UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed in United States of America

United States of America: UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed was 45.2% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
45.2%
Change on year
up 3.8%
World rank
14th
of 88 countries
All-time high
46.5%
in 1994
All-time low
21.3%
in 1970
Years of data
20
1970–2018

UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed in United States of America, 1970–2018

010203040501970199420181970: 21.31975: 26.31979: 31.11980: 31.91981: 32.21990: 45.21994: 46.52004: 36.12005: 36.22006: 37.42008: 38.32009: 38.62010: 39.12011: 39.92012: 40.72013: 41.52014: 41.92015: 42.32016: 43.52018: 45.2

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2018, uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed in United States of America stood at 45.2%.

That represents a change of up 3.8% on the previous year and up 18.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed in United States of America peaked at 46.5% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 21.3%, in 1970.

That places United States of America 14th out of 88 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.

UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed in United States of America, year by year

Annual values for UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed post-secondary education (ISCED 4 or higher). Total in United States of America, 1970 to 2018.
Year Value Change
1970 21.3%
1975 26.3% +23.5%
1979 31.1% +18.3%
1980 31.9% +2.5%
1981 32.2% +0.8%
1990 45.2% +40.7%
1994 46.5% +2.9%
2004 36.1% -22.4%
2005 36.2% +0.3%
2006 37.4% +3.1%
2008 38.3% +2.4%
2009 38.6% +0.9%
2010 39.1% +1.3%
2011 39.9% +2.1%
2012 40.7% +1.8%
2013 41.5% +2.1%
2014 41.9% +0.9%
2015 42.3% +1.1%
2016 43.5% +2.8%
2018 45.2% +3.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 26.2% 21.3% 31.1% 3
1980s 32.0% 31.9% 32.2% 2
1990s 45.9% 45.2% 46.5% 2
2000s 37.3% 36.1% 38.6% 5
2010s 41.8% 39.1% 45.2% 8

Countries ranked near United States of America

  1. 11 Australia 48.3% compare
  2. 12 Israel 47.1% compare
  3. 13 New Zealand 46.1% compare
  4. 15 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 44.1% compare
  5. 16 Latvia 43.6% compare
  6. 17 Republic of Moldova 43.5% compare

See the full ranking of 88 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+ with at least completed in United States of America?
Uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed in United States of America was 45.2% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed recorded in United States of America?
The highest recorded value was 46.5% in 1994.
What is the lowest uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed recorded in United States of America?
The lowest recorded value was 21.3% in 1970.
How does United States of America rank for uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed?
United States of America ranks 14th out of 88 countries with data for 2018.
Is uis: percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed rising or falling in United States of America?
Over the last ten years it is up 18.1%. 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+ with at least completed post-secondary education (ISCED 4 or higher). Total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed in United States of America. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/uis-percentage-of-population-age-25-with-at-least-completed-post-secondary-education/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
UIS: Percentage of population age 25+ with at least completed post-secondary education (ISCED 4 or higher). Total
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
88 places, 944 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

The percentage of population (age 25 and over) with at least completed post-secondary education (ISCED 4 or higher). This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of persons aged 25 years and above with completed post-secondary education 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/