Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Portugal
Portugal: Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions was 47.4% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
47.4%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
61st
of 149 countries
All-time high
47.7%
in 2016
All-time low
47.1%
in 2019
Years of data
9
2015–2023
Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Portugal, 2015–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Portugal recorded 47.4% for percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in 2023.
The figure is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Portugal peaked at 47.7% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 47.1%, in 2019.
Portugal ranks 61st of 149 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Portugal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 47.5% | — |
| 2016 | 47.7% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 47.6% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 47.4% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 47.1% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 47.1% | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 47.4% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 47.5% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 47.4% | -0.3% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 47.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 43.0%, 1.1× the median. (61 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 47.4% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 43.4%, 1.1× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 47.4% | 47.1% | 47.7% | 5 |
| 2020s | 47.3% | 47.1% | 47.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 58 Netherlands 47.7% compare
- 59 Switzerland 47.7% compare
- 60 Luxembourg 47.5% compare
- 62 Macao 47.0% compare
- 63 Georgia 46.8% compare
- 64 Egypt 46.7% compare
More education data for Portugal
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 82,664 (2018)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 11,380 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 136,282 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 128,743 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 741,752 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 598,661 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0566 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Portugal?
- Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions in Portugal was 47.4% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 47.7% in 2016.
- What is the lowest percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.1% in 2019.
- How does Portugal rank for percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions?
- Portugal ranks 61st out of 149 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Portugal data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in public institutions, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release