Europe share of population with a degree 2023

Ireland was the European country with the highest share of graduates in 2023, with almost 47 percent of those aged between 15 and 64 having a degree. On the contrary, only 15 percent of the population aged 15 to 64 in Bosnia and Herzegovina hold a tertiary education title.

Share of those aged between 15 and 64 with tertiary educational attainment in Europe in 2023, by country

Characteristic	Share of people aged 15-64 with a degree
EU average	30.9%
Euro area average	31.5%
Ireland	46.6%
Cyprus	45.7%
Luxembourg	45.7%
Sweden	41.9%
Norway	41.9%
Lithuania	41%
United Kingdom*	40.6%
Switzerland	40.3%
Belgium	39.1%
Netherlands	38.4%
France	37.6%
Iceland	37.5%
Spain	37.1%
Estonia	36%
Finland	35.7%
Denmark	35.5%
Latvia	34%
Austria	33.6%
Poland	33.2%
Malta	30.5%
Greece	29.9%
Slovenia**	29.8%
Germany	29%
Portugal	27.2%
Bulgaria	26.7%
Slovakia	25.8%
Hungary	25.7%
Croatia**	24.8%
Czechia	23.5%
Serbia**	23.3%
Türkiye	21.8%
Montenegro*	21.8%
North Macedonia*	20%
Italy	19.2%
Romania	16.1%
Bosnia and Herzegovina	14.7%

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Release date

June 2024

More information

Region

Europe

Survey time period

2023

Age group

15-64 years

Supplementary notes

* Figure for the UK is for 2019. Figures for Montenegro and North Macedonia are for 2020.

** Break in time series.

The educational attainment level of an individual is the highest ISCED (International Standard Classification of Education) level successfully completed, the successful completion of an education program being validated by a recognized qualification, i.e. a qualification officially recognized by the relevant national education authorities or recognized as equivalent to another qualification of formal education. In countries where education programs, in particular those belonging to ISCED levels 1 and 2, do not lead to a qualification the criterion of full attendance of the program and normally gaining access to a higher level of education may have to be used instead. When determining the highest level, both general and vocational education should be taken into consideration. The ISCED definition of education includes training. Data on educational attainment level exclude persons who did not answer to the question 'highest level of education or training successfully completed'.

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