Countries by Proportion of Population with University Degree 2024

About This Dataset

Countries ranked by the percentage of adults aged 25–64 who hold a tertiary education qualification in 2024, according to OECD Education at a Glance data. Canada leads major economies in the proportion of adults with university-level education, with over 57% of working-age adults holding a tertiary qualification — a result of sustained public investment in universities, community colleges, and a historically welcoming approach to internationally educated immigrants.

✨ AI Insight

While Canada leads with 57% of its population holding tertiary degrees, the gap between it and the United States, which stands at 46%, is notable. This 11% difference suggests a significant disparity in educational attainment that could impact economic competitiveness. Countries like Japan and Israel also show strong educational outcomes, with 54% and 53.5% respectively, indicating a trend where East Asian nations are investing heavily in higher education. The lower percentages in countries such as Norway (45%) and Australia (49%) may reflect different educational policies or labor market demands. Overall, the data underscores the importance of higher education in shaping a skilled workforce and driving economic growth.

Source: Wikipedia

Key Findings

Auto-computed highlights from this dataset

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Canada leads with 57 in 2024.

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Average value in 2024: 51 · median: 51.

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Gap in 2024: Canada is 1.3× larger than Norway.