Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Japan
Japan: Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions was 40.0% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Japan, 2013–2023
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 40.0%, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 3.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Japan peaked at 40.0% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 38.5%, in 2013.
Japan ranks 133rd of 149 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Japan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 38.5% | — |
| 2014 | 38.7% | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 38.8% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 39.0% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 39.3% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 39.6% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 39.8% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 39.9% | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 39.9% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 39.9% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 40.0% | +0.3% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 40.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 57.0%, 70% of the median. (61 countries reporting)
- Japan's 40.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 56.8%, 70% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 39.1% | 38.5% | 39.8% | 7 |
| 2020s | 39.9% | 39.9% | 40.0% | 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 40.0% 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 40.0% in 2023.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.5% in 2013.
- How does Japan rank for percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions?
- Japan ranks 133rd out of 149 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 up 3.8%. 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, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release