Tertiary education enrollment — all countries

Tertiary education enrollment — European Union

Tertiary education enrollment in the European Union in 2024 — 79.5%. Since 1999, the indicator has risen by 30.4 pp.

2024 79.5% +0 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 79.6%2022
Period minimum 49.1%1999

Trend over time

1999–2024 · % (gross ratio)

Tertiary education enrollment — European Union, 1999–202440506070801999200220052008201120142017202020231999: 49.1%2000: 50.9%2001: 53.3%2002: 55.7%2003: 58%2004: 60%2005: 61.6%2006: 62.8%2007: 63.5%2008: 64.5%2009: 65.6%2010: 66.9%2011: 67.5%2012: 67.4%2013: 67.6%2014: 68.7%2015: 69.8%2016: 70.5%2017: 71.8%2018: 72.9%2019: 74%2020: 75%2021: 77.9%2022: 79.6%2023: 79.5%2024: 79.5%
Change over the period: +30.4 pp Annual average: 1.22 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: European Union

European Union 79.5%
World 43.6%
Tertiary education enrollment — European Union, by year European Union All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 79.5 +0 pp
2023 79.5 −0.1 pp
2022 79.6 +1.8 pp
2021 77.9 +2.9 pp
2020 75 +1 pp
2019 74 +1.1 pp
2018 72.9 +1.1 pp
2017 71.8 +1.3 pp
2016 70.5 +0.7 pp
2015 69.8 +1 pp
2014 68.7 +1.2 pp
2013 67.6 +0.2 pp
2012 67.4 −0.1 pp
2011 67.5 +0.6 pp
2010 66.9 +1.3 pp
2009 65.6 +1.1 pp
2008 64.5 +1 pp
2007 63.5 +0.7 pp
2006 62.8 +1.2 pp
2005 61.6 +1.6 pp
2004 60 +2 pp
2003 58 +2.3 pp
2002 55.7 +2.4 pp
2001 53.3 +2.4 pp
2000 50.9 +1.8 pp
1999 49.1

About the indicator

The gross tertiary enrollment ratio — the number of students at universities and colleges (ISCED 5–8) as a percentage of the population in the five-year age interval that follows the end of school. It can exceed 100% because of older students and students from abroad, so in countries that act as magnets for international students the indicator is overstated.

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), license CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO.