Percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from in United States of America
United States of America: Percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from was 12.9% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
12.9%
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
21st
of 124 countries
All-time high
14.7%
in 1999
All-time low
11.8%
in 2019
Years of data
9
1999–2023
Percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from in United States of America, 1999–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2023, percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from in United States of America stood at 12.9%.
That represents a change of down 1.2% on the previous year and up 5.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from in United States of America peaked at 14.7% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 11.8%, in 2019.
United States of America ranks 21st of 124 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from in United States of America, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 14.7% | — |
| 2013 | 12.2% | -17.0% |
| 2014 | 12.3% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 12.1% | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 12.0% | -0.9% |
| 2019 | 11.8% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 11.9% | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 13.0% | +9.2% |
| 2023 | 12.9% | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.7% | 14.7% | 14.7% | 1 |
| 2010s | 12.1% | 11.8% | 12.3% | 5 |
| 2020s | 12.6% | 11.9% | 13.0% | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 18 Dominican Republic 13.1% compare
- 19 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 13.1% compare
- 20 Burkina Faso 13.0% compare
- 22 Norway 12.3% compare
- 23 Sweden 12.0% compare
- 24 Hungary 11.9% compare
More education data for United States of America
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0708 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from in United States of America?
- Percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from in United States of America was 12.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 14.7% in 1999.
- What is the lowest percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.8% in 2019.
- How does United States of America rank for percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from?
- United States of America ranks 21st out of 124 countries with data for 2023.
- Is percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States of America data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Percentage of graduates from tertiary education graduating from Social Sciences, Journalism and Information programmes, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release