Share of the population with a completed post secondary education in Sweden
Sweden: Share of the population with a completed post secondary education was 52.53 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Share of the population with a completed post secondary education in Sweden, 1970–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population with a completed post secondary education in Sweden is 52.53, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.4% on the previous year and up 46.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with a completed post secondary education in Sweden peaked at 52.53 in 2023 and was at its lowest, 8.32, in 1970.
That places Sweden 10th out of 110 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.
Share of the population with a completed post secondary education in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8.32 | — |
| 1974 | 11.74 | +41.2% |
| 1979 | 15.41 | +31.2% |
| 1986 | 16.58 | +7.7% |
| 1987 | 17.19 | +3.7% |
| 1988 | 17.65 | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 18.07 | +2.4% |
| 1990 | 18.97 | +4.9% |
| 1991 | 19.33 | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 20.99 | +8.5% |
| 1993 | 21.66 | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 22.33 | +3.1% |
| 1995 | 23.34 | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 31.87 | +36.6% |
| 2005 | 32.72 | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 33.49 | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 34.28 | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 32.29 | -5.8% |
| 2009 | 33.05 | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 33.8 | +2.3% |
| 2011 | 34.56 | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 35.24 | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 35.92 | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 36.58 | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 37.22 | +1.8% |
| 2016 | 37.9 | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 38.56 | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 40 | +3.8% |
| 2021 | 49.27 | +23.2% |
| 2022 | 50.81 | +3.1% |
| 2023 | 52.53 | +3.4% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 52.53 is above the median for high income countries, which is 39.39, 1.3× the median. (52 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 52.53 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.35, 1.4× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of the population with a completed post secondary education in Sweden 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | +41.2% | 8.32 | 11.74 |
| 2004 | +36.6% | 23.34 | 31.87 |
| 1979 | +31.2% | 11.74 | 15.41 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 11.82 | 8.32 | 15.41 | 3 |
| 1980s | 17.38 | 16.58 | 18.07 | 4 |
| 1990s | 21.1 | 18.97 | 23.34 | 6 |
| 2000s | 32.95 | 31.87 | 34.28 | 6 |
| 2010s | 36.64 | 33.8 | 40 | 9 |
| 2020s | 50.87 | 49.27 | 52.53 | 3 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
More education data for Sweden
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.43 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.43 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 77,813 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1,302 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 235,975 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 222,360 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 987,895 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 859,847 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.8572 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with a completed post secondary education in Sweden?
- Share of the population with a completed post secondary education in Sweden was 52.53 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with a completed post secondary education recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 52.53 in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of the population with a completed post secondary education recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.32 in 1970.
- How does Sweden rank for share of the population with a completed post secondary education?
- Sweden ranks 10th out of 110 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of the population with a completed post secondary education rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 46.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sweden data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with a completed post secondary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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