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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
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Latest value · 2023
80.4%
+0.6 pp
since 2022
Countries · 2023
12 of 32
Place 1 is the highest value.
since 2013
+23.6 pp
vs World
+36.8 pp
World: 43.6% · 2024
University enrolment, 2000 – 2023 percent · United Kingdom · World
+23.6 pp since 2013
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
2000
2010
2015
2024
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
| Year | United Kingdom | Change | 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
2024 · Place 1 is the highest value.
| # | Territory | University enrolment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hong Kong SAR China | 120.1% | |
| 2 | South Korea | 111.9% | |
| 3 | Finland | 110.3% | |
| 4 | Chile | 110.2% | |
| 5 | Norway | 95.5% | |
| 6 | Spain | 93.8% | |
| 7 | Saudi Arabia | 83.9% | |
| 8 | Poland | 80.9% | |
| 9 | China | 76.9% | |
| 10 | Germany | 76.7% | |
| 11 | Lithuania | 75.6% | |
| 12 | France | 71.5% | |
| 13 | Brazil | 69.7% | |
| 14 | Bulgaria | 69.5% | |
| 15 | Russia | 60.4% | |
| 16 | Algeria | 54.4% | |
| 17 | Mexico | 48.2% | |
| 18 | Philippines | 47.4% | |
| 19 | Egypt | 37.6% | |
| 20 | India | 34.4% | |
| 21 | Bangladesh | 23.7% | |
| 22 | Honduras | 23.3% |
Source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 2024
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%).
Education & commute
United Kingdom in numbers