Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Spain

Spain: Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes was 37.9% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
37.9%
Change on year
down 24.1%
World rank
24th
of 44 countries
All-time high
49.9%
in 2020
All-time low
31.1%
in 2010
Years of data
16
2006–2021

Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Spain, 2006–2021

010203040502006201320212006: 32.7 %2007: 32.2 %2008: 32.6 %2009: 31.7 %2010: 31.1 %2011: 37.9 %2012: 36.1 %2013: 39.5 %2014: 43.6 %2015: 44.1 %2016: 44.6 %2017: 46.4 %2018: 46.1 %2019: 46.9 %2020: 49.9 %2021: 37.9 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Spain is 37.9%, measured in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 24.1% on the previous year and up 0.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Spain peaked at 49.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 31.1%, in 2010.

Spain ranks 24th of 44 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.

Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Spain, year by year

Annual values for Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%) in Spain, 2006 to 2021.
Year % Change
2006 32.7%
2007 32.2% -1.7%
2008 32.6% +1.2%
2009 31.7% -2.8%
2010 31.1% -1.9%
2011 37.9% +21.8%
2012 36.1% -4.6%
2013 39.5% +9.3%
2014 43.6% +10.3%
2015 44.1% +1.3%
2016 44.6% +1.0%
2017 46.4% +4.2%
2018 46.1% -0.6%
2019 46.9% +1.6%
2020 49.9% +6.6%
2021 37.9% -24.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 32.3% 31.7% 32.7% 4
2010s 41.6% 31.1% 46.9% 10
2020s 43.9% 37.9% 49.9% 2

Countries ranked near Spain

  1. 21 El Salvador 44.2% compare
  2. 22 France 39.3% compare
  3. 23 Croatia 38.9% compare
  4. 25 Luxembourg 37.4% compare
  5. 26 Romania 37.0% compare
  6. 27 Lithuania 36.9% compare

See the full ranking of 44 places →

More education data for Spain

All data for Spain →

Frequently asked questions

What is gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Spain?
Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Spain was 37.9% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Spain?
The highest recorded value was 49.9% in 2020.
What is the lowest gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Spain?
The lowest recorded value was 31.1% in 2010.
How does Spain rank for gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes?
Spain ranks 24th out of 44 countries with data for 2021.
Is gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in Spain?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Spain 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.

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Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Spain. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/gross-attendance-ratio-for-tertiary-education-both-sexes-percent-2/spain/

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About this data

Indicator
Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
44 places, 712 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release