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| 2015 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 603.20. | Percentage of the population 25 to 64 years old who attained any postsecondary degree, by age group and country: Selected years, 2001 through 2014 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country | 2001 | 2005 | 2008 | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 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 |
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 |
||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |||||||||
| OECD average1 | 22.5 | 27.8 | 26.2 | 32.1 | 28.9 | 35.5 | 30.7 | (0.05) | 37.8 | (0.10) | 32.2 | (0.04) | 39.2 | (0.09) | 33.5 | (0.04) | 40.7 | (0.09) | 37.7 | (0.08) | 29.6 | (0.07) | 25.0 | (0.07) |
| Australia | 29.0 | 33.5 | 31.7 | 38.1 | 36.1 | 42.0 | 37.6 | (0.45) | 44.4 | (0.85) | 41.3 | (0.27) | 47.2 | (0.56) | 41.9 | (0.29) | 48.1 | (0.59) | 45.9 | (0.58) | 38.0 | (0.57) | 33.5 | (0.59) |
| Austria | 14.1 | 14.3 | 17.8 | 19.7 | 18.1 | 19.4 | 19.3 | (0.26) | 20.8 | (0.54) | 20.0 | (0.23) | 23.0 | (0.50) | 29.9 | (0.26) | 38.4 | (0.57) | 33.2 | (0.52) | 26.5 | (0.44) | 21.3 | (0.43) |
| Belgium | 27.6 | 37.5 | 31.0 | 40.6 | 32.3 | 42.3 | 35.0 | (0.20) | 43.8 | (0.44) | 35.3 | (0.20) | 43.0 | (0.45) | 36.9 | (0.24) | 44.2 | (0.50) | 42.2 | (0.48) | 34.5 | (0.44) | 26.3 | (0.42) |
| Canada | 41.9 | 50.5 | 46.1 | 53.8 | 48.8 | 55.9 | 50.6 | (0.23) | 56.5 | (0.43) | 52.6 | (0.23) | 57.3 | (0.40) | 53.6 | (0.25) | 57.7 | (0.41) | 60.6 | (0.41) | 51.3 | (0.34) | 45.1 | (0.40) |
| Chile2,3,4 | — | — | 13.2 | 18.3 | 24.2 | 33.7 | 26.8 | (0.18) | 38.5 | (0.34) | 17.8 | (0.12) | 22.5 | (0.26) | 21.1 | (0.12) | 27.3 | (0.26) | 24.2 | (0.26) | 16.9 | (0.22) | 14.5 | (0.24) |
| Czech Republic | 11.1 | 11.3 | 13.1 | 14.2 | 14.5 | 17.7 | 16.8 | (0.10) | 22.6 | (0.25) | 19.3 | (0.11) | 27.8 | (0.28) | 21.5 | (0.12) | 29.9 | (0.30) | 21.2 | (0.23) | 19.6 | (0.24) | 15.1 | (0.20) |
| Denmark | 28.4 | 29.0 | 33.5 | 39.8 | 34.5 | 43.1 | 33.3 | (0.19) | 37.6 | (0.50) | 34.8 | (0.19) | 40.2 | (0.46) | 35.8 | (0.19) | 42.1 | (0.46) | 40.6 | (0.40) | 32.6 | (0.33) | 29.1 | (0.34) |
| Estonia | — | — | 33.3 | 32.8 | 34.3 | 35.8 | 35.3 | (0.79) | 37.8 | (1.73) | 37.3 | (0.69) | 39.8 | (1.46) | 38.0 | (0.42) | 40.0 | (0.89) | 39.0 | (0.81) | 35.0 | (0.80) | 36.0 | (0.82) |
| Finland | 32.3 | 38.2 | 34.6 | 37.5 | 36.6 | 38.3 | 38.1 | (0.24) | 39.2 | (0.52) | 39.7 | (0.24) | 39.7 | (0.52) | 41.8 | (0.17) | 40.3 | (0.37) | 49.9 | (0.36) | 43.7 | (0.33) | 34.2 | (0.31) |
| France2 | 23.0 | 34.2 | 24.8 | 39.3 | 27.4 | 40.7 | 29.0 | (0.09) | 42.9 | (0.21) | 30.9 | (0.09) | 42.9 | (0.21) | 32.1 | (0.09) | 44.1 | (0.22) | 39.1 | (0.19) | 25.6 | (0.16) | 20.3 | (0.15) |
| Germany | 23.2 | 21.8 | 24.6 | 22.5 | 25.4 | 23.9 | 26.6 | (0.08) | 26.1 | (0.19) | 28.1 | (0.08) | 29.0 | (0.19) | 27.1 | (0.08) | 28.4 | (0.19) | 28.5 | (0.19) | 26.2 | (0.16) | 25.5 | (0.18) |
| Greece | 18.0 | 24.0 | 21.3 | 25.4 | 23.4 | 28.2 | 24.6 | (0.33) | 30.9 | (0.59) | 26.7 | (0.12) | 34.7 | (0.29) | 28.1 | (0.13) | 38.7 | (0.31) | 27.1 | (0.25) | 25.6 | (0.24) | 21.1 | (0.22) |
| Hungary | 14.0 | 14.7 | 17.1 | 19.6 | 19.2 | 24.0 | 20.1 | (0.10) | 26.0 | (0.24) | 22.0 | (0.11) | 30.4 | (0.26) | 23.4 | (0.12) | 32.1 | (0.28) | 24.5 | (0.23) | 20.3 | (0.23) | 16.9 | (0.19) |
| Iceland | 24.6 | 26.5 | 30.5 | 35.8 | 31.3 | 32.8 | 32.5 | (0.50) | 36.2 | (0.99) | 35.2 | (0.50) | 38.4 | (0.98) | 37.1 | (0.52) | 40.6 | (1.06) | 42.0 | (1.09) | 36.1 | (1.02) | 28.8 | (0.99) |
| Ireland | 23.6 | 47.8 | 29.1 | 40.6 | 33.9 | 45.1 | 37.3 | (0.13) | 48.2 | (0.26) | 39.7 | (0.14) | 49.2 | (0.28) | 41.0 | (0.27) | 50.8 | (0.48) | 49.0 | (0.40) | 34.2 | (0.38) | 24.3 | (0.37) |
| Israel | — | — | 45.8 | 50.0 | 44.0 | 42.3 | 45.6 | (0.20) | 44.2 | (0.38) | 46.4 | (0.20) | 44.5 | (0.38) | 48.5 | (0.20) | 46.0 | (0.38) | 52.8 | (0.39) | 47.5 | (0.41) | 47.4 | (0.43) |
| Italy | 10.0 | 11.8 | 12.2 | 16.1 | 14.4 | 19.9 | 14.8 | (0.07) | 20.7 | (0.19) | 15.7 | (0.08) | 22.3 | (0.21) | 16.9 | (0.08) | 24.2 | (0.22) | 19.4 | (0.17) | 12.9 | (0.14) | 12.3 | (0.16) |
| Japan5 | 34.1 | 47.7 | 39.9 | 53.2 | 42.8 | 55.1 | 44.8 | (0.20) | 56.7 | (0.40) | 46.6 | (0.19) | 58.6 | (0.40) | 27.6 | (0.17) | 36.8 | (0.40) | 28.5 | (0.34) | 25.5 | (0.36) | 20.8 | (0.37) |
| Korea, Republic of | 25.0 | 39.5 | 31.6 | 51.0 | 36.6 | 57.9 | 39.7 | (0.25) | 65.0 | (0.46) | 41.7 | (0.25) | 65.7 | (0.46) | 44.6 | (0.25) | 67.7 | (0.45) | 56.4 | (0.46) | 33.3 | (0.46) | 17.3 | (0.48) |
| Luxembourg | 18.1 | 23.4 | 26.5 | 37.0 | 27.7 | 38.7 | 35.5 | (0.46) | 44.2 | (1.08) | 39.1 | (0.36) | 49.9 | (0.83) | 45.9 | (0.57) | 52.9 | (1.35) | 55.8 | (1.11) | 39.7 | (1.03) | 31.7 | (1.01) |
| Mexico | 15.1 | 17.9 | 14.9 | 18.1 | 16.0 | 19.7 | 17.4 | (0.00) | 21.8 | (0.00) | 18.1 | (0.00) | 24.1 | (0.00) | 18.5 | (0.05) | 24.6 | (0.10) | 17.5 | (0.09) | 15.8 | (0.10) | 13.2 | (0.10) |
| Netherlands | 23.2 | 26.5 | 30.1 | 35.4 | 32.2 | 39.8 | 32.4 | (0.10) | 40.8 | (0.23) | 34.4 | (0.10) | 43.0 | (0.23) | 34.4 | (0.10) | 44.3 | (0.24) | 37.6 | (0.21) | 30.1 | (0.17) | 26.9 | (0.17) |
| New Zealand | 29.0 | 28.5 | 27.1 | 30.8 | 40.0 | 47.6 | 40.7 | (0.41) | 46.4 | (0.89) | 40.6 | (0.41) | 46.9 | (0.89) | 35.6 | (0.40) | 40.4 | (0.87) | 40.7 | (0.81) | 32.1 | (0.74) | 28.9 | (0.77) |
| Norway | 30.2 | 37.9 | 32.7 | 40.9 | 36.0 | 45.6 | 37.3 | (0.20) | 47.3 | (0.45) | 38.6 | (0.21) | 45.0 | (0.46) | 41.8 | (0.21) | 49.0 | (0.46) | 48.7 | (0.42) | 36.2 | (0.39) | 31.7 | (0.41) |
| Poland | 11.9 | 15.2 | 16.9 | 25.5 | 19.6 | 32.1 | 22.9 | (0.09) | 37.4 | (0.21) | 24.5 | (0.09) | 40.8 | (0.21) | 27.0 | (0.10) | 42.6 | (0.23) | 31.9 | (0.22) | 18.2 | (0.18) | 13.7 | (0.14) |
| Portugal | 9.2 | 13.7 | 12.8 | 19.1 | 14.3 | 23.2 | 15.4 | (0.51) | 24.8 | (1.02) | 18.5 | (0.13) | 28.3 | (0.36) | 21.7 | (0.14) | 31.4 | (0.37) | 26.4 | (0.28) | 16.6 | (0.23) | 12.8 | (0.22) |
| Slovak Republic | 10.9 | 11.9 | 13.7 | 16.3 | 14.8 | 18.4 | 17.3 | (0.16) | 24.0 | (0.29) | 19.0 | (0.32) | 27.0 | (0.77) | 20.4 | (0.17) | 29.8 | (0.43) | 20.7 | (0.35) | 15.3 | (0.31) | 13.9 | (0.27) |
| Slovenia | — | — | 20.2 | 24.7 | 22.6 | 30.0 | 23.7 | (0.22) | 31.3 | (0.51) | 26.4 | (0.24) | 35.4 | (0.55) | 28.6 | (0.24) | 38.1 | (0.54) | 34.7 | (0.53) | 24.3 | (0.43) | 17.9 | (0.38) |
| Spain | 23.6 | 35.5 | 28.2 | 39.7 | 29.2 | 38.8 | 30.7 | (0.08) | 39.2 | (0.17) | 32.3 | (0.08) | 39.3 | (0.18) | 34.7 | (0.08) | 41.5 | (0.19) | 42.8 | (0.16) | 30.2 | (0.14) | 21.2 | (0.14) |
| Sweden | 25.6 | 36.9 | 29.6 | 37.3 | 32.0 | 40.8 | 34.2 | (0.11) | 42.2 | (0.23) | 35.7 | (0.11) | 43.5 | (0.24) | 38.7 | (0.12) | 46.0 | (0.25) | 46.1 | (0.24) | 32.3 | (0.22) | 29.9 | (0.21) |
| Switzerland | 25.4 | 25.6 | 28.8 | 31.0 | 33.7 | 38.5 | 35.2 | (0.16) | 40.5 | (0.39) | 36.6 | (0.18) | 40.6 | (0.46) | 40.2 | (0.17) | 46.0 | (0.41) | 44.8 | (0.32) | 38.1 | (0.30) | 31.1 | (0.32) |
| Turkey | 8.4 | 10.2 | 9.7 | 11.8 | 12.0 | 15.5 | 13.1 | (0.07) | 17.4 | (0.13) | 15.3 | (0.07) | 21.0 | (0.15) | 16.7 | (0.07) | 24.8 | (0.16) | 15.9 | (0.13) | 9.9 | (0.12) | 10.0 | (0.13) |
| United Kingdom | 26.1 | 29.5 | 29.6 | 35.0 | 32.5 | 38.4 | 38.2 | (0.21) | 46.0 | (0.46) | 41.0 | (0.11) | 47.9 | (0.23) | 42.2 | (0.11) | 49.2 | (0.23) | 45.8 | (0.22) | 38.3 | (0.20) | 34.8 | (0.21) |
| United States | 37.3 | 39.1 | 39.0 | 39.2 | 41.1 | 41.6 | 41.7 | (0.24) | 42.3 | (0.38) | 43.1 | (0.24) | 44.0 | (0.42) | 44.2 | (0.28) | 45.7 | (0.53) | 47.2 | (0.44) | 43.0 | (0.48) | 41.0 | (0.53) |
| Other reporting countries |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brazil2,4,6 | — | — | 7.8 | 7.9 | 10.8 | 11.0 | 10.9 | (0.07) | 11.6 | (0.12) | 13.0 | (0.07) | 14.5 | (0.12) | 13.7 | (0.19) | 15.3 | (0.26) | 14.1 | (0.25) | 13.6 | (0.26) | 10.7 | (0.27) |
| China7 | 4.6 | 6.1 | — | — | — | — | 9.7 | (—) | 17.9 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) |
| Colombia3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (†) | — | (†) | 19.7 | (—) | — | (†) | 22.4 | (0.25) | 27.7 | (0.32) | 23.0 | (0.35) | 18.3 | (0.33) | 16.1 | (0.38) |
| Costa Rica | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 18.0 | (—) | 20.0 | (—) | 18.3 | (—) | 16.4 | (—) | 16.2 | (—) |
| Indonesia3,6,8 | — | — | — | — | 4.5 | — | 7.5 | (—) | — | (†) | 8.5 | (—) | 10.3 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) |
| Latvia | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (†) | — | (†) | 29.2 | (0.40) | 38.7 | (0.95) | 30.2 | (0.67) | 39.4 | (1.15) | 31.4 | (1.19) | 26.7 | (0.98) | 23.0 | (0.96) |
| Lithuania | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 36.7 | (0.26) | 52.6 | (0.69) | 37.6 | (0.54) | 30.2 | (0.42) | 27.6 | (0.46) |
| Russian Federation2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | (†) | — | (†) | 53.5 | (—) | 57.0 | (—) | 54.3 | (0.11) | 58.2 | (0.23) | 55.3 | (0.23) | 53.3 | (0.21) | 49.6 | (0.27) |
| Saudi Arabia2,4 | — | — | 14.9 | — | — | — | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 21.9 | (—) | 25.7 | (—) | 22.0 | (—) | 18.3 | (—) | 14.2 | (—) |
| South Africa8 | — | — | — | — | 4.3 | — | — | (†) | — | (†) | 6.6 | (—) | 5.2 | (—) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) |
| —Not available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| †Not applicable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Refers to the mean of the data values for all reporting Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (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. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 Data from 2013 reported for 2014. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 Data from 2011 reported for 2012. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 Data from 2004 reported for 2005. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 Data for 2014 exclude short-cycle tertiary education, which corresponds to the associate's degree in the United States. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 Data from 2009 reported for 2010. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 Data from 2000 reported for 2001. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 Data from 2007 reported for 2008. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Data in this table include all tertiary degrees, which correspond to all degrees at the associate's level and above in the United States. The International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) was revised in 2011. The previous version, ISCED 1997, was used to calculate all data for 2012 and earlier years. For most countries, data for 2014 were calculated using ISCED 2011 and may not be comparable to data for earlier years. (The countries for which 2014 data were calculated using ISCED 1997 are Brazil, the Russian Federation, and Saudi Arabia.) Under ISCED 2011, tertiary degrees are classified at the following levels: level 5 (corresponding to an associate's degree in the United States), level 6 (a bachelor's or equivalent degree), level 7 (a master's or equivalent degree), and level 8 (a doctoral or equivalent degree). Standard errors are not available for years prior to 2010. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Education at a Glance, selected years, 2003 through 2015. (This table was prepared January 2016.) |
