School enrollment, tertiary in Canada

Canada: School enrollment, tertiary was 76.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
76.3%
Change on year
down 3.3%
World rank
41st
of 192 countries
All-time high
79.8%
in 2021
All-time low
58.4%
in 2002
Years of data
19
2000–2023

School enrollment, tertiary in Canada, 2000–2023

0204060802000201120232000: 58.5 % gross2002: 58.4 % gross2007: 63.8 % gross2008: 64.3 % gross2009: 63.6 % gross2010: 61.9 % gross2011: 63.2 % gross2012: 63.6 % gross2013: 65.7 % gross2014: 67.2 % gross2015: 67.3 % gross2016: 69.2 % gross2017: 70.3 % gross2018: 69.4 % gross2019: 73.1 % gross2020: 75.2 % gross2021: 79.8 % gross2022: 78.8 % gross2023: 76.3 % gross

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in % gross.

Analysis

The most recent figure for school enrollment, tertiary in Canada is 76.3%, measured in 2023.

The figure is down 3.3% on the previous year and up 16.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, school enrollment, tertiary in Canada peaked at 79.8% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 58.4%, in 2002.

Canada ranks 41st of 192 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.

School enrollment, tertiary in Canada, year by year

Annual values for School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) in Canada, 2000 to 2023.
Year % gross Change
2000 58.5% —
2002 58.4% -0.2%
2007 63.8% +9.3%
2008 64.3% +0.7%
2009 63.6% -1.1%
2010 61.9% -2.7%
2011 63.2% +2.1%
2012 63.6% +0.7%
2013 65.7% +3.4%
2014 67.2% +2.2%
2015 67.3% +0.2%
2016 69.2% +2.9%
2017 70.3% +1.5%
2018 69.4% -1.3%
2019 73.1% +5.4%
2020 75.2% +2.9%
2021 79.8% +6.0%
2022 78.8% -1.1%
2023 76.3% -3.3%

Canada compared with similar countries

  • Canada's 76.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 73.5%, 1.0× the median. (71 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 61.7% 58.4% 64.3% 5
2010s 67.1% 61.9% 73.1% 10
2020s 77.5% 75.2% 79.8% 4

Countries ranked near Canada

  1. 38 China 76.9% compare
  2. 39 Germany 76.7% compare
  3. 40 Iceland 76.5% compare
  4. 42 Italy 75.9% compare
  5. 43 Lithuania 75.6% compare
  6. 44 Fiji 75.0% compare

See the full ranking of 237 places →

More education data for Canada

All data for Canada →

Frequently asked questions

What is school enrollment, tertiary in Canada?
School enrollment, tertiary in Canada was 76.3% in 2023, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in Canada?
The highest recorded value was 79.8% in 2021.
What is the lowest school enrollment, tertiary recorded in Canada?
The lowest recorded value was 58.4% in 2002.
How does Canada rank for school enrollment, tertiary?
Canada ranks 41st out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
Is school enrollment, tertiary rising or falling in Canada?
Over the last ten years it is up 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Canada data come from?
The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of School enrollment, tertiary (% gross). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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School enrollment, tertiary in Canada. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 26 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/school-enrollment-tertiary-percent-gross/canada/

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About this data

Indicator
School enrollment, tertiary (% gross)
Unit
% gross
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
237 places, 7,325 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Tertiary education, whether or not to an advanced research qualification, normally requires, as a minimum condition of admission, the successful completion of education at the secondary level.