Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Sweden
Sweden: Share of the population with completed tertiary education was 30.6 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
30.6
World rank
23rd
of 111 countries
All-time high
32
in 2010
All-time low
0.1
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Sweden, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Sweden recorded 30.6 for share of the population with completed tertiary education in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population with completed tertiary education in Sweden peaked at 32 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0.1, in 1870.
That places Sweden 23rd 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 Sweden, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.1 | — |
| 1875 | 0.1 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.2 | +100.0% |
| 1885 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1895 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1900 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.3 | +50.0% |
| 1915 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1920 | 0.4 | +33.3% |
| 1925 | 1.2 | +200.0% |
| 1930 | 2 | +66.7% |
| 1935 | 2.8 | +40.0% |
| 1940 | 3.2 | +14.3% |
| 1945 | 3.9 | +21.9% |
| 1950 | 4.5 | +15.4% |
| 1955 | 5.4 | +20.0% |
| 1960 | 6.3 | +16.7% |
| 1965 | 7.1 | +12.7% |
| 1970 | 8 | +12.7% |
| 1975 | 12.7 | +58.7% |
| 1980 | 17.4 | +37.0% |
| 1985 | 19.6 | +12.6% |
| 1990 | 22.5 | +14.8% |
| 1995 | 25.6 | +13.8% |
| 2000 | 26.1 | +2.0% |
| 2005 | 28.6 | +9.6% |
| 2010 | 32 | +11.9% |
| 2015 | 30 | -6.2% |
| 2020 | 30.6 | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 1920s | 0.8 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 2 |
| 1930s | 2.4 | 2 | 2.8 | 2 |
| 1940s | 3.55 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 2 |
| 1950s | 4.95 | 4.5 | 5.4 | 2 |
| 1960s | 6.7 | 6.3 | 7.1 | 2 |
| 1970s | 10.35 | 8 | 12.7 | 2 |
| 1980s | 18.5 | 17.4 | 19.6 | 2 |
| 1990s | 24.05 | 22.5 | 25.6 | 2 |
| 2000s | 27.35 | 26.1 | 28.6 | 2 |
| 2010s | 31 | 30 | 32 | 2 |
| 2020s | 30.6 | 30.6 | 30.6 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
- 20 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 31.1 compare
- 21 Netherlands 30.9 compare
- 22 Denmark 30.8 compare
- 24 Germany 30.4 compare
- 25 Australia 30.2 compare
- 26 Philippines 29.7 compare
More education data for Sweden
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 71,551 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 4 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 62.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 16.7% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 13 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 7 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 114.87 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 114.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with completed tertiary education in Sweden?
- Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Sweden was 30.6 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 32 in 2010.
- What is the lowest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1 in 1870.
- How does Sweden rank for share of the population with completed tertiary education?
- Sweden ranks 23rd out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with completed tertiary education rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sweden 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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