Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes was 29.8% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
29.8%
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
37th
of 42 countries
All-time high
29.9%
in 2017
All-time low
22.7%
in 2008
Years of data
14
2006–2019

Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2006–2019

01020302006201220192006: 24.4 %2007: 24.7 %2008: 22.7 %2009: 24.4 %2010: 24.8 %2011: 25.8 %2012: 26 %2013: 26.2 %2014: 27.2 %2015: 26.4 %2016: 28.3 %2017: 29.9 %2018: 29.2 %2019: 29.8 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 29.8%, measured in 2019.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 22.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 29.9% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 22.7%, in 2008.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 37th out of 42 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.

Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes (%) in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2006 to 2019.
Year % Change
2006 24.4%
2007 24.7% +1.1%
2008 22.7% -7.9%
2009 24.4% +7.4%
2010 24.8% +1.6%
2011 25.8% +4.1%
2012 26.0% +0.9%
2013 26.2% +0.5%
2014 27.2% +4.1%
2015 26.4% -2.9%
2016 28.3% +7.1%
2017 29.9% +5.6%
2018 29.2% -2.4%
2019 29.8% +2.2%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 29.8% is below the median for high income countries, which is 38.9%, 77% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 29.8% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 36.9%, 81% of the median. (25 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 24.0% 22.7% 24.7% 4
2010s 27.4% 24.8% 29.9% 10

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 34 Poland 34.8% compare
  2. 35 Estonia 34.4% compare
  3. 36 Hungary 30.6% compare
  4. 38 Germany 28.7% compare
  5. 39 Austria 28.3% compare
  6. 40 Sweden 27.2% compare

See the full ranking of 42 places →

More education data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 29.8% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 29.9% in 2017.
What is the lowest gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 22.7% in 2008.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 37th out of 42 countries with data for 2019.
Is gross attendance ratio for tertiary education, urban, both sexes rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 22.2%. 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 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/gross-attendance-ratio-for-tertiary-education-urban-both-sexes-percent-2/united-kingdom/

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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