Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Netherlands
Netherlands: Share of the population with completed tertiary education was 30.9 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Netherlands, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population with completed tertiary education in Netherlands is 30.9, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with completed tertiary education in Netherlands peaked at 32.4 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.2, in 1870.
That places Netherlands 21st 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 Netherlands, 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 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.4 | +33.3% |
| 1905 | 0.5 | +25.0% |
| 1910 | 0.5 | +0.0% |
| 1915 | 0.6 | +20.0% |
| 1920 | 0.7 | +16.7% |
| 1925 | 0.8 | +14.3% |
| 1930 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 1 | +25.0% |
| 1940 | 1.1 | +10.0% |
| 1945 | 1.2 | +9.1% |
| 1950 | 1.3 | +8.3% |
| 1955 | 1.4 | +7.7% |
| 1960 | 1.4 | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 4.4 | +214.3% |
| 1970 | 7.6 | +72.7% |
| 1975 | 9 | +18.4% |
| 1980 | 11.9 | +32.2% |
| 1985 | 15.4 | +29.4% |
| 1990 | 18.6 | +20.8% |
| 1995 | 22 | +18.3% |
| 2000 | 24.9 | +13.2% |
| 2005 | 28 | +12.4% |
| 2010 | 32.4 | +15.7% |
| 2015 | 31.4 | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 30.9 | -1.6% |
Netherlands compared with similar countries
- Netherlands's 30.9 is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.6, 1.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Netherlands's 30.9 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.85, 1.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Netherlands 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | +214.3% | 1.4 | 4.4 |
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 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.45 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.55 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 2 |
| 1920s | 0.75 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 2 |
| 1930s | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1 | 2 |
| 1940s | 1.15 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2 |
| 1950s | 1.35 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 2 |
| 1960s | 2.9 | 1.4 | 4.4 | 2 |
| 1970s | 8.3 | 7.6 | 9 | 2 |
| 1980s | 13.65 | 11.9 | 15.4 | 2 |
| 1990s | 20.3 | 18.6 | 22 | 2 |
| 2000s | 26.45 | 24.9 | 28 | 2 |
| 2010s | 31.9 | 31.4 | 32.4 | 2 |
| 2020s | 30.9 | 30.9 | 30.9 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
More education data for Netherlands
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 99.64 (2023)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.48 (2023)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 118,472 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 23,856 (1985)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 247,743 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 240,049 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.14 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.0937 % change on previous year (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with completed tertiary education in Netherlands?
- Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Netherlands was 30.9 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 32.4 in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2 in 1870.
- How does Netherlands rank for share of the population with completed tertiary education?
- Netherlands ranks 21st out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with completed tertiary education rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Netherlands 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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