Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Belgium
Belgium: Share of the population with completed tertiary education was 34.5 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
34.5
World rank
11th
of 111 countries
All-time high
34.8
in 2010
All-time low
0.3
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Belgium, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 34.5 for share of the population with completed tertiary education in 2020.
That represents a change of down 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with completed tertiary education in Belgium peaked at 34.8 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.3, in 1870.
Belgium ranks 11th of 111 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Belgium, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.3 | — |
| 1875 | 0.4 | +33.3% |
| 1880 | 0.5 | +25.0% |
| 1885 | 0.5 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.7 | +40.0% |
| 1895 | 0.7 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.8 | +14.3% |
| 1905 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.9 | +12.5% |
| 1920 | 1 | +11.1% |
| 1925 | 1.1 | +10.0% |
| 1930 | 1.4 | +27.3% |
| 1935 | 1.7 | +21.4% |
| 1940 | 2.1 | +23.5% |
| 1945 | 2.6 | +23.8% |
| 1950 | 3.3 | +26.9% |
| 1955 | 3.8 | +15.2% |
| 1960 | 4.3 | +13.2% |
| 1965 | 5.2 | +20.9% |
| 1970 | 6.2 | +19.2% |
| 1975 | 9.2 | +48.4% |
| 1980 | 12.8 | +39.1% |
| 1985 | 16.4 | +28.1% |
| 1990 | 20.7 | +26.2% |
| 1995 | 24.8 | +19.8% |
| 2000 | 28.7 | +15.7% |
| 2005 | 31.8 | +10.8% |
| 2010 | 34.8 | +9.4% |
| 2015 | 34.7 | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 34.5 | -0.6% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 34.5 is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.6, 1.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 34.5 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.85, 1.1× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.35 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.85 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 2 |
| 1920s | 1.05 | 1 | 1.1 | 2 |
| 1930s | 1.55 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2 |
| 1940s | 2.35 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 2 |
| 1950s | 3.55 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 2 |
| 1960s | 4.75 | 4.3 | 5.2 | 2 |
| 1970s | 7.7 | 6.2 | 9.2 | 2 |
| 1980s | 14.6 | 12.8 | 16.4 | 2 |
| 1990s | 22.75 | 20.7 | 24.8 | 2 |
| 2000s | 30.25 | 28.7 | 31.8 | 2 |
| 2010s | 34.75 | 34.7 | 34.8 | 2 |
| 2020s | 34.5 | 34.5 | 34.5 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More education data for Belgium
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.32 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 98.34 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 137,795 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 17,384 (2022)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 221,494 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 210,503 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.18 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 814,388 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.1356 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with completed tertiary education in Belgium?
- Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Belgium was 34.5 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 34.8 in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.3 in 1870.
- How does Belgium rank for share of the population with completed tertiary education?
- Belgium ranks 11th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with completed tertiary education rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with completed tertiary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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