Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Finland
Finland: Share of the population with completed tertiary education was 31.2 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
31.2
World rank
19th
of 111 countries
All-time high
36.1
in 2010
All-time low
0.2
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Finland, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Finland recorded 31.2 for share of the population with completed tertiary education in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with completed tertiary education in Finland peaked at 36.1 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.2, in 1870.
That places Finland 19th 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 Finland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.2 | — |
| 1875 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.3 | +50.0% |
| 1895 | 0.4 | +33.3% |
| 1900 | 0.5 | +25.0% |
| 1905 | 0.7 | +40.0% |
| 1910 | 0.8 | +14.3% |
| 1915 | 1.1 | +37.5% |
| 1920 | 1.4 | +27.3% |
| 1925 | 1.7 | +21.4% |
| 1930 | 1.9 | +11.8% |
| 1935 | 2.2 | +15.8% |
| 1940 | 2.5 | +13.6% |
| 1945 | 2.9 | +16.0% |
| 1950 | 3.3 | +13.8% |
| 1955 | 3.8 | +15.2% |
| 1960 | 4.4 | +15.8% |
| 1965 | 5.5 | +25.0% |
| 1970 | 6.6 | +20.0% |
| 1975 | 10.6 | +60.6% |
| 1980 | 13.1 | +23.6% |
| 1985 | 15.5 | +18.3% |
| 1990 | 17.4 | +12.3% |
| 1995 | 23.1 | +32.8% |
| 2000 | 31.3 | +35.5% |
| 2005 | 34.8 | +11.2% |
| 2010 | 36.1 | +3.7% |
| 2015 | 33.5 | -7.2% |
| 2020 | 31.2 | -6.9% |
Finland compared with similar countries
- Finland's 31.2 is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.6, 1.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Finland's 31.2 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.85, 1.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.35 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.95 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 2 |
| 1920s | 1.55 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2 |
| 1930s | 2.05 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2 |
| 1940s | 2.7 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2 |
| 1950s | 3.55 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 2 |
| 1960s | 4.95 | 4.4 | 5.5 | 2 |
| 1970s | 8.6 | 6.6 | 10.6 | 2 |
| 1980s | 14.3 | 13.1 | 15.5 | 2 |
| 1990s | 20.25 | 17.4 | 23.1 | 2 |
| 2000s | 33.05 | 31.3 | 34.8 | 2 |
| 2010s | 34.8 | 33.5 | 36.1 | 2 |
| 2020s | 31.2 | 31.2 | 31.2 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Finland
- 16 Norway 31.8 compare
- 17 Luxembourg 31.5 compare
- 18 Spain 31.3 compare
- 20 United Kingdom 31.1 compare
- 21 Netherlands 30.9 compare
- 22 Denmark 30.8 compare
More education data for Finland
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.25 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 98.23 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 42,938 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1,144 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 94,036 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 89,318 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 543,350 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 360,117 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.29 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with completed tertiary education in Finland?
- Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Finland was 31.2 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Finland?
- The highest recorded value was 36.1 in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Finland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2 in 1870.
- How does Finland rank for share of the population with completed tertiary education?
- Finland ranks 19th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with completed tertiary education rising or falling in Finland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Finland 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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