Share of the population with completed tertiary education in France
France: Share of the population with completed tertiary education was 31.9 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
31.9
World rank
15th
of 111 countries
All-time high
31.9
in 2020
All-time low
0.2
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in France, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population with completed tertiary education in France is 31.9, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
The figure is up 10.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with completed tertiary education in France peaked at 31.9 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.2, in 1870.
That places France 15th 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 France, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.2 | — |
| 1875 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.3 | +50.0% |
| 1885 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.4 | +33.3% |
| 1895 | 0.3 | -25.0% |
| 1900 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.5 | +66.7% |
| 1915 | 0.6 | +20.0% |
| 1920 | 0.7 | +16.7% |
| 1925 | 0.9 | +28.6% |
| 1930 | 1.1 | +22.2% |
| 1935 | 1.2 | +9.1% |
| 1940 | 1.5 | +25.0% |
| 1945 | 1.6 | +6.7% |
| 1950 | 1.8 | +12.5% |
| 1955 | 2 | +11.1% |
| 1960 | 2.4 | +20.0% |
| 1965 | 3.3 | +37.5% |
| 1970 | 5.2 | +57.6% |
| 1975 | 7.9 | +51.9% |
| 1980 | 10.2 | +29.1% |
| 1985 | 10.9 | +6.9% |
| 1990 | 13.6 | +24.8% |
| 1995 | 16 | +17.6% |
| 2000 | 19.9 | +24.4% |
| 2005 | 24 | +20.6% |
| 2010 | 28.9 | +20.4% |
| 2015 | 30 | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 31.9 | +6.3% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 31.9 is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.6, 1.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- France's 31.9 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 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.35 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.55 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 2 |
| 1920s | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 2 |
| 1930s | 1.15 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2 |
| 1940s | 1.55 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 2 |
| 1950s | 1.9 | 1.8 | 2 | 2 |
| 1960s | 2.85 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 2 |
| 1970s | 6.55 | 5.2 | 7.9 | 2 |
| 1980s | 10.55 | 10.2 | 10.9 | 2 |
| 1990s | 14.8 | 13.6 | 16 | 2 |
| 2000s | 21.95 | 19.9 | 24 | 2 |
| 2010s | 29.45 | 28.9 | 30 | 2 |
| 2020s | 31.9 | 31.9 | 31.9 | 1 |
Countries ranked near France
More education data for France
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.97 (2016)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.8 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 457,956 (2019)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 43,533 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.19 million (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.14 million (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.27 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.13 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.27 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with completed tertiary education in France?
- Share of the population with completed tertiary education in France was 31.9 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in France?
- The highest recorded value was 31.9 in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2 in 1870.
- How does France rank for share of the population with completed tertiary education?
- France ranks 15th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with completed tertiary education rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this France 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
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).