Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Sweden

Sweden: Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes was 23.1% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
23.1%
Change on year
down 7.2%
World rank
40th
of 44 countries
All-time high
24.9%
in 2020
All-time low
15.2%
in 2006
Years of data
16
2006–2021

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

05101520252006201320212006: 15.2 %2007: 15.4 %2008: 15.8 %2009: 16.5 %2010: 18.2 %2011: 18.1 %2012: 18.9 %2013: 19.1 %2014: 21.9 %2015: 22.2 %2016: 22.5 %2017: 22.2 %2018: 21.9 %2019: 22.8 %2020: 24.9 %2021: 23.1 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Sweden is 23.1%, measured in 2021.

The figure is down 7.2% on the previous year and up 27.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Sweden peaked at 24.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 15.2%, in 2006.

That places Sweden 40th out of 44 countries with data for 2021, putting it 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 Sweden, year by year

Annual values for Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes (%) in Sweden, 2006 to 2021.
Year % Change
2006 15.2%
2007 15.4% +1.6%
2008 15.8% +2.7%
2009 16.5% +4.0%
2010 18.2% +10.9%
2011 18.1% -0.7%
2012 18.9% +4.5%
2013 19.1% +0.8%
2014 21.9% +14.8%
2015 22.2% +1.3%
2016 22.5% +1.4%
2017 22.2% -1.3%
2018 21.9% -1.3%
2019 22.8% +3.8%
2020 24.9% +9.6%
2021 23.1% -7.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 15.7% 15.2% 16.5% 4
2010s 20.8% 18.1% 22.8% 10
2020s 24.0% 23.1% 24.9% 2

Countries ranked near Sweden

  1. 37 Germany 26.5% compare
  2. 38 Guatemala 26.1% compare
  3. 39 Hungary 25.7% compare
  4. 41 Austria 23.0% compare
  5. 42 Switzerland 21.1% compare
  6. 43 Kenya 19.9%

See the full ranking of 44 places →

More education data for Sweden

All data for Sweden →

Frequently asked questions

What is gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Sweden?
Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes in Sweden was 23.1% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Sweden?
The highest recorded value was 24.9% in 2020.
What is the lowest gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Sweden?
The lowest recorded value was 15.2% in 2006.
How does Sweden rank for gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes?
Sweden ranks 40th out of 44 countries with data for 2021.
Is gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in Sweden?
Over the last ten years it is up 27.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sweden 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 Sweden. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/gross-attendance-ratio-for-tertiary-education-both-sexes-percent-2/sweden/

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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