Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in France

France: Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes was 43.3% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
43.3%
Change on year
down 17.0%
World rank
23rd
of 42 countries
All-time high
52.1%
in 2020
All-time low
41.2%
in 2008
Years of data
16
2006–2021

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

02040602006201320212006: 42.2 %2007: 42 %2008: 41.2 %2009: 41.6 %2010: 42.6 %2011: 43.8 %2012: 47.9 %2013: 49.7 %2014: 50.5 %2015: 46.8 %2016: 49.4 %2017: 48.9 %2018: 49.5 %2019: 51.8 %2020: 52.1 %2021: 43.3 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in France is 43.3%, measured in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 17.0% on the previous year and down 1.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in France peaked at 52.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 41.2%, in 2008.

That places France 23rd out of 42 countries with data for 2021, putting it 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, urban, both sexes in France, year by year

Annual values for Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes (%) in France, 2006 to 2021.
Year % Change
2006 42.2%
2007 42.0% -0.6%
2008 41.2% -1.9%
2009 41.6% +1.2%
2010 42.6% +2.3%
2011 43.8% +2.8%
2012 47.9% +9.2%
2013 49.7% +3.8%
2014 50.5% +1.7%
2015 46.8% -7.5%
2016 49.4% +5.7%
2017 48.9% -1.1%
2018 49.5% +1.2%
2019 51.8% +4.7%
2020 52.1% +0.6%
2021 43.3% -17.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 41.7% 41.2% 42.2% 4
2010s 48.1% 42.6% 51.8% 10
2020s 47.7% 43.3% 52.1% 2

Countries ranked near France

  1. 20 Romania 48.9% compare
  2. 21 Slovenia 48.8% compare
  3. 22 Croatia 47.8% compare
  4. 24 Lithuania 40.1% compare
  5. 25 Luxembourg 39.6% compare
  6. 26 Spain 38.9% compare

See the full ranking of 42 places →

More education data for France

All data for France →

Frequently asked questions

What is gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in France?
Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in France was 43.3% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes recorded in France?
The highest recorded value was 52.1% in 2020.
What is the lowest gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes recorded in France?
The lowest recorded value was 41.2% in 2008.
How does France rank for gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes?
France ranks 23rd out of 42 countries with data for 2021.
Is gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes rising or falling in France?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this France data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in France. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/gross-attendance-ratio-for-tertiary-education-urban-both-sexes-percent-2/france/

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About this data

Indicator
Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
42 places, 699 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release