Wednesday 21 October Hailsham
  1. Home
  2. Statistics
  3. United Kingdom
  4. Education & commute
  5. University enrolment
Education & commute Statistics · Country

University enrolment in United Kingdom

2000 – 2023 · 24 data points 12 of 32 · Countries Updated 21 Oct 2026

Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 2000 – 2023

University enrolment, 2000 – 2023 percent · United Kingdom · World
+23.6 pp since 2013
United Kingdom World

Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 2000 – 2023

Compared with University enrolment · percent
United Kingdom
80.4%
World
43.6% · 2024

Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators

The series at a glance United Kingdom · 2000 – 2023
Latest value 80.4% · 2023
First value 57.4% · 2000
Highest 80.4% · 2023
Lowest 56.4% · 2015
Data points 24

By year

All years · 2000 – 2023

YearUnited KingdomChange World
2023 80.4% +0.6 pp 43.2%
2022 79.8% +3.0 pp 42.0%
2021 76.8% +7.3 pp 41.1%
2020 69.4% +3.9 pp 39.7%
2019 65.5% +4.4 pp 38.7%
2018 61.1% +1.5 pp 37.9%
2017 59.6% +1.5 pp 37.5%
2016 58.1% +1.6 pp 37.1%
2015 56.4% −0.1 pp 36.6%
2014 56.5% −0.3 pp 35.6%
2013 56.8% −2.4 pp 33.1%
2012 59.2% −0.2 pp 32.3%
2011 59.3% −0.5 pp 31.1%
2010 59.8% +0.7 pp 29.6%
2009 59.1% +1.7 pp 28.3%
2008 57.4% −1.4 pp 27.4%
2007 58.8% −0.3 pp 26.3%
2006 59.2% −0.1 pp 25.7%
2005 59.3% −0.2 pp 24.3%
2004 59.5% −2.0 pp 23.6%
2003 61.5% +0.3 pp 22.8%
2002 61.1% +3.6 pp 21.6%
2001 57.5% +0.1 pp 20.4%
2000 57.4% 19.5%

Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 2000 – 2023

Ranking · Countries

2023 · Place 1 is the highest value.

#TerritoryUniversity enrolment
23 Algeria 55.5%
3 Argentina 107.8%
31 Bangladesh 24.2%
13 Bulgaria 79.9%
17 Canada 76.3%
7 Chile 104.7%
19 China 74.6%
32 Congo - Brazzaville 10.4%
22 Czechia 66.7%
21 Ecuador 67.9%
29 Egypt 37.9%
2 Finland 108.1%
20 France 70.5%
14 Germany 78.6%
1 Greece 165.1%
6 Hong Kong SAR China 105.5%
30 India 34.2%
27 Indonesia 44.9%
18 Italy 75.9%
25 Lebanon 54.4%
15 Lithuania 77.0%
26 Mexico 47.5%
11 Netherlands 86.6%
8 Norway 95.1%
28 Philippines 44.2%
16 Poland 76.9%
24 Romania 55.2%
10 Russia 93.7%
4 South Korea 106.7%
9 Spain 93.7%
5 Türkiye 105.9%
12 United Kingdom 80.4%

Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 2023

What it means

How many young people study at universities and colleges.

How it is calculated

Students in tertiary education divided by the population of the five-year age group after secondary school (gross ratio, can exceed 100%).