Primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates was 102.2% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates in United Kingdom, 2000–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates in United Kingdom is 102.2%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.3% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates in United Kingdom peaked at 105.9% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 100.0%, in 2014.
United Kingdom ranks 86th of 217 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 100.6% | — |
| 2001 | 100.9% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 100.7% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 100.6% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 105.9% | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 105.8% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 104.4% | -1.4% |
| 2007 | 103.1% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 105.7% | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 105.4% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 105.7% | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 105.0% | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 105.8% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 105.4% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 100.0% | -5.1% |
| 2015 | 100.2% | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 100.4% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 100.8% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 101.4% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 101.9% | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 102.3% | +0.3% |
| 2021 | 102.2% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 102.5% | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 102.2% | -0.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 102.2% is above the median for high income countries, which is 99.8%, 1.0× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 102.2% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 101.2%, 1.0× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 103.3% | 100.6% | 105.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 102.7% | 100.0% | 105.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 102.3% | 102.2% | 102.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More education data for United Kingdom
- 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)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.071 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates in United Kingdom?
- Primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates in United Kingdom was 102.2% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 105.9% in 2004.
- What is the lowest primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 100.0% in 2014.
- How does United Kingdom rank for primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates?
- United Kingdom ranks 86th out of 217 countries with data for 2023.
- Is primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary, secondary and tertiary education enrollment and completion rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of children of any age group who are enrolled in primary education, expressed as a percentage of the total population of the official primary school age.