.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 4.35 million in 2016 and was at its lowest, 2.60 million, in 2012.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 16th of 196 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 2.71 million | — |
| 1994 | 2.77 million | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 2.82 million | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 2.86 million | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 2.80 million | -2.0% |
| 1998 | 2.81 million | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 2.95 million | +5.2% |
| 2000 | 3.02 million | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 3.06 million | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 3.18 million | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 3.20 million | +0.4% |
| 2004 | 3.39 million | +6.1% |
| 2005 | 3.41 million | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 3.07 million | -10.0% |
| 2007 | 3.08 million | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 3.04 million | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 3.02 million | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 3.08 million | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 2.63 million | -14.7% |
| 2012 | 2.60 million | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 4.12 million | +58.1% |
| 2014 | 4.20 million | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 4.04 million | -3.7% |
| 2016 | 4.35 million | +7.7% |
| 2017 | 3.76 million | -13.6% |
| 2018 | 3.55 million | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 3.47 million | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 3.45 million | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 3.50 million | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 3.53 million | +1.0% |
| 2023 | 3.56 million | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.82 million | 2.71 million | 2.95 million | 7 |
| 2000s | 3.15 million | 3.02 million | 3.41 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.58 million | 2.60 million | 4.35 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.51 million | 3.45 million | 3.56 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 13 Philippines 4.13 million compare
- 14 Kenya 4.00 million compare
- 15 Viet Nam 3.69 million compare
- 17 Japan 3.33 million compare
- 18 South Africa 3.25 million compare
- 19 Iran, Islamic Republic of 2.90 million compare
More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 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)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
- Secondary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 3.56 million in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 4.35 million in 2016.
- What is the lowest enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.60 million in 2012.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 16th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in upper secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release