Population having attained at least basic education in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Population having attained at least basic education was 99.9 in 2020. ▲ Rising
Population having attained at least basic education in United Kingdom, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2020, population having attained at least basic education in United Kingdom stood at 99.9. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
That represents a change of unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, population having attained at least basic education in United Kingdom peaked at 99.9 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 22, in 1870.
That places United Kingdom 1st out of 111 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Population having attained at least basic education in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 22 | — |
| 1875 | 23 | +4.5% |
| 1880 | 26.7 | +16.1% |
| 1885 | 32 | +19.9% |
| 1890 | 41.2 | +28.8% |
| 1895 | 48.6 | +18.0% |
| 1900 | 56.8 | +16.9% |
| 1905 | 65.8 | +15.8% |
| 1910 | 73.2 | +11.2% |
| 1915 | 79.1 | +8.1% |
| 1920 | 84.4 | +6.7% |
| 1925 | 89.1 | +5.6% |
| 1930 | 92.9 | +4.3% |
| 1935 | 95.5 | +2.8% |
| 1940 | 96.8 | +1.4% |
| 1945 | 97.8 | +1.0% |
| 1950 | 97.4 | -0.4% |
| 1955 | 97.7 | +0.3% |
| 1960 | 97.9 | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 97.9 | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 97.8 | -0.1% |
| 1975 | 97.7 | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 96.5 | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 96.6 | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 96.6 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 96.5 | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 96.4 | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 98.7 | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 99.9 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 99.9 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 99.9 | +0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 99.9 is above the median for high income countries, which is 99, 1.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 99.9 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 98.95, 1.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population having attained at least basic education in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | +28.8% | 32 | 41.2 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 22.5 | 22 | 23 | 2 |
| 1880s | 29.35 | 26.7 | 32 | 2 |
| 1890s | 44.9 | 41.2 | 48.6 | 2 |
| 1900s | 61.3 | 56.8 | 65.8 | 2 |
| 1910s | 76.15 | 73.2 | 79.1 | 2 |
| 1920s | 86.75 | 84.4 | 89.1 | 2 |
| 1930s | 94.2 | 92.9 | 95.5 | 2 |
| 1940s | 97.3 | 96.8 | 97.8 | 2 |
| 1950s | 97.55 | 97.4 | 97.7 | 2 |
| 1960s | 97.9 | 97.9 | 97.9 | 2 |
| 1970s | 97.75 | 97.7 | 97.8 | 2 |
| 1980s | 96.55 | 96.5 | 96.6 | 2 |
| 1990s | 96.55 | 96.5 | 96.6 | 2 |
| 2000s | 97.55 | 96.4 | 98.7 | 2 |
| 2010s | 99.9 | 99.9 | 99.9 | 2 |
| 2020s | 99.9 | 99.9 | 99.9 | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More education data for United Kingdom
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.73 (2018)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.93 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 388,714 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2012)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 830,495 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 790,556 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.40 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.86 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0111 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population having attained at least basic education in United Kingdom?
- Population having attained at least basic education in United Kingdom was 99.9 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population having attained at least basic education recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 99.9 in 2010.
- What is the lowest population having attained at least basic education recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 22 in 1870.
- How does United Kingdom rank for population having attained at least basic education?
- United Kingdom ranks 1st out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is population having attained at least basic education rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Population having attained at least basic education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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