70 percent of the population in South Korea between 25 and 34 years had attained a tertiary education as of 2022, making it the OECD country with the highest proportion of tertiary education graduates. Canada followed with more than two thirds, while in Japan the share was around 66 percent. By comparison, roughly 13 percent of South Africans between 25 and 34 years had a tertiary education in 2022.
Share of people with tertiary education in OECD countries in 2022, by country
Characteristic
Share of people
South Korea
69.58%
Canada
66.97%
Japan
65.68%
Ireland
63.27%
Luxembourg
60.03%
Lithuania
58.15%
United Kingdom
57.7%
Norway
56.43%
Netherlands
56.42%
Australia
55.93%
Sweden
52.3%
Belgium
51.36%
Switzerland
51.26%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of people69.58%69.58%66.97%66.97%65.68%65.68%63.27%63.27%60.03%60.03%58.15%58.15%57.7%57.7%56.43%56.43%56.42%56.42%55.93%55.93%52.3%52.3%51.36%51.36%51.26%51.26%51.26%51.26%50.51%50.51%50.39%50.39%49.01%49.01%47.42%47.42%47.3%47.3%46.25%46.25%45.88%45.88%45.24%45.24%44.44%44.44%44.09%44.09%43.91%43.91%43.08%43.08%41.25%41.25%40.93%40.93%40.76%40.76%40.51%40.51%40.5%40.5%39.11%39.11%37.28%37.28%34.62%34.62%34.15%34.15%31.9%31.9%30.99%30.99%29.2%29.2%27.27%27.27%23.19%23.19%20.46%20.46%19.03%19.03%17.93%17.93%13.11%13.11%South KoreaCanadaJapanIrelandLuxembourgLithuaniaUnited KingdomNorwayNetherlandsAustraliaSwedenBelgiumSwitzerlandUnited StatesSpainFranceDenmarkOECD averageSloveniaIsraelLatviaGreecePortugalNew ZealandEstoniaAustriaTurkeyIcelandFinlandChile**PolandSlovakiaGermanyCzechiaColombiaHungaryCosta RicaItalyMexicoBrazilIndiaArgentina*IndonesiaSouth Africa
0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%80%
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Population with tertiary education is defined as those having completed the highest level of education, by age group. This includes both theoretical programmes leading to advanced research or high skill professions such as medicine and more vocational programmes leading to the labour market. The measure is percentage of same age population, also available by gender. As globalisation and technology continue to re-shape the needs of labour markets worldwide, the demand for individuals with a broader knowledge base and more specialised skills continues to rise.
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OECD. (September 12, 2023). Share of people with tertiary education in OECD countries in 2022, by country [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 23, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1227272/share-of-people-with-tertiary-education-in-oecd-countries-by-country/
OECD. "Share of people with tertiary education in OECD countries in 2022, by country." Chart. September 12, 2023. Statista. Accessed February 23, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1227272/share-of-people-with-tertiary-education-in-oecd-countries-by-country/
OECD. (2023). Share of people with tertiary education in OECD countries in 2022, by country. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 23, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1227272/share-of-people-with-tertiary-education-in-oecd-countries-by-country/
OECD. "Share of People with Tertiary Education in Oecd Countries in 2022, by Country." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 Sep 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1227272/share-of-people-with-tertiary-education-in-oecd-countries-by-country/
OECD, Share of people with tertiary education in OECD countries in 2022, by country Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1227272/share-of-people-with-tertiary-education-in-oecd-countries-by-country/ (last visited February 23, 2025)
Share of people with tertiary education in OECD countries in 2022, by country [Graph], OECD, September 12, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1227272/share-of-people-with-tertiary-education-in-oecd-countries-by-country/
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