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.

GE: Adjusted Net Enrollment Rate: Primary: % of Primary School Age Children data was reported at 99.626 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 99.619 % for 2015. GE: Adjusted Net Enrollment Rate: Primary: % of Primary School Age Children data is updated yearly, averaging 95.004 % from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.747 % in 2014 and a record low of 82.418 % in 1996. GE: Adjusted Net Enrollment Rate: Primary: % of Primary School Age Children data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Georgia – Table GE.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Adjusted net enrollment is the number of pupils of the school-age group for primary education, enrolled either in primary or secondary education, expressed as a percentage of the total population in that age group.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

In an impressive increase from years past, 39 percent of women in the United States had completed four years or more of college in 2022. This figure is up from 3.8 percent of women in 1940. A significant increase can also be seen in males, with 36.2 percent of the U.S. male population having completed four years or more of college in 2022, up from 5.5 percent in 1940.

4- and 2-year colleges

In the United States, college students are able to choose between attending a 2-year postsecondary program and a 4-year postsecondary program. Generally, attending a 2-year program results in an Associate’s Degree, and 4-year programs result in a Bachelor’s Degree.

Many 2-year programs are designed so that attendees can transfer to a college or university offering a 4-year program upon completing their Associate’s. Completion of a 4-year program is the generally accepted standard for entry-level positions when looking for a job.

Earnings after college

Factors such as gender, degree achieved, and the level of postsecondary education can have an impact on employment and earnings later in life. Some Bachelor’s degrees continue to attract more male students than female, particularly in STEM fields, while liberal arts degrees such as education, languages and literatures, and communication tend to see higher female attendance.

All of these factors have an impact on earnings after college, and despite nearly the same rate of attendance within the American population between males and females, men with a Bachelor’s Degree continue to have higher weekly earnings on average than their female counterparts.

GL: Educational Attainment: Doctoral or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data was reported at 0.094 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.073 % for 2014. GL: Educational Attainment: Doctoral or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 0.094 % from Dec 2012 (Median) to 2015, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.100 % in 2012 and a record low of 0.073 % in 2014. GL: Educational Attainment: Doctoral or Equivalent: 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 Greenland – Table GL.World Bank: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed Doctoral or equivalent.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; ;

In the academic year 2024, the enrollment rate of children in Japan for senior high schools, including correspondence courses, reached **** percent. That year, ** percent of senior high school students entered tertiary education institutions, such as universities and junior colleges, directly after graduation. Non-compulsory secondary education After graduation from junior high school, compulsory education in Japan comes to an end, and students may either find employment or continue their academic path by studying at a senior high school, technical college, or university. As of late, around *** million female students and *** million male students were enrolled in one of the over *** universities in the country. Qualities of the Japanese educational system  Japan’s adult literacy rate is at around ** percent. According to the results of OECD’s PISA Programme, Japanese fifteen-year-olds showcased high levels of education in the international comparison, scoring higher than the OECD standard in all rounds of assessment. The students especially excelled in scientific subjects, reaching mean scores of *** points in mathematics and *** points in science. In terms of sports and culture, student clubs are an important part of academic life in Japan. These clubs offer a wide variety of activities, such as ball sports, Japanese traditional sports like judo, as well as cultural clubs for arts or tea ceremony among others.

The World Bank EdStats All Indicator Query holds over 4,000 internationally comparable indicators that describe education access, progression, completion, literacy, teachers, population, and expenditures. The indicators cover the education cycle from pre-primary to vocational and tertiary education. The query also holds learning outcome data from international and regional learning assessments (e.g. PISA, TIMSS, PIRLS), equity data from household surveys, and projection/attainment data to 2050. For further information, please visit the EdStats website.

For further details, please refer to https://datatopics.worldbank.org/education/wRsc/about

Graph and download economic data for Labor Force Participation Rate - Bachelor's Degree and Higher, 25 Yrs. & over (LNS11327662) from Jan 1992 to Jun 2025 about 25 years +, participation, tertiary schooling, civilian, education, labor force, labor, household survey, rate, and USA.

Women and Men in Spain: Unemployment rate according to levels of education and age in the EU. Annual. National. Nota: UE27_2020: 27 países (desde 2020). UE-28: 28 países (2013-2020).

KG: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Post-Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Female: % Cumulative data was reported at 30.493 % in 2009. This records a decrease from the previous number of 30.862 % for 1999. KG: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Post-Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Female: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 30.678 % from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2009, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30.862 % in 1999 and a record low of 30.493 % in 2009. KG: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Post-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 Kyrgyzstan – Table KG.World Bank: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed post-secondary non-tertiary education.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; ;

Students from the Chinese ethnic group had the highest entry rate into higher education in every year from 2006 to 2024.

As of 2023, based on data dating back to 2021, Angola was the country worldwide where the lowest share of the population had a higher education of a bachelor's degree or higher. A high number of the countries on the list were located in Sub-Saharan Africa. On the other hand, Montenegro was the country where the highest share of the population had completed a bachelor's degree or more.

CO: Educational Attainment: At Least Bachelor's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data was reported at 15.925 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 15.820 % for 2022. CO: Educational Attainment: At Least Bachelor's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 10.150 % from Dec 2007 (Median) to 2023, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.925 % in 2023 and a record low of 9.220 % in 2009. CO: Educational Attainment: At Least Bachelor's or Equivalent: 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 Colombia – Table CO.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.;;

The U.S. Department of Education’s graduation rate, which is reported through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), is a nationally recognized and commonly used metric in higher education. Graduation rate is calculated as the percentage of first‐time, full‐time, degree/certificate seeking students that complete a CCC program within 150% of the estimated time it takes to complete the program.

EC: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Post-Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data was reported at 12.987 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 11.552 % for 2014. EC: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Post-Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 12.263 % from Dec 1974 (Median) to 2015, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.135 % in 1990 and a record low of 4.717 % in 1974. EC: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Post-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 Ecuador – Table EC.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed post-secondary non-tertiary education.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; ;

SY: Primary Education: Pupils data was reported at 1,547,316.000 Person in 2013. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2,552,874.000 Person for 2012. SY: Primary Education: Pupils data is updated yearly, averaging 2,252,145.000 Person from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2013, with 43 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,904,569.000 Person in 2002 and a record low of 924,969.000 Person in 1971. SY: Primary Education: Pupils data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Syrian Arab Republic – Table SY.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Primary education pupils is the total number of pupils enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Sum; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

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.

In 2023, approximately ***** percent of the female population who attended school in Indonesia completed their senior high school, slightly higher than the male population. The education completion rate in Indonesia decreases as the education level gets higher.

Contains data from the World Bank's data portal. There is also a consolidated country dataset on HDX. Education is one of the most powerful instruments for reducing poverty and inequality and lays a foundation for sustained economic growth. The World Bank compiles data on education inputs, participation, efficiency, and outcomes. Data on education are compiled by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics from official responses to surveys and from reports provided by education authorities in each country. Indicators: Adjusted net enrollment rate, Adjusted net intake rate to Grade 1 of primary education, Adolescents out of school, Adult illiterate population, Adult literacy rate, Barro-Lee, Capital expenditure as % of total expenditure in tertiary public institutions, Children out of school, Compulsory education, Cumulative drop-out rate to the last grade of primary education, Current education expenditure, Current expenditure as % of total expenditure in public institutions, Current expenditure as % of total expenditure in tertiary public institutions, DHS, Drop-out rate from Grade 1 of primary education, Drop-out rate from Grade 2 of primary education, Drop-out rate from Grade 3 of primary education, Drop-out rate from Grade 4 of primary education, Educational attainment, Effective transition rate from primary to lower secondary general education, Enrolment in Grade 1 of lower secondary general education, Enrolment in Grade 1 of primary education, Enrolment in Grade 2 of lower secondary general education, Enrolment in Grade 2 of primary education, Enrolment in Grade 3 of lower secondary general education, Enrolment in Grade 3 of primary education, Enrolment in Grade 4 of primary education, Enrolment in Grade 5 of primary education, Enrolment in lower secondary education, Enrolment in lower secondary general, Enrolment in post-secondary non-tertiary education, Enrolment in pre-primary education, Enrolment in primary education, Enrolment in secondary education, Enrolment in secondary general, Enrolment in secondary vocational, Enrolment in tertiary education, Enrolment in upper secondary education, Enrolment in upper secondary general, Enrolment in upper secondary vocational, Expenditure on education not specified by level as % of government expenditure on education, Expenditure on primary education, Expenditure on secondary education, Expenditure on tertiary education, Government expenditure on education, Government expenditure per student, Graduates from tertiary education, Gross enrolment ratio, Gross graduation ratio from lower secondary education, Gross graduation ratio from primary education, Gross intake ratio in first grade of primary education, Gross intake ratio to Grade 1 of lower secondary general education, Gross intake ratio to Grade 1 of primary education, Gross outbound enrolment ratio, Inbound mobility rate, Labor force, Literacy rate, Lower secondary completion rate, Lower secondary school starting age, Net enrolment rate, Net intake rate in grade 1, New entrants to Grade 1 of primary education, New entrants to Grade 1 of primary education with early childhood education experience, Official entrance age to compulsory education, Official entrance age to post-secondary non-tertiary education, Official entrance age to pre-primary education, Official entrance age to upper secondary education, Out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, Outbound mobility ratio, Over-age students, Percentage of enrolment in pre-primary education in private institutions, Percentage of enrolment in tertiary education in private institutions, Percentage of female teachers in lower secondary education who are trained, Percentage of graduates from tertiary education who are female, Percentage of male teachers in lower secondary education who are trained, Percentage of new entrants to Grade 1 of primary education with early childhood education experience, Percentage of repeaters in Grade 1 of lower secondary general education, Percentage of repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, Percentage of repeaters in Grade 2 of lower secondary general education, Percentage of repeaters in Grade 2 of primary education, Percentage of repeaters in Grade 3 of lower secondary general education, Percentage of repeaters in Grade 3 of primary education, Percentage of repeaters in Grade 4 of primary education, Percentage of repeaters in Grade 5 of primary education, Percentage of repeaters in lower secondary general education, Percentage of repeaters in primary education, Percentage of students in post-secondary non-tertiary education who are female, Percentage of students in pre-primary education who are female, Percentage of students in tertiary ISCED 5 programmes who are female, Percentage of students in tertiary ISCED 6 programmes who are female, Percentage of students in tertiary ISCED 7 programmes who are female, Percentage of students in tertiary ISCED 8 programmes who are female, Percentage of students in tertiary education who are female, Percentage of teachers in lower secondary education who are female, Percentage of teachers in lower secondary education who are trained, Percentage of teachers in primary education who are trained, Percentage of teachers in upper secondary education who are female, Persistence to grade 5, Persistence to last grade of primary, Population, Population ages 0-14, Population ages 15-64, Population of the official entrance age to primary education, Preprimary education, Primary completion rate, Primary education, Primary school starting age, Progression to secondary school, Pupil-teacher ratio, Pupil-teacher ratio in lower secondary education, Pupil-teacher ratio in upper secondary education, Rate of out-of-school adolescents of lower secondary school age, Rate of out-of-school children of primary school age, Repeaters, Repeaters in Grade 1 of lower secondary general education, Repeaters in Grade 1 of primary education, Repeaters in Grade 2 of lower secondary general education, Repeaters in Grade 2 of primary education, Repeaters in Grade 3 of lower secondary general education, Repeaters in Grade 3 of primary education, Repeaters in Grade 4 of primary education, Repeaters in Grade 5 of primary education, Repeaters in lower secondary general education, Repeaters in primary education, Repetition rate in Grade 1 of primary education, Repetition rate in Grade 2 of primary education, Repetition rate in Grade 3 of primary education, Repetition rate in Grade 4 of primary education, Repetition rate in Grade 5 of primary education, School age population, School enrollment, School life expectancy, Secondary education, Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in vocational programmes, Share of all students in tertiary education enrolled in ISCED 5, Share of all students in tertiary education enrolled in ISCED 6, Share of all students in tertiary education enrolled in ISCED 7, Share of all students in tertiary education enrolled in ISCED 8, Share of all students in upper secondary education enrolled in vocational programmes, Share of female students in secondary education enrolled in vocational programmes, Share of female students in tertiary education enrolled in ISCED 7, Share of female students in tertiary education enrolled in ISCED 8, Share of male students in secondary education enrolled in vocational programmes, Share of male students in tertiary education enrolled in ISCED 7, Share of male students in tertiary education enrolled in ISCED 8, Survival rate to Grade 4 of primary education, Survival rate to Grade 5 of primary education, Survival rate to the last grade of lower secondary general education, Survival rate to the last grade of primary education, Teachers in lower secondary education, Teachers in primary education, Teachers in secondary general education, Teachers in secondary vocational education, Teachers in tertiary education programmes, Teachers in upper secondary education, Tertiary education, Theoretical duration of lower secondary education, Theoretical duration of post-secondary non-tertiary education, Theoretical duration of pre-primary education, Theoretical duration of upper secondary education, Total inbound internationally mobile students, Total net enrolment rate, Total outbound internationally mobile tertiary students studying abroad, Trained teachers in lower secondary education, Trained teachers in primary education, Unemployment, Youth illiterate population

In 2023, about four percent of the people with a Bachelor's degree or higher were living below the poverty line in the United States. This is far below the poverty rate of those without a high school diploma, which was 25.1 percent in 2023.

NL: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Primary: Population 25+ Years: Female: % Cumulative data was reported at 98.268 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 98.158 % for 2014. NL: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Primary: Population 25+ Years: Female: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 98.206 % from Dec 2004 (Median) to 2015, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.545 % in 2007 and a record low of 98.127 % in 2009. NL: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Primary: 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 Netherlands – Table NL.World Bank: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed primary education.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; ;