UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in United States of America

United States of America: UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of was 22.1% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
22.1%
Change on year
up 4.9%
World rank
18th
of 82 countries
All-time high
44.5%
in 1994
All-time low
18.7%
in 1970
Years of data
19
1970–2018

UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in United States of America, 1970–2018

0102030401970199420181970: 18.71975: 22.21979: 26.91980: 28.11981: 281994: 44.52004: 35.42005: 362006: 37.52008: 38.42009: 39.22010: 39.92011: 40.52012: 41.12013: 20.22014: 20.42015: 20.72016: 212018: 22.1

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

United States of America recorded 22.1% for uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in 2018.

The figure is up 4.9% on the previous year and down 42.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in United States of America peaked at 44.5% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 18.7%, in 1970.

That places United States of America 18th out of 82 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.

UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in United States of America, year by year

Annual values for UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is Bachelor's or equivalent (ISCED 6), female in United States of America, 1970 to 2018.
Year Value Change
1970 18.7%
1975 22.2% +18.7%
1979 26.9% +21.2%
1980 28.1% +4.5%
1981 28.0% -0.3%
1994 44.5% +58.9%
2004 35.4% -20.6%
2005 36.0% +1.8%
2006 37.5% +4.2%
2008 38.4% +2.4%
2009 39.2% +1.9%
2010 39.9% +1.9%
2011 40.5% +1.6%
2012 41.1% +1.5%
2013 20.2% -50.9%
2014 20.4% +1.0%
2015 20.7% +1.5%
2016 21.0% +1.7%
2018 22.1% +4.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 22.6% 18.7% 26.9% 3
1980s 28.1% 28.0% 28.1% 2
1990s 44.5% 44.5% 44.5% 1
2000s 37.3% 35.4% 39.2% 5
2010s 28.2% 20.2% 41.1% 8

Countries ranked near United States of America

  1. 15 Argentina 22.5% compare
  2. 16 Bermuda 22.4% compare
  3. 17 Israel 22.1% compare
  4. 19 Norway 21.9% compare
  5. 20 Republic of Korea 20.8% compare
  6. 21 Hong Kong, China 20.6% compare

See the full ranking of 82 places →

More reference data data for United States of America

All data for United States of America →

Frequently asked questions

What is uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in United States of America?
Uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in United States of America was 22.1% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of recorded in United States of America?
The highest recorded value was 44.5% in 1994.
What is the lowest uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of recorded in United States of America?
The lowest recorded value was 18.7% in 1970.
How does United States of America rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of?
United States of America ranks 18th out of 82 countries with data for 2018.
Is uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of rising or falling in United States of America?
Over the last ten years it is down 42.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United States of America data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is Bachelor's or equivalent (ISCED 6), female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in United States of America. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/uis-percentage-of-population-age-25-whose-highest-level-of-education-is-bachelor-s-or-2/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is Bachelor's or equivalent (ISCED 6), female
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
82 places, 916 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

The percentage of female population (age 25 and over) with a completed bachelor's or equivalent degree (ISCED 6) degree as the highest level of educational attainment. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of females aged 25 years and above who completed a bachelor's or equivalent degree as the highest level of educational attainment by the total female population of the same age group and multiplying the result by 100. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) educational attainment dataset shows the educational composition of the population aged 25 years and above and hence the stock and quality of human capital within a country. The dataset also reflects the structure and performance of the education system and its accumulated impact on human capital formation. For more information, visit the UNESCO Institute for Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/