Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment was 20.0% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
20.0%
Change on year
up 7.5%
World rank
11th
of 47 countries
All-time high
29.5%
in 2014
All-time low
11.6%
in 2012
Years of data
14
2005–2018

Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2005–2018

01020302005201120182005: 18.3 Percentage2006: 17.9 Percentage2007: 12.5 Percentage2008: 13.1 Percentage2009: 16.1 Percentage2010: 14.8 Percentage2011: 13.7 Percentage2012: 11.6 Percentage2013: 12 Percentage2014: 29.5 Percentage2015: 28.4 Percentage2016: 26.1 Percentage2017: 18.6 Percentage2018: 20 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 20.0% for distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in 2018.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.5% on the previous year and up 52.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 29.5% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 11.6%, in 2012.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 11th of 47 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.

Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment level and age group in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2005 to 2018.
Year Percentage Change
2005 18.3%
2006 17.9% -2.2%
2007 12.5% -30.2%
2008 13.1% +4.8%
2009 16.1% +22.9%
2010 14.8% -8.1%
2011 13.7% -7.4%
2012 11.6% -15.3%
2013 12.0% +3.4%
2014 29.5% +145.8%
2015 28.4% -3.7%
2016 26.1% -8.1%
2017 18.6% -28.7%
2018 20.0% +7.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 15.6% 12.5% 18.3% 5
2010s 19.4% 11.6% 29.5% 9

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 8 North Macedonia 22.1% compare
  2. 9 Iceland 21.4% compare
  3. 10 European Union (EU6-1958, EU9-1973, EU10-1981, EU12-1986, EU15-1995, EU25-2004, EU27-2007, EU28-2013, EU27-2020) 21.3% compare
  4. 11 United Kingdom 20.0% compare
  5. 13 Romania 19.1% compare
  6. 14 Norway 18.9% compare

See the full ranking of 53 places →

More population data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 20.0% in 2018, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 29.5% in 2014.
What is the lowest distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 11.6% in 2012.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 11th out of 47 countries with data for 2018.
Is distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 52.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment level and age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/distribution-of-population-aged-18-and-over-by-educational-attainment-level-and-age-group/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment level and age group
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
53 places, 998 data points, 2003–2025
Last refreshed