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

France: UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of was 39.8% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
39.8%
Change on year
down 0.5%
World rank
22nd
of 81 countries
All-time high
40.0%
in 2016
All-time low
35.8%
in 2004
Years of data
13
2004–2017

UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in France, 2004–2017

0102030402004201020172004: 35.82005: 362007: 36.82008: 37.32009: 37.12010: 37.42011: 37.52012: 37.72013: 38.92014: 39.82015: 38.82016: 402017: 39.8

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

France recorded 39.8% for uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in 2017.

The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 8.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in France peaked at 40.0% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 35.8%, in 2004.

That places France 22nd out of 81 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.

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

Annual values for UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is upper secondary, both sexes in France, 2004 to 2017.
Year Value Change
2004 35.8%
2005 36.0% +0.4%
2007 36.8% +2.4%
2008 37.3% +1.4%
2009 37.1% -0.7%
2010 37.4% +0.9%
2011 37.5% +0.5%
2012 37.7% +0.4%
2013 38.9% +3.3%
2014 39.8% +2.2%
2015 38.8% -2.4%
2016 40.0% +2.9%
2017 39.8% -0.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 36.6% 35.8% 37.3% 5
2010s 38.7% 37.4% 40.0% 8

Countries ranked near France

  1. 19 United States 44.6% compare
  2. 20 Republic of Moldova 41.7% compare
  3. 21 Denmark 40.9% compare
  4. 23 Finland 39.3% compare
  5. 24 Malaysia 37.4% compare
  6. 25 Netherlands 37.2% compare

See the full ranking of 81 places →

More reference data data for France

All data for France →

Frequently asked questions

What is uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in France?
Uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of in France was 39.8% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of recorded in France?
The highest recorded value was 40.0% in 2016.
What is the lowest uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of recorded in France?
The lowest recorded value was 35.8% in 2004.
How does France rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of?
France ranks 22nd out of 81 countries with data for 2017.
Is uis: percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of rising or falling in France?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this France 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 upper secondary, 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 France. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/uis-percentage-of-population-age-25-whose-highest-level-of-education-is-upper-secondary/france/

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About this data

Indicator
UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ whose highest level of education is upper secondary, both sexes
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
81 places, 897 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

The percentage of population (age 25 and over) with completed upper secondary education (ISCED 3) as the highest level of educational attainment. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of persons aged 25 years and above who completed upper secondary education 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/