264 million students were enrolled in higher education worldwide as of 2025, according to UNESCO — more than double the figure recorded in 2000. This article covers tertiary education enrollment and attainment rates by country, regional disparities, gender gaps, and two decades of growth data drawn from UNESCO, the OECD, and the World Bank.
Tertiary Education by Country: Key Statistics
- Global tertiary enrollment reached a record 264 million students in 2025, up 25 million since 2020 (UNESCO).
- Canada leads all OECD nations, with approximately 65% of working-age adults holding a college or university degree (OECD, 2024).
- South Korea tops the 25–34 age group ranking, with 70% of young adults holding a tertiary qualification (OECD, 2022).
- Sub-Saharan Africa has a gross enrollment ratio of just 9%, against a global average of 43% (UNESCO).
- Women now outnumber men in higher education globally, at 113 women per 100 men enrolled (UNESCO, 2023).
How Many People Are Enrolled in Tertiary Education Globally?
UNESCO data published in June 2025 put global higher education enrollment at 264 million — the highest number ever recorded. That total has more than doubled since 2000, when approximately 100 million students were enrolled. Growth has been driven by expanded access through online programs, hybrid degrees, and shorter credential pathways alongside traditional four-year degrees.
The global gross enrollment ratio stood at 43% in 2023, according to the World Bank. That figure means fewer than half the world’s eligible population currently accesses tertiary education, though the gap has narrowed steadily — the ratio was below 20% in 2000. International student mobility has grown in parallel: 6.9 million students studied outside their home country in 2023, three times the number in 2000.
| Year | Global Tertiary Enrollment (millions) | Global Gross Enrollment Ratio (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 100 | ~19% |
| 2005 | 137 | ~24% |
| 2010 | 177 | ~29% |
| 2015 | 207 | ~35% |
| 2020 | 239 | ~40% |
| 2023 | 264 | 43% |
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics; World Bank Development Indicators
Tertiary Education Attainment by Country (OECD Nations)
Among working-age adults aged 25–64, Canada leads all countries tracked by the OECD with roughly 65% holding a college or university degree, according to Education at a Glance 2025. Ireland and South Korea follow closely. These figures draw on OECD’s most recent data cycle, which references 2024 nationally reported attainment rates. Education in Europe as a whole averaged 44.1% tertiary attainment, with considerable variation between member states.
Looking at 25–34 year olds specifically — a group that better reflects where each country’s system stands today — South Korea recorded 69.6% attainment in 2022, the highest in the OECD. Germany, by contrast, sits considerably lower due to its strong vocational dual-education track, which routes many students into apprenticeships rather than university programs.
| Country | Attainment Rate (25–64, 2024) | Attainment Rate (25–34, 2022) |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | ~65% | 67% |
| Ireland | ~63% | 62% |
| South Korea | ~56% | 70% |
| Japan | ~56% | 66% |
| Australia | ~52% | 56% |
| United Kingdom | ~52% | 54% |
| United States | ~50% | 50% |
| France | ~49% | 53% |
| OECD Average | ~40% | 47% |
| Germany | ~33% | 36% |
Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2025; OECD Education at a Glance 2024
The average education level in the UK reached 50% degree-level attainment by 2026, reflecting a generational shift driven partly by post-1992 polytechnic expansions and the 2012 tuition fee reforms that broadened the university applicant pool.
Which Countries Have the Lowest Tertiary Education Rates?
Among countries tracked by the OECD, South Africa had the lowest tertiary attainment rate for 25–34 year olds in 2022, at 13.1%. Indonesia followed at 17.9%. India recorded the lowest figure among older adults aged 55–64, at 6.4%, reflecting historically limited university access for those generations. These gaps are tied closely to income inequality; poverty and education data consistently show that low-income countries struggle to fund the infrastructure needed to expand tertiary systems.
| Country | Attainment Rate — Ages 25–34 | Region |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 13.1% | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Indonesia | 17.9% | South-East Asia |
| Mexico | 25% | Latin America |
| Turkey | 40% | Eastern Europe / West Asia |
| Brazil | 26% | Latin America |
| China | ~30% | East Asia |
Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2024; World Population Review
Turkey is a notable case worth separating from this group. Its attainment rate for 25–34 year olds quadrupled from 9% in 2000 to 40% by 2021, one of the fastest expansions recorded in OECD data. Portugal followed a similar path, rising from 13% to 47% over the same two decades. Education in Portugal has seen EU-leading reductions in early school leaving that directly fed into rising tertiary participation.
Tertiary Education Enrollment by Region
Regional disparities in tertiary access remain wide. UNESCO data puts the gross enrollment ratio for Sub-Saharan Africa at 9% — roughly one-fifth of the global average. North America and much of Western Europe sit above 70%, while South and West Asia cluster around 30%. Latin America has closed some ground in recent decades and now averages near 52%.
East Asia and the Pacific show a wide internal range: countries like Australia and South Korea exceed 90% gross enrollment ratios, while several Pacific island states sit below 20%. Education in China recorded gross tertiary enrollment of around 60% in 2023, up sharply from under 10% in 2000.
| Region | Gross Enrollment Ratio (approx. 2023) |
|---|---|
| North America | ~88% |
| Western Europe | ~72% |
| East Asia & Pacific | ~55% |
| Latin America & Caribbean | ~52% |
| Central & Eastern Europe | ~63% |
| South & West Asia | ~30% |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | ~9% |
| Global Average | 43% |
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics; World Bank School Enrollment Data, 2023
The 207-country spending picture matters here too. Countries that spend the most on education as a share of GDP — typically in Northern Europe and North America — tend to rank highest on tertiary enrollment. Research on which country spends the most on education shows a 207-to-1 gap in per-student spending between the highest and lowest-income nations.
Tertiary Education Gender Gap by Country
Globally, women outnumber men in higher education. UNESCO reported 113 women enrolled for every 100 men in 2023. Across OECD countries in 2024, 52% of women aged 25–34 held a tertiary qualification, compared to 39% of men — a 13 percentage-point gap that has widened steadily since 2000. Countries including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovenia recorded gender gaps of at least 20 percentage points in favour of women.
Despite higher attainment, the labour market does not reflect parity. The income by education level data shows tertiary-educated women still earn less than their male counterparts in most OECD countries, with average earnings roughly 15–17% lower among those with the same qualification level.
| Country | Women’s Tertiary Attainment (25–34) | Men’s Tertiary Attainment (25–34) | Gender Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estonia | ~59% | ~37% | 22 pp |
| Latvia | ~60% | ~38% | 22 pp |
| Poland | ~58% | ~38% | 20 pp |
| South Korea | ~72% | ~67% | 5 pp |
| Germany | ~35% | ~37% | -2 pp (men lead) |
| OECD Average | ~52% | ~39% | 13 pp |
Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2024; OECD Education Attainment Data
How Has Tertiary Education Grown Over Time?
The share of tertiary-educated 25–34 year olds has grown in virtually every OECD country since 2000. On average across OECD members, the rate for this age group rose from around 26% in 2000 to 48% in 2024 — the highest level ever recorded, according to the OECD Education at a Glance 2025 report.
Fast-growing economies saw the sharpest increases. Turkey’s rate for 25–34 year olds quadrupled between 2000 and 2021, from 9% to 40%. Portugal climbed from 13% to 47% and the Slovak Republic from 11% to 39%. Even countries that started with relatively high rates grew further: Ireland went from 30% to 63% and South Korea from 37% to 69% over the same period.
Growth hasn’t automatically produced better outcomes. The OECD’s 2025 edition noted that despite rising attainment, literacy and numeracy scores among adults stagnated or declined in most OECD countries between 2012 and 2023. Only 43% of bachelor’s program entrants graduate within the expected duration, rising to 70% only after an additional three years. Higher education costs in the US — which reached $1.77 trillion in student loan debt — reflect a system where access has expanded but completion and affordability remain contested.
| Country | Attainment Rate (25–34), 2000 | Attainment Rate (25–34), 2021–24 | Percentage Point Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 9% | 40% | +31 pp |
| Portugal | 13% | 47% | +34 pp |
| Slovak Republic | 11% | 39% | +28 pp |
| Ireland | 30% | 63% | +33 pp |
| South Korea | 37% | 69% | +32 pp |
| OECD Average | ~26% | 48% | +22 pp |
Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2025; OECD Education Attainment Historical Data
The growth of online education platforms has contributed to this expansion. The market for distance and hybrid tertiary learning has grown rapidly, and UNESCO data shows that students pursuing non-traditional credentials and micro-qualifications are now included in several countries’ enrollment counts.
Spending decisions shape trajectory. The US Department of Education’s budget and equivalent national investments in places like Germany and Japan influence both access and completion rates. Technology in education is increasingly cited as a cost-efficiency tool, with EdTech markets projected to exceed $400 billion globally — though evidence on whether digital tools improve tertiary completion rates remains mixed.
FAQ
Which country has the highest tertiary education attainment rate?
Canada leads among working-age adults (25–64), with roughly 65% holding a degree, according to OECD Education at a Glance 2025. Among 25–34 year olds specifically, South Korea ranks first at approximately 70%.
What is the global average for tertiary education enrollment?
The global gross enrollment ratio for tertiary education was 43% in 2023, according to the World Bank and UNESCO. This means fewer than half of the world’s eligible age group is currently enrolled in higher education.
Which region has the lowest tertiary education rates?
Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest gross enrollment ratio at approximately 9%, compared to the 43% global average. South Africa recorded the lowest attainment rate among OECD-tracked countries, at 13.1% for 25–34 year olds in 2022.
Are more women or men enrolled in tertiary education?
Women outnumber men globally, with 113 women per 100 men enrolled in higher education as of 2023. Across OECD countries, 52% of women aged 25–34 hold a tertiary qualification versus 39% of men.
What percentage of bachelor’s degree students finish on time?
Only 43% of new bachelor’s program entrants graduate within the expected duration, according to OECD data from 2025. The rate rises to 59% after one additional year and reaches 70% after three extra years.
