Share of the population with completed tertiary education in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Share of the population with completed tertiary education was 31.1 in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2020)
31.1
World rank
20th
of 111 countries
All-time high
31.1
in 2020
All-time low
0.2
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in United Kingdom, 1870–2020
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of the population with completed tertiary education in United Kingdom is 31.1, 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 United Kingdom peaked at 31.1 in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.2, in 1870.
United Kingdom ranks 20th 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 United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 0.2 | — |
| 1875 | 0.2 | +0.0% |
| 1880 | 0.3 | +50.0% |
| 1885 | 0.3 | +0.0% |
| 1890 | 0.4 | +33.3% |
| 1895 | 0.5 | +25.0% |
| 1900 | 0.5 | +0.0% |
| 1905 | 0.5 | +0.0% |
| 1910 | 0.7 | +40.0% |
| 1915 | 0.8 | +14.3% |
| 1920 | 1 | +25.0% |
| 1925 | 1.1 | +10.0% |
| 1930 | 1.2 | +9.1% |
| 1935 | 1.3 | +8.3% |
| 1940 | 1.4 | +7.7% |
| 1945 | 1.5 | +7.1% |
| 1950 | 1.6 | +6.7% |
| 1955 | 1.7 | +6.2% |
| 1960 | 1.8 | +5.9% |
| 1965 | 4.7 | +161.1% |
| 1970 | 8.3 | +76.6% |
| 1975 | 10.7 | +28.9% |
| 1980 | 11.1 | +3.7% |
| 1985 | 12.2 | +9.9% |
| 1990 | 16.9 | +38.5% |
| 1995 | 20.7 | +22.5% |
| 2000 | 24.8 | +19.8% |
| 2005 | 26.6 | +7.3% |
| 2010 | 30.3 | +13.9% |
| 2015 | 30.7 | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 31.1 | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 2 |
| 1880s | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 2 |
| 1890s | 0.45 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 2 |
| 1900s | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2 |
| 1910s | 0.75 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 2 |
| 1920s | 1.05 | 1 | 1.1 | 2 |
| 1930s | 1.25 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 2 |
| 1940s | 1.45 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 2 |
| 1950s | 1.65 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2 |
| 1960s | 3.25 | 1.8 | 4.7 | 2 |
| 1970s | 9.5 | 8.3 | 10.7 | 2 |
| 1980s | 11.65 | 11.1 | 12.2 | 2 |
| 1990s | 18.8 | 16.9 | 20.7 | 2 |
| 2000s | 25.7 | 24.8 | 26.6 | 2 |
| 2010s | 30.5 | 30.3 | 30.7 | 2 |
| 2020s | 31.1 | 31.1 | 31.1 | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More education data for United Kingdom
- Theoretical duration of pre-primary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (pre-primary to post-secondary non) 0.0494 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of lower secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of upper secondary education (years), annual 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Theoretical duration of secondary education (years), annual growth 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), gaps filled 2,022 tertiary education (2023)
- Start of the academic school year (tertiary education), annual growth 0.0495 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 281,128 (2023)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 2 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population with completed tertiary education in United Kingdom?
- Share of the population with completed tertiary education in United Kingdom was 31.1 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 31.1 in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2 in 1870.
- How does United Kingdom rank for share of the population with completed tertiary education?
- United Kingdom ranks 20th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of the population with completed tertiary education rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).