Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Denmark
Denmark: Share of the population with completed tertiary education was 30.8 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Denmark, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2020, share of the population with completed tertiary education in Denmark stood at 30.8.
That represents a change of down 6.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with completed tertiary education in Denmark peaked at 32.9 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1870.
That places Denmark 22nd out of 111 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
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 Denmark, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0 | — |
| 1875 | 0 | — |
| 1880 | 0.1 | — |
| 1885 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.2 | +100.0% |
| 1915 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.3 | +50.0% |
| 1935 | 1.2 | +300.0% |
| 1940 | 1.9 | +58.3% |
| 1945 | 2.7 | +42.1% |
| 1950 | 3.3 | +22.2% |
| 1955 | 5.8 | +75.8% |
| 1960 | 6.7 | +15.5% |
| 1965 | 7.8 | +16.4% |
| 1970 | 9.8 | +25.6% |
| 1975 | 12.1 | +23.5% |
| 1980 | 14.5 | +19.8% |
| 1985 | 19.1 | +31.7% |
| 1990 | 21.2 | +11.0% |
| 1995 | 23.2 | +9.4% |
| 2000 | 23.7 | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 28.8 | +21.5% |
| 2010 | 32.9 | +14.2% |
| 2015 | 30.5 | -7.3% |
| 2020 | 30.8 | +1.0% |
Denmark compared with similar countries
- Denmark's 30.8 is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.6, 1.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Denmark's 30.8 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.85, 100% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Denmark 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | +300.0% | 0.3 | 1.2 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2 |
| 1920s | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2 |
| 1930s | 0.75 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 2 |
| 1940s | 2.3 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 2 |
| 1950s | 4.55 | 3.3 | 5.8 | 2 |
| 1960s | 7.25 | 6.7 | 7.8 | 2 |
| 1970s | 10.95 | 9.8 | 12.1 | 2 |
| 1980s | 16.8 | 14.5 | 19.1 | 2 |
| 1990s | 22.2 | 21.2 | 23.2 | 2 |
| 2000s | 26.25 | 23.7 | 28.8 | 2 |
| 2010s | 31.7 | 30.5 | 32.9 | 2 |
| 2020s | 30.8 | 30.8 | 30.8 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Denmark
More education data for Denmark
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.21 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.11 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 50,935 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 2,888 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 94,481 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 88,072 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 522,143 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 432,238 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.8558 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with completed tertiary education in Denmark?
- Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Denmark was 30.8 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Denmark?
- The highest recorded value was 32.9 in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Denmark?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1870.
- How does Denmark rank for share of the population with completed tertiary education?
- Denmark ranks 22nd out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with completed tertiary education rising or falling in Denmark?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Denmark 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.
Download this data
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