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Statistics · Country
Adults with higher education in United Kingdom
2000 – 2023 · 24 data points
2 of 5 · Countries
Updated 21 Oct 2026
Source: OECD Regional Database, 2000 – 2023
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Latest value · 2023
52.8%
+1.6 pp
since 2022
Countries · 2023
2 of 5
Place 1 is the highest value.
since 2013
+13.2 pp
Adults with higher education, 2000 – 2023 percent
+13.2 pp since 2013
0%
20%
40%
60%
2000
2010
2015
2023
Source: OECD Regional Database, 2000 – 2023
The series at a glance United Kingdom · 2000 – 2023
Latest value
52.8% · 2023
First value
28.5% · 2000
Highest
52.8% · 2023
Lowest
28.3% · 2003
Data points
24
By year
All years · 2000 – 2023
| Year | United Kingdom | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 52.8% | +1.6 pp |
| 2022 | 51.2% | +1.1 pp |
| 2021 | 50.1% | +0.7 pp |
| 2020 | 49.4% | +4.7 pp |
| 2019 | 44.7% | +1.5 pp |
| 2018 | 43.2% | +0.5 pp |
| 2017 | 42.7% | +0.4 pp |
| 2016 | 42.3% | +0.7 pp |
| 2015 | 41.6% | +1.0 pp |
| 2014break in series | 40.6% | +1.0 pp |
| 2013 | 39.6% | +1.0 pp |
| 2012 | 38.6% | +1.7 pp |
| 2011break in series | 36.9% | +1.8 pp |
| 2010break in series | 35.1% | +1.7 pp |
| 2009 | 33.4% | +1.4 pp |
| 2008break in series | 32.0% | ±0.0 pp |
| 2007break in series | 32.0% | +1.2 pp |
| 2006 | 30.8% | +1.0 pp |
| 2005 | 29.8% | +0.4 pp |
| 2004break in series | 29.4% | +1.1 pp |
| 2003 | 28.3% | −1.5 pp |
| 2002 | 29.8% | +1.1 pp |
| 2001 | 28.7% | +0.2 pp |
| 2000 | 28.5% |
Source: OECD Regional Database, 2000 – 2023
Ranking · Countries
2018 · Place 1 is the highest value.
| # | Territory | Adults with higher education | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | 58.0% | |
| 2 | United States | 47.4% | |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 43.2% | |
| 4 | Colombia | 23.4% | |
| 5 | Mexico | 18.0% |
Source: OECD Regional Database, 2018
What it means
The share of adults with a university or other tertiary degree.
How it is calculated
People aged 25–64 whose highest completed education is tertiary (ISCED 5–8) divided by all people of that age.
Education & commute
United Kingdom in numbers