Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Kenya
Kenya: Share of the population with completed tertiary education was 8.4 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
8.4
World rank
70th
of 111 countries
All-time high
8.7
in 2010
All-time low
0
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Kenya, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 8.4 for share of the population with completed tertiary education in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with completed tertiary education in Kenya peaked at 8.7 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1870.
Kenya ranks 70th 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 Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0 | — |
| 1875 | 0 | — |
| 1880 | 0 | — |
| 1885 | 0 | — |
| 1890 | 0 | — |
| 1895 | 0 | — |
| 1900 | 0 | — |
| 1905 | 0 | — |
| 1910 | 0.1 | — |
| 1915 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.2 | +100.0% |
| 1925 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 0.3 | +50.0% |
| 1940 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1945 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1950 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1955 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.4 | +33.3% |
| 1970 | 0.5 | +25.0% |
| 1975 | 0.8 | +60.0% |
| 1980 | 1.3 | +62.5% |
| 1985 | 1.8 | +38.5% |
| 1990 | 2.5 | +38.9% |
| 1995 | 3.6 | +44.0% |
| 2000 | 4.9 | +36.1% |
| 2005 | 6.7 | +36.7% |
| 2010 | 8.7 | +29.9% |
| 2015 | 8.5 | -2.3% |
| 2020 | 8.4 | -1.2% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 8.4 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.7, 1.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 8.4 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.3, 2.5× the median. (23 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 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2 |
| 1920s | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2 |
| 1930s | 0.25 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 1940s | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 1950s | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.35 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 2 |
| 1970s | 0.65 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 2 |
| 1980s | 1.55 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 2 |
| 1990s | 3.05 | 2.5 | 3.6 | 2 |
| 2000s | 5.8 | 4.9 | 6.7 | 2 |
| 2010s | 8.6 | 8.5 | 8.7 | 2 |
| 2020s | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More education data for Kenya
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.57 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 94.27 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 168,396 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 235,728 (2016)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 1.44 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 6.74 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 8.04 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.7181 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with completed tertiary education in Kenya?
- Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Kenya was 8.4 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 8.7 in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1870.
- How does Kenya rank for share of the population with completed tertiary education?
- Kenya ranks 70th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with completed tertiary education rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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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