Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Spain
Spain: Share of the population with completed tertiary education was 31.3 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
31.3
World rank
18th
of 111 countries
All-time high
31.3
in 2020
All-time low
0.2
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Spain, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population with completed tertiary education in Spain is 31.3, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.
The figure is up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with completed tertiary education in Spain peaked at 31.3 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.2, in 1870.
Spain ranks 18th of 111 countries on this measure, 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 Spain, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.2 | — |
| 1875 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1885 | 0.3 | +50.0% |
| 1890 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.4 | +33.3% |
| 1900 | 0.4 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.4 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.5 | +25.0% |
| 1915 | 0.5 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.5 | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 0.6 | +20.0% |
| 1930 | 0.7 | +16.7% |
| 1935 | 0.9 | +28.6% |
| 1940 | 1 | +11.1% |
| 1945 | 1.2 | +20.0% |
| 1950 | 1.4 | +16.7% |
| 1955 | 1.6 | +14.3% |
| 1960 | 1.8 | +12.5% |
| 1965 | 2.2 | +22.2% |
| 1970 | 2.6 | +18.2% |
| 1975 | 5.6 | +115.4% |
| 1980 | 8 | +42.9% |
| 1985 | 9 | +12.5% |
| 1990 | 9.9 | +10.0% |
| 1995 | 14.9 | +50.5% |
| 2000 | 23.3 | +56.4% |
| 2005 | 28.6 | +22.7% |
| 2010 | 30.5 | +6.6% |
| 2015 | 30.9 | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 31.3 | +1.3% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 31.3 is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.6, 1.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Spain's 31.3 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 | 0.25 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.35 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2 |
| 1920s | 0.55 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 2 |
| 1930s | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 2 |
| 1940s | 1.1 | 1 | 1.2 | 2 |
| 1950s | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2 |
| 1960s | 2 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 2 |
| 1970s | 4.1 | 2.6 | 5.6 | 2 |
| 1980s | 8.5 | 8 | 9 | 2 |
| 1990s | 12.4 | 9.9 | 14.9 | 2 |
| 2000s | 25.95 | 23.3 | 28.6 | 2 |
| 2010s | 30.7 | 30.5 | 30.9 | 2 |
| 2020s | 31.3 | 31.3 | 31.3 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 15 France 31.9 compare
- 16 Norway 31.8 compare
- 17 Luxembourg 31.5 compare
- 19 Finland 31.2 compare
- 20 United Kingdom 31.1 compare
- 21 Netherlands 30.9 compare
More education data for Spain
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 98.71 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 98.76 (2024)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 344,203 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 37,817 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 570,954 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 538,977 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.71 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.83 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with completed tertiary education in Spain?
- Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Spain was 31.3 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 31.3 in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2 in 1870.
- How does Spain rank for share of the population with completed tertiary education?
- Spain ranks 18th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with completed tertiary education rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Spain 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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