Percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from in Portugal
Portugal: Percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from was 16.9% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
16.9%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
40th
of 123 countries
All-time high
20.8%
in 2010
All-time low
13.3%
in 2000
Years of data
22
2000–2023
Percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from in Portugal, 2000–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from in Portugal is 16.9%, measured in 2023.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from in Portugal peaked at 20.8% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 13.3%, in 2000.
That places Portugal 40th out of 123 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from in Portugal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 13.3% | — |
| 2002 | 15.6% | +16.9% |
| 2003 | 15.5% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 15.5% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 17.7% | +13.8% |
| 2006 | 20.4% | +15.4% |
| 2007 | 18.9% | -7.4% |
| 2008 | 19.3% | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 20.3% | +5.3% |
| 2010 | 20.8% | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 20.4% | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 17.5% | -14.2% |
| 2013 | 17.2% | -1.8% |
| 2014 | 17.5% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 18.6% | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 18.2% | -2.0% |
| 2017 | 17.4% | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 17.3% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 16.8% | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 16.4% | -2.3% |
| 2022 | 16.9% | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 16.9% | +0.3% |
Portugal compared with similar countries
- Portugal's 16.9% is above the median for high income countries, which is 13.8%, 1.2× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Portugal's 16.9% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15.0%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 17.4% | 13.3% | 20.4% | 9 |
| 2010s | 18.3% | 17.2% | 20.8% | 9 |
| 2020s | 16.7% | 16.4% | 16.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 37 Switzerland 17.1% compare
- 38 Uzbekistan 17.0% compare
- 39 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 16.9% compare
- 41 Korea 16.9% compare
- 42 North Macedonia 16.2% compare
- 43 Burundi 15.9% 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 graduates from tertiary education graduating from in Portugal?
- Percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from in Portugal was 16.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from recorded in Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 20.8% in 2010.
- What is the lowest percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.3% in 2000.
- How does Portugal rank for percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from?
- Portugal ranks 40th out of 123 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.6%. 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 graduates from tertiary education graduating from Health and Welfare programmes, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release