In 2022, about 37.7 percent of the U.S. population who were aged 25 and above had graduated from college or another higher education institution, a slight decline from 37.9 the previous year. However, this is a significant increase from 1960, when only 7.7 percent of the U.S. population had graduated from college. Demographics Educational attainment varies by gender, location, race, and age throughout the United States. Asian-American and Pacific Islanders had the highest level of education, on average, while Massachusetts and the District of Colombia are areas home to the highest rates of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher. However, education levels are correlated with wealth. While public education is free up until the 12th grade, the cost of university is out of reach for many Americans, making social mobility increasingly difficult. Earnings White Americans with a professional degree earned the most money on average, compared to other educational levels and races. However, regardless of educational attainment, males typically earned far more on average compared to females. Despite the decreasing wage gap over the years in the country, it remains an issue to this day. Not only is there a large wage gap between males and females, but there is also a large income gap linked to race as well.

United States US: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Primary: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data was reported at 98.774 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 98.793 % for 2014. United States US: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Primary: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 98.677 % from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2015, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.867 % in 2013 and a record low of 94.500 % in 1970. United States US: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Primary: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed primary education.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; ;

Participation rate in education, population aged 18 to 34, by age group and type of institution attended, Canada, provinces and territories. This table is included in Section E: Transitions and outcomes: Transitions to postsecondary education of the Pan Canadian Education Indicators Program (PCEIP). PCEIP draws from a wide variety of data sources to provide information on the school-age population, elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, transitions, and labour market outcomes. The program presents indicators for all of Canada, the provinces, the territories, as well as selected international comparisons and comparisons over time. PCEIP is an ongoing initiative of the Canadian Education Statistics Council, a partnership between Statistics Canada and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada that provides a set of statistical measures on education systems in Canada.

Among the OECD countries, Canada had the highest proportion of adults with a tertiary education in 2022. About 63 percent of Canadians had achieved a tertiary education in that year. Japan followed with about 56 percent of the population having completed a tertiary education, while in Ireland the share was roughly 54 percent. In India, on the other hand, less than 13 percent of the adult population had completed a tertiary education in 2022.

Educational attainment of the population aged 25 to 64, by age group and sex, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Canada, provinces and territories. This table is included in Section D: Postsecondary education: Educational attainment of the population aged 25 to 64 of the Pan Canadian Education Indicators Program (PCEIP). PCEIP draws from a wide variety of data sources to provide information on the school-age population, elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, transitions, education finance and labour market outcomes. The program presents indicators for all of Canada, the provinces, the territories, as well as selected international comparisons and comparisons over time. PCEIP is an ongoing initiative of the Canadian Education Statistics Council, a partnership between Statistics Canada and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada that provides a set of statistical measures on education systems in Canada.

US: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Lower Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Female: % Cumulative data was reported at 95.478 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 95.430 % for 2014. US: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Lower Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Female: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 94.823 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2015, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 95.478 % in 2015 and a record low of 93.014 % in 1980. US: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Lower Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Female: % Cumulative data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed lower secondary education.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; ;

The folder 'population by educational attainment level (edat1)' presents data on the highest level of education successfully completed by the individuals of a given population.

The folder 'transition from education to work (edatt)' covers data on young people neither in employment nor in education and training – NEET, early leavers from education and training and the labour status of young people by years since completion of highest level of education.

The data shown are calculated as annual averages of quarterly EU Labour Force Survey data (EU-LFS).

Up to the reference year 2008, the data source (EU-LFS) is, where necessary, adjusted and enriched in various ways, in accordance with the specificities of an indicator, including the following:

• correction of the main breaks in the LFS series,
• estimation of the missing values, i.e. in case of missing quarters, annual results and EU aggregates are estimated using adjusted quarterly national labour force survey data or interpolations of the EU-LFS data with reference to the available quarter(s).

Details on the adjustments are available in CIRCABC.

The adjustments are applied in the following online tables:

• Population by educational attainment level (edat1)

- Population by educational attainment level, sex and age (%) - main indicators (edat_lfse_03)
- Population by educational attainment level, sex and NUTS 2 regions (%) (edat_lfse_04)

(Other tables shown in the folder 'population by educational attainment level (edat1)' are not adjusted and therefore the results in these tables might differ).

• Young people by educational and labour status (incl. neither in employment nor in education and training - NEET) (edatt0) – all tables
• Early leavers from education and training (edatt1) – all tables
• Labour status of young people by years since completion of highest level of education (edatt2) – all tables

LFS ad-hoc module data available in the folder 'transition from education to work (edatt)' are not adjusted.

The folder 'young people by educational and labour status (incl. neither in employment nor in education and training - NEET) (edatt0)' also presents one table with quarterly NEET data (lfsi_neet_q). Deviating from the NEET indicator calculation as provided in 3.4, the denominator in this table with quarterly data is the total population of the same age group and sex which explains differences in results. For further information, see the ESMS on 'LFS main indicators'.

Population: Education Level: College & Higher: Gansu data was reported at 3.894 Person th in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.222 Person th for 2021. Population: Education Level: College & Higher: Gansu data is updated yearly, averaging 1.790 Person th from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2022, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3,629.350 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 0.377 Person th in 1997. Population: Education Level: College & Higher: Gansu data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Sample Survey: Level of Education: By Region.

Cuba CU: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Upper Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data was reported at 54.781 % in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 57.680 % for 2012. Cuba CU: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Upper Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 54.781 % from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2019, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 57.680 % in 2012 and a record low of 40.550 % in 2002. Cuba CU: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Upper Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Cuba – Table CU.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed upper secondary education.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;;

Nigeria Educational Attainment: Doctoral or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative data was reported at 0.482 % in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.092 % for 2019. Nigeria Educational Attainment: Doctoral or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 0.110 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2022, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.482 % in 2022 and a record low of 0.092 % in 2019. Nigeria Educational Attainment: Doctoral or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Nigeria – Table NG.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed Doctoral or equivalent.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;;

Azerbaijan Educational Attainment: At Least Competed Short-Cycle Tertiary: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data was reported at 27.660 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 27.650 % for 2022. Azerbaijan Educational Attainment: At Least Competed Short-Cycle Tertiary: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 25.405 % from Dec 2007 (Median) to 2023, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 27.660 % in 2023 and a record low of 24.920 % in 2007. Azerbaijan Educational Attainment: At Least Competed Short-Cycle Tertiary: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Azerbaijan – Table AZ.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed short-cycle tertiary education.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;;

AM: Educational Attainment: At Least Bachelor's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Female: % Cumulative data was reported at 28.606 % in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 29.258 % for 2021. AM: Educational Attainment: At Least Bachelor's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Female: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 24.150 % from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2022, with 14 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 29.258 % in 2021 and a record low of 19.500 % in 2001. AM: Educational Attainment: At Least Bachelor's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Female: % Cumulative data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Armenia – Table AM.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed Bachelor's or equivalent.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;;

Statistical Area Level of Education of Population Aged 15 and Over_ Secondary Release Area, Statistical Area Level of Education of Population Aged 15 and Over_ Primary Release Area, Statistical Area Level of Education of Population Aged 15 and Over_ Minimum Statistical AreaThe Ministry of the Interior's Statistics Department provides the latest annual statistical data for various counties and cities on the Government Open Data Platform in XML format. When viewed in a browser, it appears as a series of characters and numbers. Typically, this format is suitable for programmers to develop applications using the data, rather than being random characters. If you wish to download the data in CSV format (which can be viewed in Excel), please refer to the Social Economic Data Service Platform on the Land Information System website (segis.moi.gov.tw) for downloading.

PL: Educational Attainment: At Least Competed Short-Cycle Tertiary: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data was reported at 23.885 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 22.799 % for 2013. PL: Educational Attainment: At Least Competed Short-Cycle Tertiary: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 20.720 % from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2014, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 23.885 % in 2014 and a record low of 12.374 % in 2002. PL: Educational Attainment: At Least Competed Short-Cycle Tertiary: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Poland – Table PL.World Bank: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed short-cycle tertiary education.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; ;

In 2023, the most common type of education completed in Turkey is an upper secondary school, with **** percent of the population finishing their education at this level. In the same year, ** percent of the adults of age ** and over had university or other higher education diplomas. In comparison, only *** percent of the population in Turkey held a doctorate degree.

School age population, secondary education, both sexes (number) in United States was reported at 25052845 Persons in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Population of the official age for secondary education, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Survey of human resources for civilian population aged 15 and over by level of education

As of 2023, ** percent of Norwegians had achieved a higher education, representing the most common educational level attained in the country. The Norwegian education system is divided into three levels: primary school, upper secondary school, and higher education. While primary school is compulsory for everyone between six and 16 years, upper secondary school is an optional three-year long education, leading either to vocational- or higher education. Highly educated population Since 2010, the number of students in higher education increased, reaching nearly ******* students in 2023. There were more female students, and the university with the highest number of students is the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in the city of Trondheim. Education levels in Scandinavia When considering the rest of Scandinavia, similar patterns appear. In both Sweden and Denmark, the population is gradually becoming more educated, and the number of students in higher education increased over the past decade. In 2023, approximately ** percent of Swedes had a higher education of three years or more, while ** percent of Danes had completed a master’s degree the same year.

Basic data and life tables by educational attainment. (CSV 54 kb)

School age population, secondary education, male (number) in United States was reported at 12785585 Persons in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United States - Population of the official age for secondary education, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.