Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%) in Denmark
Denmark: Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%) was 17.7% in 2021. ▲ Rising
Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Denmark, 2006–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Denmark is 17.7%, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 11.7% on the previous year and down 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Denmark peaked at 23.8% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 12.6%, in 2015.
Denmark ranks 44th of 44 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.
Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%) in Denmark, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 19.0% | — |
| 2007 | 16.6% | -13.0% |
| 2008 | 18.2% | +10.2% |
| 2009 | 22.3% | +22.2% |
| 2010 | 21.5% | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 19.7% | -8.4% |
| 2012 | 20.4% | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 20.4% | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 13.4% | -34.3% |
| 2015 | 12.6% | -5.7% |
| 2016 | 23.5% | +86.2% |
| 2017 | 23.8% | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 22.6% | -5.1% |
| 2019 | 22.0% | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 20.1% | -8.8% |
| 2021 | 17.7% | -11.7% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 17.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 35.1%, 51% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 17.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 36.9%, 48% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%) in Denmark changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +86.2% | 12.6% | 23.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19.0% | 16.6% | 22.3% | 4 |
| 2010s | 20.0% | 12.6% | 23.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.9% | 17.7% | 20.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
- 41 Austria 23.0% compare
- 42 Switzerland 21.1% compare
- 43 Kenya 19.9%
More education data for Denmark
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.21 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.11 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 50,935 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 2,888 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 94,481 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 88,072 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 522,143 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 432,238 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.8558 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Denmark?
- Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Denmark was 17.7% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 23.8% in 2017.
- What is the lowest gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.6% in 2015.
- How does Denmark rank for gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes?
- Denmark ranks 44th out of 44 countries with data for 2021.
- Is gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Denmark data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 16 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release