Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Poland
Poland: Share of the population with completed tertiary education was 24.9 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
24.9
World rank
33rd
of 111 countries
All-time high
24.9
in 2020
All-time low
0.1
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Poland, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Poland recorded 24.9 for share of the population with completed tertiary education in 2020. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
The figure is up 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with completed tertiary education in Poland peaked at 24.9 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.1, in 1870.
Poland ranks 33rd 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 Poland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.1 | — |
| 1875 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.2 | +100.0% |
| 1900 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.3 | +50.0% |
| 1910 | 0.5 | +66.7% |
| 1915 | 0.7 | +40.0% |
| 1920 | 0.9 | +28.6% |
| 1925 | 1.1 | +22.2% |
| 1930 | 1.4 | +27.3% |
| 1935 | 1.7 | +21.4% |
| 1940 | 2 | +17.6% |
| 1945 | 2.3 | +15.0% |
| 1950 | 2.5 | +8.7% |
| 1955 | 3 | +20.0% |
| 1960 | 3.4 | +13.3% |
| 1965 | 4.5 | +32.4% |
| 1970 | 6.1 | +35.6% |
| 1975 | 6.2 | +1.6% |
| 1980 | 6.5 | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 7.2 | +10.8% |
| 1990 | 8.9 | +23.6% |
| 1995 | 10.4 | +16.9% |
| 2000 | 13.9 | +33.7% |
| 2005 | 16.8 | +20.9% |
| 2010 | 23.8 | +41.7% |
| 2015 | 23.7 | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 24.9 | +5.1% |
Poland compared with similar countries
- Poland's 24.9 is below the median for high income countries, which is 30.6, 81% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Poland's 24.9 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.85, 81% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.15 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.25 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 2 |
| 1920s | 1 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 2 |
| 1930s | 1.55 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2 |
| 1940s | 2.15 | 2 | 2.3 | 2 |
| 1950s | 2.75 | 2.5 | 3 | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.95 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 2 |
| 1970s | 6.15 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 2 |
| 1980s | 6.85 | 6.5 | 7.2 | 2 |
| 1990s | 9.65 | 8.9 | 10.4 | 2 |
| 2000s | 15.35 | 13.9 | 16.8 | 2 |
| 2010s | 23.75 | 23.7 | 23.8 | 2 |
| 2020s | 24.9 | 24.9 | 24.9 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Poland
More education data for Poland
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.55 (2020)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 99.91 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 322,900 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 15,398 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 776,213 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 735,804 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.33 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.60 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.04 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with completed tertiary education in Poland?
- Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Poland was 24.9 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Poland?
- The highest recorded value was 24.9 in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Poland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1 in 1870.
- How does Poland rank for share of the population with completed tertiary education?
- Poland ranks 33rd out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with completed tertiary education rising or falling in Poland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Poland 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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