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| 2011 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 421. | Percentage of the population 25 to 64 years old who attained selected levels of postsecondary education, by age group and country: 2001 and 2009 |
| Country | Total, any postsecondary degree | 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2009 | Vocational degree1 | Bachelor's or higher degree2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total, 25 to 64 years old | 25 to 34 years old | Total, 25 to 64 years old |
25 to 34 years old | Total, 25 to 64 years old |
25 to 34 years old | 35 to 44 years old | 45 to 54 years old | 55 to 64 years old | Total, 25 to 64 years old |
25 to 34 years old | 35 to 44 years old | 45 to 54 years old | 55 to 64 years old | |||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | ||||||||||||
| OECD average3 | 22.6 | 27.3 | 30.0 | (0.04) | 37.1 | (0.08) | 10.4 | (0.03) | 11.0 | (0.07) | 11.3 | (0.06) | 10.2 | (0.06) | 8.2 | (0.06) | 21.4 | (0.03) | 27.7 | (0.08) | 22.8 | (0.07) | 18.6 | (0.06) | 15.6 | (0.06) |
| Australia | 29.0 | 33.5 | 36.9 | (0.31) | 44.8 | (0.65) | 10.1 | (0.20) | 10.2 | (0.39) | 10.8 | (0.38) | 9.8 | (0.37) | 9.4 | (0.41) | 26.8 | (0.29) | 34.6 | (0.62) | 27.2 | (0.55) | 23.8 | (0.54) | 19.9 | (0.57) |
| Austria | 14.1 | 14.3 | 19.0 | (0.12) | 21.1 | (0.28) | 7.6 | (0.08) | 5.8 | (0.16) | 8.0 | (0.16) | 8.7 | (0.16) | 7.7 | (0.18) | 11.4 | (0.10) | 15.3 | (0.25) | 12.3 | (0.19) | 9.6 | (0.17) | 8.2 | (0.18) |
| Belgium | 27.6 | 37.5 | 33.4 | (0.19) | 42.5 | (0.44) | 15.9 | (0.15) | 18.3 | (0.34) | 17.6 | (0.31) | 15.4 | (0.28) | 12.0 | (0.27) | 17.5 | (0.16) | 24.2 | (0.38) | 19.3 | (0.32) | 14.9 | (0.28) | 11.4 | (0.27) |
| Canada | 41.6 | 50.5 | 49.5 | (0.18) | 56.1 | (0.36) | 24.1 | (0.16) | 26.0 | (0.32) | 26.6 | (0.31) | 23.8 | (0.29) | 19.6 | (0.31) | 25.4 | (0.16) | 30.1 | (0.34) | 29.1 | (0.32) | 21.4 | (0.28) | 21.1 | (0.32) |
| Chile4 | 10.1 | 12.3 | 24.4 | (0.18) | 34.9 | (0.33) | 8.0 | (0.11) | 11.0 | (0.22) | 10.0 | (0.20) | 6.7 | (0.17) | 3.1 | (0.14) | 16.4 | (0.15) | 24.0 | (0.30) | 14.2 | (0.23) | 13.6 | (0.23) | 13.5 | (0.28) |
| Czech Republic5 | 11.1 | 11.3 | 15.5 | (0.10) | 20.2 | (0.23) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | 15.5 | (0.10) | 20.2 | (0.23) | 14.8 | (0.20) | 15.6 | (0.20) | 10.8 | (0.16) |
| Denmark | 26.8 | 27.5 | 34.3 | (0.19) | 44.7 | (0.62) | 7.2 | (0.11) | 8.5 | (0.35) | 7.9 | (0.28) | 6.8 | (0.19) | 5.7 | (0.15) | 27.1 | (0.18) | 36.2 | (0.60) | 31.0 | (0.47) | 21.5 | (0.30) | 20.1 | (0.25) |
| Estonia | — | — | 36.0 | (0.47) | 36.6 | (1.02) | 13.2 | (0.33) | 14.8 | (0.75) | 11.0 | (0.58) | 15.2 | (0.65) | 11.5 | (0.66) | 22.7 | (0.41) | 21.7 | (0.87) | 25.3 | (0.80) | 22.5 | (0.75) | 21.3 | (0.85) |
| Finland | 32.3 | 38.2 | 37.3 | (0.16) | 39.4 | (0.34) | 14.7 | (0.11) | 3.4 | (0.13) | 19.3 | (0.26) | 20.1 | (0.25) | 15.3 | (0.22) | 22.6 | (0.13) | 36.0 | (0.34) | 25.2 | (0.29) | 17.4 | (0.23) | 13.7 | (0.21) |
| France | 23.0 | 34.2 | 28.9 | (0.10) | 43.2 | (0.23) | 11.6 | (0.07) | 17.5 | (0.18) | 13.5 | (0.15) | 9.5 | (0.12) | 6.0 | (0.10) | 17.3 | (0.08) | 25.7 | (0.20) | 18.8 | (0.17) | 12.7 | (0.14) | 12.0 | (0.14) |
| Germany | 23.2 | 21.8 | 26.4 | (0.07) | 25.7 | (0.16) | 9.3 | (0.05) | 6.8 | (0.09) | 9.8 | (0.09) | 10.5 | (0.09) | 9.7 | (0.10) | 17.1 | (0.06) | 18.9 | (0.14) | 18.0 | (0.12) | 15.9 | (0.11) | 15.6 | (0.12) |
| Greece | 17.8 | 24.0 | 23.5 | (0.11) | 29.4 | (0.24) | 6.7 | (0.06) | 10.1 | (0.16) | 7.7 | (0.13) | 5.3 | (0.11) | 2.7 | (0.08) | 16.9 | (0.09) | 19.3 | (0.21) | 18.6 | (0.19) | 16.3 | (0.18) | 12.3 | (0.16) |
| Hungary | 14.1 | 14.7 | 19.9 | (0.10) | 25.1 | (0.23) | # | (†) | 1.0 | (#) | # | (†) | # | (†) | # | (†) | 19.4 | (0.10) | 24.1 | (0.23) | 18.6 | (0.20) | 18.1 | (0.19) | 16.2 | (0.18) |
| Iceland | 24.8 | 26.6 | 32.8 | (0.50) | 35.8 | (0.98) | 3.9 | (0.21) | 2.5 | (0.31) | 5.6 | (0.50) | 4.3 | (0.41) | 3.2 | (0.41) | 28.8 | (0.48) | 33.4 | (0.96) | 32.5 | (1.01) | 27.4 | (0.90) | 19.5 | (0.91) |
| Ireland | 35.6 | 47.8 | 35.9 | (0.13) | 47.6 | (0.26) | 14.9 | (0.10) | 18.7 | (0.20) | 16.9 | (0.19) | 12.2 | (0.18) | 8.9 | (0.17) | 20.9 | (0.11) | 28.8 | (0.23) | 22.5 | (0.21) | 16.0 | (0.20) | 11.4 | (0.19) |
| Israel | — | — | 44.9 | (0.20) | 42.9 | (0.37) | 15.5 | (0.14) | 13.4 | (0.26) | 16.3 | (0.29) | 16.4 | (0.30) | 16.7 | (0.32) | 29.4 | (0.18) | 29.5 | (0.35) | 30.8 | (0.36) | 28.5 | (0.37) | 28.4 | (0.39) |
| Italy | 10.0 | 11.8 | 14.5 | (0.06) | 20.2 | (0.15) | # | (†) | # | (†) | # | (†) | # | (†) | # | (†) | 14.1 | (0.06) | 19.9 | (0.15) | 15.0 | (0.12) | 11.4 | (0.10) | 10.0 | (0.10) |
| Japan | 33.8 | 47.7 | 43.8 | (0.13) | 55.7 | (0.29) | 19.1 | (0.10) | 23.9 | (0.25) | 23.4 | (0.22) | 18.6 | (0.21) | 11.0 | (0.15) | 24.6 | (0.11) | 31.8 | (0.27) | 25.3 | (0.23) | 26.1 | (0.24) | 16.4 | (0.18) |
| Korea, Republic of | 24.2 | 39.5 | 38.8 | (0.25) | 63.1 | (0.47) | 11.6 | (0.16) | 25.5 | (0.42) | 11.5 | (0.30) | 5.2 | (0.22) | 1.4 | (0.15) | 27.1 | (0.23) | 37.6 | (0.47) | 32.8 | (0.44) | 20.5 | (0.39) | 11.9 | (0.41) |
| Luxembourg | 18.1 | 23.4 | 34.8 | (0.46) | 44.5 | (1.08) | 14.6 | (0.34) | 20.4 | (0.87) | 14.8 | (0.60) | 11.3 | (0.58) | 11.3 | (0.69) | 20.2 | (0.39) | 24.1 | (0.93) | 23.1 | (0.72) | 17.7 | (0.70) | 13.6 | (0.75) |
| Mexico5 | 15.0 | 17.9 | 15.9 | (0.05) | 20.2 | (0.10) | 1.1 | (0.01) | 1.2 | (0.03) | 1.1 | (0.03) | 1.2 | (0.03) | 0.7 | (0.03) | 15.9 | (0.05) | 20.2 | (0.10) | 14.9 | (0.09) | 15.1 | (0.10) | 9.8 | (0.10) |
| Netherlands | 23.2 | 26.5 | 32.8 | (0.09) | 40.1 | (0.22) | 2.8 | (0.03) | 2.5 | (0.07) | 3.3 | (0.07) | 2.8 | (0.06) | 2.3 | (0.06) | 30.0 | (0.09) | 37.6 | (0.22) | 30.3 | (0.18) | 28.0 | (0.17) | 25.1 | (0.18) |
| New Zealand | 29.2 | 28.5 | 40.1 | (0.47) | 46.7 | (1.04) | 16.9 | (0.36) | 15.9 | (0.76) | 15.7 | (0.67) | 18.3 | (0.71) | 17.9 | (0.77) | 23.2 | (0.41) | 30.8 | (0.96) | 25.5 | (0.81) | 19.5 | (0.73) | 15.8 | (0.73) |
| Norway | 30.2 | 37.9 | 36.7 | (0.20) | 46.8 | (0.45) | 2.2 | (0.06) | 1.4 | (0.11) | 1.9 | (0.11) | 2.7 | (0.13) | 2.8 | (0.14) | 34.5 | (0.20) | 45.5 | (0.45) | 37.8 | (0.38) | 30.1 | (0.37) | 24.4 | (0.35) |
| Poland5 | 11.9 | 15.2 | 21.2 | (0.12) | 35.4 | (0.29) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | 21.2 | (0.12) | 35.4 | (0.29) | 20.9 | (0.25) | 13.1 | (0.19) | 12.6 | (0.19) |
| Portugal5 | 9.0 | 13.7 | 14.7 | (0.12) | 23.3 | (0.32) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | 14.7 | (0.12) | 23.3 | (0.32) | 15.1 | (0.24) | 11.0 | (0.20) | 7.4 | (0.17) |
| Slovak Republic | 10.9 | 11.9 | 15.8 | (0.15) | 20.6 | (0.35) | 0.8 | (0.04) | 0.9 | (0.08) | 0.6 | (0.07) | 0.8 | (0.07) | 1.0 | (0.08) | 15.0 | (0.15) | 19.7 | (0.34) | 14.0 | (0.30) | 13.3 | (0.28) | 11.2 | (0.25) |
| Slovenia | — | — | 23.3 | (0.22) | 30.4 | (0.50) | 10.8 | (0.16) | 11.7 | (0.35) | 11.8 | (0.35) | 10.0 | (0.28) | 9.4 | (0.31) | 12.6 | (0.17) | 18.7 | (0.42) | 14.2 | (0.38) | 9.4 | (0.27) | 7.3 | (0.27) |
| Spain | 23.6 | 35.5 | 29.7 | (0.07) | 38.2 | (0.16) | 9.5 | (0.05) | 13.2 | (0.11) | 11.4 | (0.10) | 7.2 | (0.08) | 4.1 | (0.07) | 20.1 | (0.07) | 25.0 | (0.15) | 22.2 | (0.13) | 18.0 | (0.12) | 12.5 | (0.11) |
| Sweden | 31.6 | 36.9 | 33.0 | (0.12) | 42.3 | (0.27) | 8.7 | (0.07) | 8.5 | (0.15) | 8.3 | (0.14) | 9.4 | (0.15) | 8.9 | (0.14) | 24.3 | (0.11) | 33.9 | (0.26) | 26.3 | (0.22) | 19.3 | (0.20) | 18.0 | (0.19) |
| Switzerland | 25.4 | 25.6 | 35.0 | (0.27) | 40.0 | (0.60) | 10.3 | (0.17) | 9.4 | (0.36) | 11.6 | (0.32) | 10.6 | (0.34) | 9.2 | (0.34) | 24.7 | (0.24) | 30.5 | (0.56) | 26.3 | (0.44) | 22.4 | (0.46) | 19.1 | (0.46) |
| Turkey5 | 8.9 | 10.2 | 12.7 | (0.07) | 16.6 | (0.13) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | 12.7 | (0.07) | 16.6 | (0.13) | 11.3 | (0.12) | 9.7 | (0.12) | 9.9 | (0.15) |
| United Kingdom | 26.0 | 30.0 | 36.9 | (0.10) | 44.9 | (0.22) | 10.0 | (0.06) | 8.5 | (0.12) | 11.0 | (0.12) | 10.8 | (0.13) | 9.5 | (0.12) | 26.9 | (0.09) | 36.3 | (0.21) | 28.0 | (0.18) | 23.3 | (0.17) | 19.2 | (0.16) |
| United States | 37.3 | 39.1 | 41.2 | (0.19) | 41.1 | (0.33) | 9.8 | (0.08) | 8.9 | (0.15) | 10.2 | (0.15) | 10.8 | (0.16) | 9.2 | (0.17) | 31.4 | (0.16) | 32.1 | (0.32) | 32.9 | (0.26) | 29.1 | (0.29) | 31.7 | (0.33) |
| Other reporting countries |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brazil4,5 | 7.7 | 6.7 | 10.9 | (0.07) | 11.6 | (0.12) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | [5 ] | (†) | 10.9 | (0.07) | 11.6 | (0.12) | 11.3 | (0.13) | 10.7 | (0.14) | 8.9 | (0.16) |
| China4 | 4.6 | 6.1 | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) |
| Russian Federation6 | 54.0 | 55.5 | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) |
| —Not available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| †Not applicable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| #Rounds to zero. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) level 5B corresponds to the associate's degree in the United States in this table. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 ISCED 5A, first award, corresponds to the bachelor's degree in the United States; ISCED 5A, second award, corresponds to master's and first-professional degrees in the United States; and ISCED 6 corresponds to doctor's degrees. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 Refers to the mean of the data values for all reporting OECD countries, to which each country reporting data contributes equally. The average includes all current OECD countries for which a given year's data are available, even if they were not members of OECD in that year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 Data from 2000 reported for 2001. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 Columns for bachelor's or higher degree include vocational degree data. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 Data from 2002 shown for 2001. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Standard errors appear in parentheses. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Education at a Glance, 2002 and 2011. (This table was prepared June 2011.) |
