Data / Rankings / Tertiary education gross enrolment ratio / Countries

Countries by tertiary education gross enrolment ratio

Greece had the highest tertiary education gross enrolment ratio of 136 countries in 2016, at 131.4%. Eritrea had the lowest, at 3.2%. The median was 49.3% and the figure for the World was 37.1%. Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

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Highest131.4Greece
Lowest3.2Eritrea
Median49.3136 countries
World37.1History

Map of countries, 2016

Albania: 58.5 %Armenia: 54.3 %Angola: 9.8 %Argentina: 86.7 %Austria: 82.8 %Australia: 119.7 %Azerbaijan: 27.2 %Bosnia and Herzegovina: 57 %Bangladesh: 17.4 %Belgium: 77.2 %Burkina Faso: 5.4 %Bulgaria: 80.6 %Burundi: 4 %Benin: 12 %Brunei: 28.7 %Brazil: 49 %Botswana: 22.7 %Belarus: 91.5 %Belize: 24.5 %Canada: 69.2 %Democratic Republic of the Congo: 5.9 %Switzerland: 61.2 %Côte d’Ivoire: 8.9 %Chile: 88.8 %Cameroon: 12.7 %China: 49.3 %Colombia: 57.1 %Costa Rica: 51.7 %Cuba: 35.1 %Cape Verde: 23.7 %Cyprus: 68.4 %Czechia: 67.5 %Germany: 67.9 %Denmark: 82.2 %Dominican Republic: 54.5 %Algeria: 43.9 %Estonia: 73 %Egypt: 31.9 %Eritrea: 3.2 %Spain: 89.8 %Finland: 89.3 %Fiji: 77.6 %France: 64.7 %United Kingdom: 58.1 %Georgia: 58.2 %Ghana: 15.6 %Greece: 131.4 %Hong Kong: 70.3 %Honduras: 21 %Croatia: 69.6 %Hungary: 50.7 %Indonesia: 34.8 %Ireland: 77.6 %Israel: 61.4 %India: 27.3 %Iran: 67.9 %Iceland: 74.7 %Italy: 61.4 %Jordan: 34.1 %Japan: 62.5 %Kenya: 11.6 %Kyrgyzstan: 44.6 %South Korea: 93.7 %Kuwait: 59.2 %Kazakhstan: 46 %Laos: 17.1 %Lebanon: 42.5 %Sri Lanka: 17.2 %Lithuania: 74.1 %Luxembourg: 19.9 %Latvia: 80.6 %Morocco: 32.1 %Moldova: 52.8 %Montenegro: 59.2 %Madagascar: 4.7 %Mongolia: 65.2 %Mauritania: 5.6 %Mauritius: 38.4 %Mexico: 38.6 %Malaysia: 45.4 %Mozambique: 7.3 %Namibia: 21.4 %Niger: 3.5 %Netherlands: 79.8 %Norway: 81.9 %Nepal: 11.1 %New Zealand: 81.9 %Oman: 46.8 %Panama: 48.4 %Peru: 73.2 %Philippines: 38.3 %Pakistan: 8.3 %Poland: 69.9 %Puerto Rico: 100.6 %Palestine: 45.4 %Portugal: 63.2 %Qatar: 14.8 %Romania: 49.9 %Serbia: 62.1 %Russia: 83.9 %Rwanda: 7.6 %Saudi Arabia: 64 %Sweden: 68.3 %Singapore: 83.9 %Slovenia: 79.5 %Slovakia: 50.3 %Senegal: 10.9 %El Salvador: 27.2 %Syria: 43.8 %Togo: 12.1 %Thailand: 49.3 %Tajikistan: 28.5 %Tunisia: 31.2 %Türkiye: 103.7 %Tanzania: 3.7 %Ukraine: 77 %United States: 88.8 %Uruguay: 59.6 %Uzbekistan: 8.3 %Vietnam: 29.1 %South Africa: 18.9 %
  • Under 15
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%, 2016. Hatched areas have no value for this period. Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, School enrollment, tertiary, % gross (SE.TER.ENRR) via World Bank, World Development Indicators. Boundaries: Natural Earth (public domain).

Top 40 countries, 2016

Greece: 131.4 %Greece131.4Australia: 119.7 %Australia119.7Türkiye: 103.7 %Türkiye103.7Puerto Rico: 100.6 %Puerto Rico100.6Grenada: 96.8 %Grenada96.8South Korea: 93.7 %South Korea93.7Belarus: 91.5 %Belarus91.5Spain: 89.8 %Spain89.8Finland: 89.3 %Finland89.3Chile: 88.8 %Chile88.8United States: 88.8 %United States88.8Argentina: 86.7 %Argentina86.7Singapore: 83.9 %Singapore83.9Russia: 83.9 %Russia83.9Austria: 82.8 %Austria82.8Denmark: 82.2 %Denmark82.2Norway: 81.9 %Norway81.9New Zealand: 81.9 %New Zealand81.9Bulgaria: 80.6 %Bulgaria80.6Latvia: 80.6 %Latvia80.6Macao: 79.9 %Macao79.9Netherlands: 79.8 %Netherlands79.8Slovenia: 79.5 %Slovenia79.5Fiji: 77.6 %Fiji77.6Ireland: 77.6 %Ireland77.6Belgium: 77.2 %Belgium77.2Ukraine: 77 %Ukraine77Iceland: 74.7 %Iceland74.7Lithuania: 74.1 %Lithuania74.1Peru: 73.2 %Peru73.2Estonia: 73 %Estonia73Hong Kong: 70.3 %Hong Kong70.3Poland: 69.9 %Poland69.9Croatia: 69.6 %Croatia69.6Canada: 69.2 %Canada69.2Cyprus: 68.4 %Cyprus68.4Sweden: 68.3 %Sweden68.3Germany: 67.9 %Germany67.9Iran: 67.9 %Iran67.9Czechia: 67.5 %Czechia67.5Greece: 131.4 %Greece131.4Australia: 119.7 %Australia119.7Türkiye: 103.7 %Türkiye103.7Puerto Rico: 100.6 %Puerto Rico100.6Grenada: 96.8 %Grenada96.8South Korea: 93.7 %South Korea93.7Belarus: 91.5 %Belarus91.5Spain: 89.8 %Spain89.8Finland: 89.3 %Finland89.3Chile: 88.8 %Chile88.8United States: 88.8 %United States88.8Argentina: 86.7 %Argentina86.7Singapore: 83.9 %Singapore83.9Russia: 83.9 %Russia83.9Austria: 82.8 %Austria82.8Denmark: 82.2 %Denmark82.2Norway: 81.9 %Norway81.9New Zealand: 81.9 %New Zealand81.9Bulgaria: 80.6 %Bulgaria80.6Latvia: 80.6 %Latvia80.6Macao: 79.9 %Macao79.9Netherlands: 79.8 %Netherlands79.8Slovenia: 79.5 %Slovenia79.5Fiji: 77.6 %Fiji77.6Ireland: 77.6 %Ireland77.6Belgium: 77.2 %Belgium77.2Ukraine: 77 %Ukraine77Iceland: 74.7 %Iceland74.7Lithuania: 74.1 %Lithuania74.1Peru: 73.2 %Peru73.2Estonia: 73 %Estonia73Hong Kong: 70.3 %Hong Kong70.3Poland: 69.9 %Poland69.9Croatia: 69.6 %Croatia69.6Canada: 69.2 %Canada69.2Cyprus: 68.4 %Cyprus68.4Sweden: 68.3 %Sweden68.3Germany: 67.9 %Germany67.9Iran: 67.9 %Iran67.9Czechia: 67.5 %Czechia67.5
%. Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, School enrollment, tertiary, % gross (SE.TER.ENRR) via World Bank, World Development Indicators. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCountries2016 (%)Change on 2015
1Greece131.4n/a
2Australia119.70 pts
3Türkiye103.7+8.2 pts
4Puerto Rico100.6-0.1 pts
5Grenada96.80 pts
6South Korea93.7-0.3 pts
7Belarus91.5-2.3 pts
8Spain89.8+1.3 pts
9Finland89.3-0.3 pts
10Chile88.8+2.4 pts
11United States88.8-0.1 pts
12Argentina86.7+2.9 pts
13Singapore83.9n/a
14Russia83.9-0.4 pts
15Austria82.8+0.6 pts
16Denmark82.2-1.1 pts
17Norway81.9+2.7 pts
18New Zealand81.9-0.3 pts
19Bulgaria80.6+2.3 pts
20Latvia80.6+6.3 pts
21Macao79.9+3.8 pts
22Netherlands79.8-0.3 pts
23Slovenia79.5-2.7 pts
24Fiji77.6+9.1 pts
25Ireland77.6+0.3 pts
26Belgium77.2+0.8 pts
27Ukraine77+0.2 pts
28Iceland74.7-0.9 pts
29Lithuania74.1+2 pts
30Peru73.2n/a
31Estonia73-1.5 pts
32Hong Kong70.3+1.6 pts
33Poland69.9+0.5 pts
34Croatia69.6+1.1 pts
35Canada69.2+2 pts
36Cyprus68.4+8.5 pts
37Sweden68.3+1.9 pts
38Germany67.9-0.3 pts
39Iran67.9-2.8 pts
40Czechia67.5+0.3 pts
41Mongolia65.2-5.1 pts
42France64.7+1.9 pts
43Saudi Arabia64+6.9 pts
44Portugal63.2+1.4 pts
45Japan62.50 pts
46Serbia62.1+3.8 pts
47Israel61.4-0.2 pts
48Italy61.4+0.4 pts
49Switzerland61.2+0.4 pts
50Uruguay59.6+1.9 pts
51Kuwait59.2+0.3 pts
52Montenegro59.2-4.8 pts
53Albania58.5-3.5 pts
54Georgia58.2+6.3 pts
55United Kingdom58.1+1.6 pts
56Colombia57.1+2.3 pts
57Bosnia and Herzegovina57+1.4 pts
58Dominican Republic54.5+2.8 pts
59Armenia54.3+5.6 pts
60Monaco53.6n/a
61Moldova52.8+0.7 pts
62Barbados52.1-5.2 pts
63Costa Rica51.7+0.4 pts
64Hungary50.7-0.2 pts
65Slovakia50.3-2.4 pts
66Romania49.9+0.6 pts
67Thailand49.3+3.6 pts
68China49.3+2.2 pts
69Malta49.2+1.2 pts
70Brazil49-0.1 pts
71Panama48.4+0.8 pts
72Oman46.8+1.6 pts
73Bahrain46.8+1.1 pts
74Kazakhstan46-2.3 pts
75Malaysia45.4+1.1 pts
76Palestine45.4-0.7 pts
77Kyrgyzstan44.6-2 pts
78Algeria43.9+5.7 pts
79Syria43.8-4.1 pts
80Lebanon42.5+3.2 pts
81British Virgin Islands39.2-1.2 pts
82Mexico38.6+6.6 pts
83Mauritius38.4+0.7 pts
84Philippines38.3+2.5 pts
85Marshall Islands36.7+2.3 pts
86Cuba35.1-1.7 pts
87Liechtenstein35+1.5 pts
88Indonesia34.8+2.4 pts
89Jordan34.1-2.6 pts
90Morocco32.1+3.5 pts
91Egypt31.9-1 pts
92Tunisia31.2-2.2 pts
93Vietnam29.1-0.6 pts
94Brunei28.70 pts
95Tajikistan28.5+2.5 pts
96India27.30 pts
97Azerbaijan27.2+1.8 pts
98El Salvador27.2-0.2 pts
99Seychelles25.6+9.1 pts
100Belize24.5+1 pts
101Cape Verde23.7+1.2 pts
102Saint Vincent and the Grenadines23.70 pts
103Botswana22.7-4.2 pts
104Namibia21.4+1.8 pts
105Honduras21+0.7 pts
106Luxembourg19.9-0.4 pts
107Saint Lucia19.8+2.8 pts
108South Africa18.9-0.1 pts
109Bangladesh17.4+1.8 pts
110Sri Lanka17.2-1 pts
111Aruba17.1+0.4 pts
112Laos17.1-1.1 pts
113Ghana15.60 pts
114Andorra15.2+1.4 pts
115Qatar14.8-1.1 pts
116Cameroon12.7-4.6 pts
117Togo12.1+1.3 pts
118Benin12-0.5 pts
119Kenya11.6+2.4 pts
120Nepal11.1-1.2 pts
121Turks and Caicos Islands11.1-1.3 pts
122Senegal10.90 pts
123Angola9.8+1 pts
124Côte d’Ivoire8.9+0.4 pts
125Uzbekistan8.3+0.3 pts
126Pakistan8.3-0.1 pts
127Rwanda7.60 pts
128Mozambique7.3+0.6 pts
129Democratic Republic of the Congo5.9n/a
130Mauritania5.6-0.3 pts
131Burkina Faso5.4+0.5 pts
132Madagascar4.7-0 pts
133Burundi4-1.3 pts
134Tanzania3.7-0.3 pts
135Niger3.5+0.2 pts
136Eritrea3.2-0.3 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Students enrolled in tertiary education (ISCED levels 5 to 8), of any age, as a percentage of the population in the five-year age group that follows the official secondary school leaving age. UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

A gross ratio: students outside the reference ages and students from abroad are counted, so it can exceed 100%. It counts students, not graduates; for degree holders in the United States see bachelors_degree_share.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the countries are compared on one definition. 67 countries with data in other periods have no value for 2016 and are left out rather than filled from another source. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). School enrollment, tertiary, % gross (SE.TER.ENRR). Retrieved through World Bank World Development Indicators (data.worldbank.org). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.TER.ENRR. Retrieved 2026-10-12. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. UIS does not endorse Invokely or this use of the data.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

UNESCO Institute for Statistics. (2026). School enrollment, tertiary, % gross (SE.TER.ENRR) (Countries by tertiary education gross enrolment ratio, 2016) [Data set]. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.TER.ENRR

MLA 9

School enrollment, tertiary, % gross (SE.TER.ENRR), Countries by tertiary education gross enrolment ratio, 2016. UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 8 Oct. 2026, https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.TER.ENRR. World Bank, World Development Indicators, https://data.worldbank.org. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/tertiary-enrolment-ratio/countries?period=2016. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

UNESCO Institute for Statistics. 2026. School enrollment, tertiary, % gross (SE.TER.ENRR). Countries by tertiary education gross enrolment ratio, 2016. Dataset. Distributed by World Bank, World Development Indicators. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.TER.ENRR. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/tertiary-enrolment-ratio/countries?period=2016.

Harvard

UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) School enrollment, tertiary, % gross (SE.TER.ENRR), Countries by tertiary education gross enrolment ratio, 2016 [Dataset]. Via World Bank, World Development Indicators. Available at: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.TER.ENRR, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/tertiary-enrolment-ratio/countries?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{unesco_countries_by_tertiary_education_2016,
  author = {{UNESCO Institute for Statistics}},
  title = {{School enrollment, tertiary, \% gross (SE.TER.ENRR): Countries by tertiary education gross enrolment ratio, 2016}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  publisher = {World Bank, World Development Indicators},
  url = {https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.TER.ENRR},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Retrieved through World Bank, World Development Indicators (https://data.worldbank.org). Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/tertiary-enrolment-ratio/countries?period=2016. Publisher attribution: Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). School enrollment, tertiary, \% gross (SE.TER.ENRR). Retrieved through World Bank World Development Indicators (data.worldbank.org). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.TER.ENRR. Retrieved 2026-10-12. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. UIS does not endorse Invokely or this use of the data.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - UNESCO Institute for Statistics
TI  - School enrollment, tertiary, % gross (SE.TER.ENRR): Countries by tertiary education gross enrolment ratio, 2016
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/08
PB  - World Bank, World Development Indicators
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.TER.ENRR
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/tertiary-enrolment-ratio/countries?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Retrieved through World Bank, World Development Indicators (https://data.worldbank.org).
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/tertiary-enrolment-ratio/countries?period=2016.
N1  - Publisher attribution: Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). School enrollment, tertiary, % gross (SE.TER.ENRR). Retrieved through World Bank World Development Indicators (data.worldbank.org). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.TER.ENRR. Retrieved 2026-10-12. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. UIS does not endorse Invokely or this use of the data.
ER  -
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Questions

Which country has the highest tertiary education gross enrolment ratio?

Greece, with 131.4% in 2016, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Which country has the lowest tertiary education gross enrolment ratio?

Eritrea, with 3.2% in 2016.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, School enrollment, tertiary, % gross (SE.TER.ENRR). Retrieved 2026-10-12. 67 countries have no value for 2016 and are not ranked.

Tertiary education gross enrolment ratio: other rankings

Countries: more rankings