| Country |
Educational attainment |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
| OECD average |
Below upper secondary |
10.1 |
9.4 |
9.3 |
9.0 |
8.7 |
9.4 |
9.7 |
10.3 |
10.5 |
10.0 |
9.1 |
8.7 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
6.7 |
6.5 |
6.1 |
5.7 |
5.5 |
5.9 |
6.1 |
6.3 |
6.0 |
5.5 |
4.9 |
4.9 |
| |
Tertiary education |
4.1 |
4.0 |
3.8 |
3.5 |
3.3 |
3.7 |
4.0 |
4.1 |
3.8 |
3.5 |
3.4 |
3.2 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| OECD countries |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Australia |
Below upper secondary |
9.6 |
9.0 |
8.4 |
7.5 |
7.6 |
7.5 |
7.0 |
6.2 |
6.3 |
5.6 |
5.1 |
5.2 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
6.1 |
5.8 |
5.1 |
4.5 |
4.7 |
4.3 |
4.3 |
3.9 |
3.4 |
3.8 |
3.0 |
2.6 |
| |
Tertiary education |
3.5 |
3.3 |
3.4 |
3.6 |
3.1 |
3.3 |
3.0 |
2.8 |
2.5 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
| Austria |
Below upper secondary |
6.6 |
6.8 |
5.9 |
6.2 |
6.2 |
6.7 |
7.8 |
7.8 |
8.6 |
7.9 |
7.4 |
6.3 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
3.3 |
3.7 |
3.2 |
2.9 |
3.0 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
3.7 |
3.3 |
2.9 |
| |
Tertiary education |
2.5 |
1.9 |
1.8 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
1.8 |
2.0 |
2.9 |
2.6 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
1.7 |
| Belgium |
Below upper secondary |
12.5 |
13.1 |
12.0 |
9.8 |
8.5 |
10.3 |
10.7 |
11.7 |
12.4 |
12.3 |
11.3 |
10.8 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
6.7 |
7.4 |
6.6 |
5.3 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
6.7 |
6.9 |
6.9 |
6.7 |
6.2 |
5.7 |
| |
Tertiary education |
3.3 |
3.2 |
3.1 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
3.9 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
3.3 |
3.2 |
| Canada |
Below upper secondary |
12.9 |
11.9 |
10.8 |
10.2 |
10.5 |
11.0 |
10.9 |
10.2 |
9.8 |
9.3 |
9.5 |
9.1 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
8.1 |
7.5 |
6.7 |
5.9 |
6.3 |
6.7 |
6.5 |
6.2 |
5.9 |
5.6 |
5.4 |
5.5 |
| |
Tertiary education |
5.4 |
4.7 |
4.5 |
4.1 |
4.7 |
5.1 |
5.2 |
4.8 |
4.6 |
4.1 |
3.9 |
4.1 |
| Chile |
Below upper secondary |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
4.6 |
5.2 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
6.0 |
6.6 |
| |
Tertiary education |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
6.0 |
5.5 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Czech Republic |
Below upper secondary |
12.1 |
14.5 |
18.8 |
19.3 |
19.2 |
18.8 |
18.3 |
23.0 |
24.4 |
22.3 |
19.1 |
17.3 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
3.4 |
4.6 |
6.5 |
6.7 |
6.2 |
5.6 |
6.0 |
6.4 |
6.2 |
5.5 |
4.3 |
3.3 |
| |
Tertiary education |
1.2 |
1.9 |
2.6 |
2.5 |
2.0 |
1.8 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
2.2 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
| Denmark |
Below upper secondary |
— |
7.0 |
7.0 |
6.9 |
6.2 |
6.4 |
6.7 |
8.2 |
6.5 |
5.5 |
4.2 |
3.5 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
— |
4.6 |
4.1 |
3.9 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
4.4 |
4.8 |
4.0 |
2.7 |
2.5 |
2.2 |
| |
Tertiary education |
— |
3.3 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
3.6 |
3.9 |
4.7 |
4.4 |
3.7 |
3.2 |
2.9 |
2.3 |
| Finland |
Below upper secondary |
15.6 |
13.8 |
13.1 |
12.1 |
11.4 |
12.2 |
11.2 |
11.3 |
10.7 |
10.1 |
8.9 |
8.1 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
11.9 |
10.6 |
9.5 |
8.9 |
8.5 |
8.8 |
8.3 |
7.9 |
7.4 |
7.0 |
6.1 |
5.4 |
| |
Tertiary education |
6.5 |
5.8 |
4.7 |
4.7 |
4.4 |
4.5 |
4.1 |
4.5 |
4.4 |
3.7 |
3.6 |
3.3 |
| France |
Below upper secondary |
15.0 |
14.9 |
15.3 |
13.9 |
11.9 |
11.8 |
10.4 |
10.7 |
11.1 |
11.0 |
10.2 |
9.8 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
9.6 |
9.6 |
9.2 |
7.9 |
6.9 |
6.8 |
6.6 |
6.7 |
6.6 |
6.6 |
6.0 |
5.6 |
| |
Tertiary education |
7.0 |
6.6 |
6.1 |
5.1 |
4.8 |
5.2 |
5.3 |
5.7 |
5.4 |
5.1 |
4.9 |
4.0 |
| Germany |
Below upper secondary |
15.4 |
15.4 |
15.9 |
13.9 |
13.5 |
15.3 |
18.0 |
20.4 |
20.2 |
19.9 |
18.0 |
16.5 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
9.9 |
10.3 |
8.8 |
8.1 |
8.2 |
9.0 |
10.2 |
11.2 |
11.0 |
9.9 |
8.3 |
7.2 |
| |
Tertiary education |
5.7 |
5.5 |
5.0 |
4.2 |
4.2 |
4.5 |
5.2 |
5.6 |
5.5 |
4.8 |
3.8 |
3.3 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Greece |
Below upper secondary |
6.5 |
7.7 |
8.8 |
8.2 |
8.2 |
7.8 |
7.2 |
8.7 |
8.3 |
7.2 |
7.0 |
6.8 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
9.6 |
10.7 |
11.5 |
11.2 |
10.4 |
10.5 |
10.1 |
10.0 |
9.6 |
8.9 |
8.2 |
7.2 |
| |
Tertiary education |
7.3 |
6.8 |
8.0 |
7.5 |
7.2 |
6.8 |
6.5 |
7.4 |
7.1 |
6.3 |
6.1 |
5.7 |
| Hungary |
Below upper secondary |
12.6 |
11.4 |
11.1 |
9.9 |
10.0 |
10.5 |
10.6 |
10.8 |
12.4 |
14.8 |
16.0 |
17.3 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
6.9 |
6.2 |
5.8 |
5.3 |
4.6 |
4.4 |
4.8 |
5.0 |
6.0 |
6.1 |
5.9 |
6.3 |
| |
Tertiary education |
1.7 |
1.7 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
1.2 |
1.5 |
1.4 |
1.9 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
2.6 |
2.3 |
| Iceland |
Below upper secondary |
4.4 |
3.2 |
2.0 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
3.2 |
3.3 |
2.5 |
2.3 |
‡ |
‡ |
2.5 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
2.7 |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
| |
Tertiary education |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
‡ |
| Ireland |
Below upper secondary |
14.5 |
11.6 |
9.2 |
5.6 |
5.2 |
5.9 |
6.3 |
6.1 |
6.0 |
5.7 |
6.1 |
8.2 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
6.5 |
4.5 |
3.5 |
2.3 |
2.4 |
2.8 |
2.9 |
3.0 |
3.1 |
3.2 |
3.5 |
4.8 |
| |
Tertiary education |
4.0 |
3.0 |
1.7 |
1.6 |
1.8 |
2.2 |
2.6 |
2.2 |
2.0 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
3.0 |
| Italy |
Below upper secondary |
— |
10.8 |
10.6 |
10.0 |
9.2 |
9.0 |
8.8 |
8.2 |
7.8 |
6.9 |
6.3 |
7.4 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
— |
8.1 |
7.9 |
7.2 |
6.6 |
6.4 |
6.1 |
5.4 |
5.2 |
4.6 |
4.1 |
4.6 |
| |
Tertiary education |
— |
6.9 |
6.9 |
5.9 |
5.3 |
5.3 |
5.3 |
5.3 |
5.7 |
4.8 |
4.2 |
4.3 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Japan |
Below upper secondary |
3.9 |
4.3 |
5.6 |
6.0 |
5.9 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
3.4 |
3.3 |
4.4 |
4.7 |
4.8 |
5.6 |
5.7 |
5.1 |
4.9 |
4.5 |
4.1 |
4.4 |
| |
Tertiary education |
2.3 |
2.6 |
3.3 |
3.5 |
3.1 |
3.8 |
3.7 |
3.3 |
3.1 |
3.0 |
2.9 |
3.1 |
| Korea |
Below upper secondary |
1.4 |
6.0 |
5.4 |
3.7 |
3.1 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.6 |
2.9 |
2.6 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
2.4 |
6.8 |
6.4 |
4.1 |
3.6 |
3.0 |
3.3 |
3.5 |
3.8 |
3.5 |
3.3 |
3.3 |
| |
Tertiary education |
2.3 |
4.9 |
4.7 |
3.6 |
3.5 |
3.2 |
3.1 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
2.6 |
| Luxembourg |
Below upper secondary |
— |
— |
3.4 |
3.1 |
1.7 |
3.8 |
3.3 |
5.7 |
5.1 |
4.9 |
4.1 |
4.8 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
— |
— |
1.1 |
1.4 |
1.0 |
1.2 |
2.6 |
3.7 |
3.2 |
3.8 |
2.8 |
4.9 |
| |
Tertiary education |
— |
— |
c |
c |
c |
1.8 |
4.0 |
3.2 |
3.2 |
2.9 |
3.0 |
2.2 |
| Mexico |
Below upper secondary |
2.6 |
2.3 |
1.5 |
1.5 |
1.6 |
1.7 |
1.8 |
2.2 |
2.0 |
1.9 |
2.2 |
2.4 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
4.4 |
3.3 |
2.5 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
3.0 |
3.8 |
3.4 |
2.8 |
2.9 |
| |
Tertiary education |
2.8 |
3.1 |
3.5 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
3.7 |
2.6 |
2.3 |
3.6 |
3.3 |
| Netherlands |
Below upper secondary |
— |
0.9 |
4.3 |
3.9 |
2.9 |
3.0 |
4.5 |
5.5 |
5.8 |
4.8 |
4.0 |
3.4 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
— |
1.7 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
1.6 |
2.0 |
2.8 |
3.8 |
4.1 |
3.5 |
2.7 |
2.1 |
| |
Tertiary education |
— |
— |
1.7 |
1.9 |
1.2 |
2.1 |
2.5 |
2.8 |
2.8 |
2.3 |
1.8 |
1.6 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| New Zealand |
Below upper secondary |
7.6 |
8.9 |
7.8 |
6.6 |
5.8 |
5.0 |
4.4 |
3.8 |
3.5 |
3.2 |
3.1 |
3.7 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
4.4 |
5.1 |
5.0 |
4.0 |
3.8 |
3.6 |
3.5 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
2.0 |
2.6 |
| |
Tertiary education |
3.5 |
4.0 |
3.7 |
3.3 |
2.8 |
3.2 |
3.1 |
2.7 |
2.3 |
2.4 |
2.2 |
2.4 |
| Norway |
Below upper secondary |
4.0 |
2.9 |
2.5 |
2.2 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
7.3 |
4.7 |
3.3 |
3.8 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
3.1 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
2.6 |
2.7 |
2.9 |
3.6 |
3.8 |
2.6 |
2.1 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
| |
Tertiary education |
1.7 |
1.5 |
1.4 |
1.9 |
1.7 |
2.1 |
2.5 |
2.4 |
2.1 |
1.8 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
| Poland |
Below upper secondary |
13.8 |
13.9 |
16.4 |
20.6 |
22.6 |
25.2 |
25.9 |
27.8 |
27.1 |
21.5 |
15.5 |
11.5 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
9.9 |
9.1 |
10.7 |
13.9 |
15.9 |
17.8 |
17.8 |
17.4 |
16.6 |
12.7 |
8.7 |
6.3 |
| |
Tertiary education |
2.1 |
2.5 |
3.1 |
4.3 |
5.0 |
6.3 |
6.6 |
6.2 |
6.2 |
5.0 |
3.8 |
3.1 |
| Portugal |
Below upper secondary |
— |
4.4 |
4.0 |
3.6 |
3.6 |
4.4 |
5.7 |
6.4 |
7.5 |
7.6 |
8.0 |
7.6 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
— |
5.1 |
4.5 |
3.5 |
3.3 |
4.4 |
5.3 |
5.6 |
6.7 |
7.1 |
6.8 |
6.6 |
| |
Tertiary education |
— |
2.8 |
3.1 |
2.7 |
2.8 |
3.9 |
4.9 |
4.4 |
5.4 |
5.4 |
6.6 |
5.8 |
| Slovak Republic |
Below upper secondary |
22.4 |
24.3 |
30.3 |
36.3 |
38.7 |
42.3 |
44.9 |
47.7 |
49.2 |
44.0 |
41.3 |
36.3 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
8.5 |
8.8 |
11.9 |
14.3 |
14.8 |
14.2 |
13.5 |
14.6 |
12.7 |
10.0 |
8.5 |
7.4 |
| |
Tertiary education |
2.8 |
3.3 |
4.0 |
4.6 |
4.2 |
3.6 |
3.7 |
4.8 |
4.4 |
2.6 |
3.3 |
3.1 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Spain |
Below upper secondary |
18.9 |
17.0 |
14.7 |
13.7 |
10.2 |
11.2 |
11.3 |
11.0 |
9.3 |
9.0 |
9.0 |
13.2 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
16.8 |
15.3 |
12.9 |
10.9 |
8.4 |
9.4 |
9.5 |
9.4 |
7.3 |
6.9 |
6.8 |
9.3 |
| |
Tertiary education |
13.7 |
13.1 |
11.1 |
9.5 |
6.9 |
7.7 |
7.7 |
7.3 |
6.1 |
5.5 |
4.8 |
5.8 |
| Sweden |
Below upper secondary |
11.9 |
10.4 |
9.0 |
8.0 |
5.9 |
5.8 |
6.1 |
6.5 |
8.5 |
7.3 |
7.0 |
7.1 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
9.4 |
7.8 |
6.5 |
5.3 |
4.6 |
4.6 |
5.2 |
5.8 |
6.0 |
5.1 |
4.2 |
4.1 |
| |
Tertiary education |
5.2 |
4.4 |
3.9 |
3.0 |
2.6 |
3.0 |
3.9 |
4.3 |
4.5 |
4.2 |
3.4 |
3.3 |
| Switzerland |
Below upper secondary |
6.0 |
5.7 |
4.7 |
4.8 |
3.4 |
4.3 |
5.9 |
7.1 |
7.2 |
7.5 |
6.7 |
6.0 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
3.1 |
2.9 |
2.5 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
2.4 |
3.2 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
3.3 |
3.0 |
2.9 |
| |
Tertiary education |
4.4 |
2.8 |
1.7 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
2.2 |
2.9 |
2.8 |
2.7 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
1.8 |
| Turkey |
Below upper secondary |
4.4 |
4.4 |
5.3 |
4.6 |
6.7 |
8.5 |
8.8 |
8.1 |
8.7 |
8.3 |
8.6 |
9.6 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
6.3 |
6.6 |
8.2 |
5.5 |
7.4 |
8.7 |
7.8 |
10.1 |
9.2 |
9.0 |
9.1 |
9.3 |
| |
Tertiary education |
3.9 |
4.8 |
5.1 |
3.9 |
4.7 |
7.5 |
6.9 |
8.2 |
6.9 |
6.9 |
6.8 |
7.3 |
| United Kingdom |
Below upper secondary |
8.4 |
7.5 |
7.1 |
6.6 |
6.1 |
6.0 |
5.2 |
5.3 |
5.1 |
6.3 |
6.5 |
6.2 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
5.5 |
4.4 |
4.4 |
4.0 |
3.5 |
3.6 |
3.5 |
3.3 |
3.1 |
3.8 |
3.9 |
3.7 |
| |
Tertiary education |
3.1 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.1 |
2.0 |
2.4 |
2.3 |
2.2 |
2.1 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
2.0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| United States |
Below upper secondary |
10.4 |
8.5 |
7.7 |
7.9 |
8.1 |
10.2 |
9.9 |
10.5 |
9.0 |
8.3 |
8.5 |
10.1 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
4.8 |
4.5 |
3.7 |
3.6 |
3.8 |
5.7 |
6.1 |
5.6 |
5.1 |
4.6 |
4.5 |
5.3 |
| |
Tertiary education |
2.3 |
2.1 |
2.1 |
1.8 |
2.1 |
3.0 |
3.4 |
3.3 |
2.6 |
2.5 |
2.1 |
2.4 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Non-OECD countries |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Brazil |
Below upper secondary |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
5.6 |
4.7 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
7.0 |
6.1 |
| |
Tertiary education |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
3.3 |
3.3 |
| Estonia |
Below upper secondary |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
19.0 |
14.8 |
15.4 |
13.0 |
11.7 |
8.6 |
9.7 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
10.5 |
9.5 |
9.5 |
8.4 |
5.7 |
4.6 |
5.2 |
| |
Tertiary education |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
5.8 |
6.5 |
5.0 |
3.8 |
3.2 |
2.4 |
2.8 |
| Israel |
Below upper secondary |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
14.0 |
15.2 |
15.6 |
14.0 |
12.8 |
12.4 |
9.8 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
9.8 |
10.3 |
10.6 |
9.5 |
8.7 |
7.2 |
5.8 |
| |
Tertiary education |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
6.4 |
6.4 |
6.1 |
5.1 |
4.5 |
3.8 |
3.7 |
| Slovenia |
Below upper secondary |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
8.4 |
8.7 |
8.4 |
8.7 |
7.0 |
6.5 |
5.9 |
| |
Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
5.2 |
5.5 |
5.3 |
5.7 |
5.6 |
4.3 |
3.5 |
| |
Tertiary education |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2.3 |
3.0 |
2.8 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
3.2 |
3.1 |
| — Not available. |
| ‡ Reporting standards not met. There are too few observations to provide reliable estimates (i.e. there are fewer than 3 percent of students for this cell or too few schools for valid inferences). However, these statistics were included in the calculation of cross-country averages. |
| NOTE: Education levels are defined according to the 1997 International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED97). "Below upper secondary" refers to ISCED97 levels 0 (pre-primary education), 1 (primary education), and 2 (lower secondary education). "Upper secondary education" refers to ISCED97 levels 3 (upper secondary education, i.e. secondary education after compulsary schooling ends) and 4 (postsecondary nontertiary programs, i.e. pre-degree foundation courses or short vocational programmes). "Tertiary education" refers to the ISCED97 levels 5A (academic higher education below the doctoral level), 5B (vocational higher education), and 6 (doctoral level of academic higher education). |
| SOURCE: Data from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). (2010). Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators 2010, table A6.4a. Paris: Author. |
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