Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Iran
Iran: Share of the population with completed tertiary education was 24.4 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
24.4
World rank
34th
of 111 countries
All-time high
24.4
in 2020
All-time low
0
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Iran, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2020, share of the population with completed tertiary education in Iran stood at 24.4. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
That represents a change of up 28.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with completed tertiary education in Iran peaked at 24.4 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1870.
Iran ranks 34th of 111 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
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 Iran, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0 | — |
| 1875 | 0 | — |
| 1880 | 0 | — |
| 1885 | 0 | — |
| 1890 | 0 | — |
| 1895 | 0 | — |
| 1900 | 0 | — |
| 1905 | 0 | — |
| 1910 | 0 | — |
| 1915 | 0.1 | — |
| 1920 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1940 | 0.2 | +100.0% |
| 1945 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.3 | +50.0% |
| 1955 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.6 | +100.0% |
| 1965 | 1 | +66.7% |
| 1970 | 1.2 | +20.0% |
| 1975 | 1.7 | +41.7% |
| 1980 | 2.7 | +58.8% |
| 1985 | 3.8 | +40.7% |
| 1990 | 5 | +31.6% |
| 1995 | 8.3 | +66.0% |
| 2000 | 11.4 | +37.3% |
| 2005 | 13.3 | +16.7% |
| 2010 | 19 | +42.9% |
| 2015 | 22.2 | +16.8% |
| 2020 | 24.4 | +9.9% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 24.4 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 15.25, 1.6× the median. (30 countries reporting)
- Iran's 24.4 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16.15, 1.5× the median. (14 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1880s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1890s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1900s | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.05 | 0 | 0.1 | 2 |
| 1920s | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2 |
| 1930s | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2 |
| 1940s | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2 |
| 1950s | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1 | 2 |
| 1970s | 1.45 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 2 |
| 1980s | 3.25 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 2 |
| 1990s | 6.65 | 5 | 8.3 | 2 |
| 2000s | 12.35 | 11.4 | 13.3 | 2 |
| 2010s | 20.6 | 19 | 22.2 | 2 |
| 2020s | 24.4 | 24.4 | 24.4 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More education data for Iran
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.5 (2020)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.9 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 406,399 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 108,066 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 519,698 (2020)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 505,053 (2020)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.62 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 9.09 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.31 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with completed tertiary education in Iran?
- Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Iran was 24.4 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 24.4 in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1870.
- How does Iran rank for share of the population with completed tertiary education?
- Iran ranks 34th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with completed tertiary education rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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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