Historical dataset showing Sweden literacy rate by year from N/A to N/A.

Sweden: Literacy rate: The latest value from is percent, unavailable from percent in . In comparison, the world average is 0.00 percent, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for Sweden from to is percent. The minimum value, percent, was reached in while the maximum of percent was recorded in .

The most common type of education completed in Sweden is a post secondary education of three years or more or an upper secondary education of three years. In 2023, nearly half of the population had either one of these levels of education as their lowest completed level of education. Among them, nearly 24 percent had an upper secondary education of three years or more. In 2023, 383,000 students were registered in higher education institutions in Sweden. Higher share of the female population with higher education The share of women with a post-secondary education of three years or more was higher than the share of men; 45 percent of the female population had a post-secondary education in 2022, compared to 33 percent of the male population. On the other hand, there are more men than women with an upper secondary education. Financial aid for students The financial aid for students in Sweden makes it possible for many to gain a higher education. In 2021, 207,000 students in Sweden received both subsidies and study loans. Around 107,000 of the students received neither, and around 50,000 received subsidies but no loans.

In 2023, more women than men had a post-secondary education of three years or more in Sweden. In detail, 29 percent of the Swedish women and 19 percent of the Swedish men had attained that education level. On the other hand, a higher share of men than women had a form of upper secondary education. More than one fourth of men and one fifth of women had an upper secondary education of three years. Women’s access to education More women than men completing post-secondary education programs is not a trend limited to Sweden. Across all OECD countries in 2021, more women were first-time higher education students than men. A large portion of these women are entering into healthcare and education programs, while less than a quarter are entering into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs. Issues facing Swedish women today While more Swedish women are accessing education and leading autonomous lives, they still face many gender-based issues. In 2022, domestic abuse, equal pay, and sexual violence were all cited as top gender issues for Swedish women. More Swedish women than men report feeling unsafe at night, and for both genders, concerns about crime are increasing.

SE: Repeaters: Primary: % of Total Enrollment data was reported at 0.000 % in 2015. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.000 % for 2014. SE: Repeaters: Primary: % of Total Enrollment data is updated yearly, averaging 0.000 % from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2015, with 37 observations. SE: Repeaters: Primary: % of Total Enrollment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Repeaters in primary school are the number of students enrolled in the same grade as in the previous year, as a percentage of all students enrolled in primary school.; ; 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 Sweden, the number of students participating in different types of education remained stable for both genders during the first half of the last decade, but has increased steadily since 2015. Furthermore, there are far more women participating in education in Sweden than men, 657,000 and 507,000, respectively. In 2021, a total of 1.2 million people participated in education in Sweden.

Women dominate higher education

The main reason behind the high number of women in education is that they dominate in higher education in terms of number of students. Almost 234,000 students in higher education are women, compared to 149,000 men. Furthermore, there are more women in the group 'other students' and in adult education as well.

Youth the largest age group

In 2021, youth between 16 and 18 years of age made up the largest age group in education in Sweden with above 337,000. In higher education, students between 20 and 24 made up the largest age group.

Sweden SE: School Enrollment: Primary: % Net data was reported at 99.376 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 99.466 % for 2014. Sweden SE: School Enrollment: Primary: % Net data is updated yearly, averaging 99.419 % from Dec 1976 (Median) to 2015, with 30 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.898 % in 1994 and a record low of 95.079 % in 2006. Sweden SE: School Enrollment: Primary: % Net data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Net enrollment rate is the ratio of children of official school age who are enrolled in school to the population of the corresponding official school age. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.; ; 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).

Sweden SE: Over-Age Students: Primary: % of Enrollment data was reported at 17.396 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 16.584 % for 2014. Sweden SE: Over-Age Students: Primary: % of Enrollment data is updated yearly, averaging 0.499 % from Dec 1976 (Median) to 2015, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.396 % in 2015 and a record low of 0.000 % in 2012. Sweden SE: Over-Age Students: Primary: % of Enrollment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Over-age students are the percentage of those enrolled who are older than the official school-age range for primary education.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; ;

Sweden SE: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Primary School Enrollment: Gross data was reported at 1.042 Ratio in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.056 Ratio for 2014. Sweden SE: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Primary School Enrollment: Gross data is updated yearly, averaging 1.004 Ratio from Dec 1971 (Median) to 2015, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.059 Ratio in 2013 and a record low of 0.995 Ratio in 2010. Sweden SE: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Primary School Enrollment: Gross data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Gender parity index for gross enrollment ratio in primary education is the ratio of girls to boys enrolled at primary level in public and private schools.; ; 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).

Among people born in Sweden, the most common educational level was upper secondary education of three years, amounting to over 1.5 million individuals in 2022. With more than 423,000 people, the most common educational level of foreign-born Swedes was post-secondary education of three years or more.

Sweden SE: Compulsory Education: Duration data was reported at 9.000 Year in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 9.000 Year for 2015. Sweden SE: Compulsory Education: Duration data is updated yearly, averaging 9.000 Year from Dec 1998 (Median) to 2016, with 19 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.000 Year in 2016 and a record low of 9.000 Year in 2016. Sweden SE: Compulsory Education: Duration data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Duration of compulsory education is the number of years that children are legally obliged to attend school.; ; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics.; Median; Aggregate data are based on World Bank estimates.

Sweden SE: Lower Secondary Completion Rate: Total: % of Relevant Age Group data was reported at 105.794 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 104.458 % for 2014. Sweden SE: Lower Secondary Completion Rate: Total: % of Relevant Age Group data is updated yearly, averaging 94.767 % from Dec 2009 (Median) to 2015, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 105.794 % in 2015 and a record low of 92.547 % in 2011. Sweden SE: Lower Secondary Completion Rate: Total: % of Relevant Age Group data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Lower secondary education completion rate is measured as the gross intake ratio to the last grade of lower secondary education (general and pre-vocational). It is calculated as the number of new entrants in the last grade of lower secondary education, regardless of age, divided by the population at the entrance age for the last grade of lower secondary education.; ; 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).

Sweden - Unemployment rate: Tertiary education (levels 5-8) was 4.70% in December of 2020, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Sweden - Unemployment rate: Tertiary education (levels 5-8) - last updated from the EUROSTAT on October of 2025. Historically, Sweden - Unemployment rate: Tertiary education (levels 5-8) reached a record high of 4.80% in December of 2005 and a record low of 3.50% in December of 2008.

Sweden SE: School Enrollment: Secondary: Male: % Net data was reported at 99.813 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 96.832 % for 2014. Sweden SE: School Enrollment: Secondary: Male: % Net data is updated yearly, averaging 94.848 % from Dec 1989 (Median) to 2015, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.813 % in 2015 and a record low of 84.415 % in 1990. Sweden SE: School Enrollment: Secondary: Male: % Net data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Net enrollment rate is the ratio of children of official school age who are enrolled in school to the population of the corresponding official school age. Secondary education completes the provision of basic education that began at the primary level, and aims at laying the foundations for lifelong learning and human development, by offering more subject- or skill-oriented instruction using more specialized teachers.; ; 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).

Sweden - Unemployment rates of the population aged 25-64: Less than primary, primary and lower secondary education (levels 0-2) was 19.90% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Sweden - Unemployment rates of the population aged 25-64: Less than primary, primary and lower secondary education (levels 0-2) - last updated from the EUROSTAT on September of 2025. Historically, Sweden - Unemployment rates of the population aged 25-64: Less than primary, primary and lower secondary education (levels 0-2) reached a record high of 23.90% in December of 2021 and a record low of 10.50% in December of 2009.

Sweden SE: Government Expenditure on Primary Education: % of Government Expenditure on Education data was reported at 22.780 % in 2014. This records an increase from the previous number of 22.380 % for 2013. Sweden SE: Government Expenditure on Primary Education: % of Government Expenditure on Education data is updated yearly, averaging 26.675 % from Dec 1979 (Median) to 2014, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 54.522 % in 1991 and a record low of 21.984 % in 2012. Sweden SE: Government Expenditure on Primary Education: % of Government Expenditure on Education data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Expenditure on primary education is expressed as a percentage of total general government expenditure on education. General government usually refers to local, regional and central governments.; ; United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics.; Median;

Sweden SE: School Enrollment: Primary: Female: % Net data was reported at 99.363 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 99.523 % for 2014. Sweden SE: School Enrollment: Primary: Female: % Net data is updated yearly, averaging 99.030 % from Dec 1982 (Median) to 2015, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.838 % in 1991 and a record low of 94.948 % in 2006. Sweden SE: School Enrollment: Primary: Female: % Net data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Net enrollment rate is the ratio of children of official school age who are enrolled in school to the population of the corresponding official school age. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.; ; 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).

Sweden - At Risk of Poverty-rate: Tertiary education (levels 5-8) was 8.80% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Sweden - At Risk of Poverty-rate: Tertiary education (levels 5-8) - last updated from the EUROSTAT on September of 2025. Historically, Sweden - At Risk of Poverty-rate: Tertiary education (levels 5-8) reached a record high of 11.90% in December of 2015 and a record low of 7.90% in December of 2021.

Sweden SE: Secondary Education: Teachers data was reported at 65,570.000 Person in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 65,512.000 Person for 2014. Sweden SE: Secondary Education: Teachers data is updated yearly, averaging 71,544.500 Person from Dec 1973 (Median) to 2015, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 87,545.000 Person in 1994 and a record low of 53,600.000 Person in 1973. Sweden SE: Secondary Education: Teachers data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sweden – Table SE.World Bank: Education Statistics. Secondary education teachers includes full-time and part-time teachers.; ; 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).

Sweden - Employment rate: Tertiary education (levels 5-8) was 88.00% in December of 2020, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Sweden - Employment rate: Tertiary education (levels 5-8) - last updated from the EUROSTAT on September of 2025. Historically, Sweden - Employment rate: Tertiary education (levels 5-8) reached a record high of 88.80% in December of 2019 and a record low of 85.80% in December of 2006.