UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in New Zealand

New Zealand: UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of was 22.5% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
22.5%
Change on year
up 3.6%
World rank
11th
of 84 countries
All-time high
39.1%
in 1991
All-time low
21.0%
in 2001
Years of data
9
1981–2016

UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in New Zealand, 1981–2016

0102030401981199820161981: 30.41991: 39.12001: 212006: 25.32011: 34.82012: 342014: 21.52015: 21.72016: 22.5

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

New Zealand recorded 22.5% for uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in 2016.

The figure is up 3.6% on the previous year and down 11.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in New Zealand peaked at 39.1% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 21.0%, in 2001.

That places New Zealand 11th out of 84 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top quarter.

UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is Bachelor's or equivalent (ISCED 6), both sexes in New Zealand, 1981 to 2016.
Year Value Change
1981 30.4%
1991 39.1% +28.8%
2001 21.0% -46.2%
2006 25.3% +20.3%
2011 34.8% +37.3%
2012 34.0% -2.2%
2014 21.5% -36.7%
2015 21.7% +1.0%
2016 22.5% +3.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 30.4% 30.4% 30.4% 1
1990s 39.1% 39.1% 39.1% 1
2000s 23.2% 21.0% 25.3% 2
2010s 26.9% 21.5% 34.8% 5

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 8 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 24.1% compare
  2. 9 Australia 23.3% compare
  3. 10 Hong Kong, China 22.9% compare
  4. 12 United States of America 21.9% compare
  5. 13 Lithuania 21.2% compare
  6. 14 Bermuda 21.1% compare

See the full ranking of 84 places →

More reference data data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in New Zealand?
Uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in New Zealand was 22.5% in 2016, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 39.1% in 1991.
What is the lowest uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 21.0% in 2001.
How does New Zealand rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of?
New Zealand ranks 11th out of 84 countries with data for 2016.
Is uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is down 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this New Zealand 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), both sexes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/uis-percentage-of-population-age-25-whose-highest-level-of-education-is-bachelor-s-or/new-zealand/

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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), both sexes
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
84 places, 932 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

The percentage of 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 persons aged 25 years and above who completed a bachelor's or equivalent degree as the highest level of educational attainment by the total 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/