Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Japan
Japan: Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions was 20.9% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
20.9%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
148th
of 155 countries
All-time high
21.4%
in 1999
All-time low
20.8%
in 2022
Years of data
13
1998–2023
Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Japan, 1998–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Japan is 20.9%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Japan peaked at 21.4% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 20.8%, in 2022.
Japan ranks 148th of 155 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 21.2% | — |
| 1999 | 21.4% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 21.3% | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 21.2% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 21.2% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 21.2% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 21.2% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 21.2% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 21.1% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 21.0% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 20.9% | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 20.8% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 20.9% | +0.4% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 20.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 80.5%, 26% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Japan's 20.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 76.1%, 27% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 21.3% | 21.2% | 21.4% | 2 |
| 2010s | 21.2% | 21.1% | 21.3% | 7 |
| 2020s | 20.9% | 20.8% | 21.0% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More education data for Japan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 627,777 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (1999)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.50 million (1999)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.46 million (1999)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.25 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.01 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0502 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Japan?
- Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Japan was 20.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 21.4% in 1999.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.8% in 2022.
- How does Japan rank for percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions?
- Japan ranks 148th out of 155 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 13 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release