Abstract

Many theories of economic growth stress the role of human capital in the form of education, but empirical studies have been hampered by inadequate data. The authors describe a data set on educational attainment for 120 countries over five- year periods from 1960 to 1985. Census and survey figures fill over 40% of the cells, and the remainder are estimated from school-enrollment data by a perpetual- inventory method. The data refer to male and female attainment of the adult population at four levels: no schooling, primary, secondary, and higher. They also provide a rough breakdown into incomplete and complete attainment at the three levels of schooling.

Geographic coverage

The authors describe a data set on educational attainment for 120 countries over five- year periods from 1960 to 1985.

Kind of data

Aggregate data [agg]

Mode of data collection

Other [oth]

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.

Around ** percent of Europeans held an upper secondary school title in 2024. Figures ranged from ** percent of people residing in Czechia to only ** percent of Spaniards. About ********* of EU citizens had a primary school title only, while this was the case for ************** of the Turkish population. As far as tertiary education, ** percent of the Irish population held a bachelor's or higher degree, compared to only ** percent of those living in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

GE: Educational Attainment: Doctoral or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data was reported at 0.621 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.235 % for 2012. GE: Educational Attainment: Doctoral or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 0.428 % from Dec 2012 (Median) to 2014, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.621 % in 2014 and a record low of 0.235 % in 2012. GE: Educational Attainment: Doctoral or Equivalent: 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 Georgia – Table GE.World Bank: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed Doctoral or equivalent.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; ;

Belarus BY: Educational Attainment: At Least Bachelor's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative: Male data was reported at 26.340 % in 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 21.270 % for 2009. Belarus BY: Educational Attainment: At Least Bachelor's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 17.500 % from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2019, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 26.340 % in 2019 and a record low of 7.240 % in 1970. Belarus BY: Educational Attainment: At Least Bachelor's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Belarus – Table BY.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.;;

According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2020, 88 percent of females worldwide had primary education, compared to 91 percent of males. By comparison, more females than males had attained tertiary education. The Global Gender Index benchmarks national gender gaps on economic, political, education, and health-based criteria. In 2020, the leading country was Iceland with a score of 0.87.

Abstract

This study provides an update on measures of educational attainment for a broad cross section of countries. In our previous work (Barro and Lee, 1993), we constructed estimates of educational attainment by sex for persons aged 25 and over. The values applied to 129 countries over a five-year intervals from 1960 to 1985.

The present study adds census information for 1985 and 1990 and updates the estimates of educational attainment to 1990. We also have been able to add a few countries, notably China, which were previously omitted because of missing data.

Dataset:

Educational attainment at various levels for the male and female population. The data set includes estimates of educational attainment for the population by age - over age 15 and over age 25 - for 126 countries in the world. (see Barro, Robert and J.W. Lee, "International Measures of Schooling Years and Schooling Quality, AER, Papers and Proceedings, 86(2), pp. 218-223 and also see "International Data on Education", manuscipt.) Data are presented quinquennially for the years 1960-1990;

Educational quality across countries. Table 1 presents data on measures of schooling inputs at five-year intervals from 1960 to 1990. Table 2 contains the data on average test scores for the students of the different age groups for the various subjects.Please see Jong-Wha Lee and Robert J. Barro, "Schooling Quality in a Cross-Section of Countries," (NBER Working Paper No.w6198, September 1997) for more detailed explanation and sources of data.

Geographic coverage

The data set cobvers the following countries: - Afghanistan - Albania - Algeria - Angola - Argentina - Australia - Austria - Bahamas, The - Bahrain - Bangladesh - Barbados - Belgium - Benin - Bolivia - Botswana - Brazil - Bulgaria - Burkina Faso - Burundi - Cameroon - Canada - Cape verde - Central African Rep. - Chad - Chile - China - Colombia - Comoros - Congo - Costa Rica - Cote d'Ivoire - Cuba - Cyprus - Czechoslovakia - Denmark - Dominica - Dominican Rep. - Ecuador - Egypt - El Salvador - Ethiopia - Fiji - Finland - France - Gabon - Gambia - Germany, East - Germany, West - Ghana - Greece - Grenada - Guatemala - Guinea - Guinea-Bissau - Guyana - Haiti - Honduras - Hong Kong - Hungary - Iceland - India - Indonesia - Iran, I.R. of - Iraq - Ireland - Israel - Italy - Jamaica - Japan - Jordan - Kenya - Korea - Kuwait - Lesotho - Liberia - Luxembourg - Madagascar - Malawi - Malaysia - Mali - Malta - Mauritania - Mauritius - Mexico - Morocco - Mozambique - Myanmar (Burma) - Nepal - Netherlands - New Zealand - Nicaragua - Niger - Nigeria - Norway - Oman - Pakistan - Panama - Papua New Guinea - Paraguay - Peru - Philippines - Poland - Portugal - Romania - Rwanda - Saudi Arabia - Senegal - Seychelles - Sierra Leone - Singapore - Solomon Islands - Somalia - South africa - Spain - Sri Lanka - St.Lucia - St.Vincent & Grens. - Sudan - Suriname - Swaziland - Sweden - Switzerland - Syria - Taiwan - Tanzania - Thailand - Togo - Tonga - Trinidad & Tobago - Tunisia - Turkey - U.S.S.R. - Uganda - United Arab Emirates - United Kingdom - United States - Uruguay - Vanuatu - Venezuela - Western Samoa - Yemen, N.Arab - Yugoslavia - Zaire - Zambia - Zimbabwe

This table describes the highest level of education an individual has successfully completed and is defined as the count of individuals who have successfully completed in the pacific region by country, age, sex, urbanisation, and disability status.

Find more Pacific data on PDH.stat.

Most social surveys collect data on respondents’ educational attainment. Current measurement practice involves a closed question with country-specific response options, which are needed because of the differences between educational systems. However, these are quite difficult to compare across countries. This is a challenge for both migrant and international surveys. Therefore, a measurement tool for educational attainment that was initially developed for German migrant surveys in the CAMCES project (Schneider, Briceno-Rosas, Herzing, et al. 2018; Schneider, Briceno-Rosas, Ortmanns, et al. 2018) was extended in the SERISS-project in work package 8, Task 8.3. In deliverable D8.8, we provide a database of educational qualifications and levels for 100 countries, including the definition of a search tree interface to facilitate the navigation of categories for respondents in computer-assisted surveys. All country-specific categories are linked to 3-digit codes of UNESCO's International Standard Classification of Education 2011 for Educational Attainment (ISCED-A), as well as to the education coding scheme used in the European Social Survey (ESS), "edulvlb". A live search of the database via two different interfaces, a search box (for a limited set of countries) and a search tree (for all countries), is available at the surveycodings website at https://surveycodings.org/articles/codings/levels-of-education. The search box and search tree can be implemented in survey questionnaires and thereby be used for respondents’ self-classification in computer-assisted surveys. The live search feature can also be used for post-coding open answers in already collected data.

MT 5.1.2 Population by country/place of education/training, educational attainment level, age and sex

Palau Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Post-Secondary: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative: Male data was reported at 31.708 % in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 46.315 % for 2014. Palau Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Post-Secondary: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 39.011 % from Dec 2014 (Median) to 2020, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 46.315 % in 2014 and a record low of 31.708 % in 2020. Palau Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Post-Secondary: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Palau – Table PW.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed post-secondary non-tertiary education.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;;

******* was the European country with the highest share of graduates in 2024, with almost **** of those aged between 15 and 64 having a degree. On the contrary, only ** percent of the population aged 15 to 64 in ********************** hold a tertiary education title.

Education is one of the key priorities in the Danish welfare system. In fact, Danes enjoy free primary schools, upper secondary schools, and universities. As of 2023, the most common type of education completed in Denmark was vocational education and training programs. Close to ** percent of the population between 15 and 69 years of age had completed this education. Meanwhile, around ********** had completed a primary education, whereas around ** percent had completed a vocational bachelor education. Primary and upper secondary education Primary education comprises of 10 years of compulsory education in Denmark. Over the past decade, there were fewer pupils in primary education, likely due to a general decrease in the number of births in recent years. Moreover, the number of students in upper secondary education decreased from 2017 after having increased until then. Higher education The same tendency can be observed for higher education: as of 2023, over ** percent of the Danish population had attained a type of higher education. After having peaked in 2014, the number of university students decreased, reaching around ******* students as of 2021. Both the number of master and doctorate students in the country fluctuated over the past 10 years.

Chile CL: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Primary: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data was reported at 92.221 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 90.600 % for 2022. Chile CL: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Primary: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 87.020 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2023, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 92.221 % in 2023 and a record low of 80.250 % in 2000. Chile CL: 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 Chile – Table CL.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed primary education.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;;

Bolivia BO: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Post-Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data was reported at 30.185 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 28.914 % for 2022. Bolivia BO: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Post-Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 22.875 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2023, with 18 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 33.020 % in 2020 and a record low of 13.100 % in 1992. Bolivia BO: 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 Bolivia – Table BO.World Bank.WDI: Social: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed post-secondary non-tertiary education.;UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;;

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; ;

Uzbekistan UZ: Educational Attainment: At Least Bachelor's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data was reported at 15.804 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 15.677 % for 2014. Uzbekistan UZ: Educational Attainment: At Least Bachelor's or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 15.677 % from Dec 2013 (Median) to 2015, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 15.804 % in 2015 and a record low of 15.421 % in 2013. Uzbekistan UZ: Educational Attainment: At Least Bachelor's or Equivalent: 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 Uzbekistan – Table UZ.World Bank: Education Statistics. The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed Bachelor's or equivalent.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; ;

China Educational Attainment: Doctoral or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative data was reported at 0.120 % in 2020. China Educational Attainment: Doctoral or Equivalent: Population 25+ Years: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 0.120 % from Dec 2020 (Median) to 2020, with 1 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.120 % in 2020 and a record low of 0.120 % in 2020. China 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 China – Table CN.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.;;

BE: Educational Attainment, At Least Completed Upper Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data was reported at 75.126 % in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 74.248 % for 2021. BE: Educational Attainment, At Least Completed Upper Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Total: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 64.280 % from Dec 1970 (Median) to 2022, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 75.126 % in 2022 and a record low of 14.020 % in 1970. BE: Educational Attainment, At Least Completed Upper Secondary: 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 Belgium – Table BE.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.;;

Vietnam VN: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Post-Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data was reported at 14.284 % in 2009. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.703 % for 1989. Vietnam VN: Educational Attainment: At Least Completed Post-Secondary: Population 25+ Years: Male: % Cumulative data is updated yearly, averaging 3.703 % from Dec 1979 (Median) to 2009, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.284 % in 2009 and a record low of 1.921 % in 1979. Vietnam VN: 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 Vietnam – Table VN.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; ;