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Statistics · Country
Adults with higher education in United States
2000 – 2024 · 23 data points
2 of 4 · Countries
Updated Oct 21, 2026
Source: OECD Regional Database, 2000 – 2024
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Overview
6 figures
People
18 figures
Economy
18 figures
Housing
6 figures
Education
10 figures
Tourism
3 figures
Climate
3 figures
Latest value · 2024
47.8%
+0.7 pp
since 2023
Countries · 2024
2 of 4
Place 1 is the highest value.
since 2014
+3.6 pp
Adults with higher education, 2000 – 2024 percent
+3.6 pp since 2014
0%
20%
40%
60%
2000
2010
2015
2024
Source: OECD Regional Database, 2000 – 2024
The series at a glance United States · 2000 – 2024
Latest value
47.8% · 2024
First value
34.5% · 2000
Highest
48.3% · 2019
Lowest
34.5% · 2000
Data points
23
By year
All years · 2000 – 2024
| Year | United States | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 47.8% | +0.7 pp |
| 2023 | 47.1% | +0.9 pp |
| 2021 | 46.2% | −2.1 pp |
| 2019 | 48.3% | +0.9 pp |
| 2018 | 47.4% | +1.0 pp |
| 2017 | 46.4% | +0.7 pp |
| 2016 | 45.7% | +1.1 pp |
| 2015 | 44.6% | +0.4 pp |
| 2014 | 44.2% | +0.3 pp |
| 2013 | 43.9% | +0.8 pp |
| 2012 | 43.1% | +0.7 pp |
| 2011 | 42.4% | +0.7 pp |
| 2010 | 41.7% | +0.5 pp |
| 2009 | 41.2% | +0.1 pp |
| 2008 | 41.1% | +0.8 pp |
| 2007 | 40.3% | +0.8 pp |
| 2006 | 39.5% | +2.1 pp |
| 2005 | 37.4% | +0.3 pp |
| 2004 | 37.1% | +0.7 pp |
| 2003 | 36.4% | +0.8 pp |
| 2002 | 35.6% | +0.5 pp |
| 2001 | 35.1% | +0.6 pp |
| 2000 | 34.5% |
Source: OECD Regional Database, 2000 – 2024
Ranking · Countries
2024 · Place 1 is the highest value.
| # | Territory | Adults with higher education | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canada | 65.0% | |
| 2 | United States | 47.8% | |
| 3 | Colombia | 29.4% | |
| 4 | Mexico | 22.0% |
Source: OECD Regional Database, 2024
What it means
The share of adults with a university or other tertiary degree.
How it is calculated
People aged 25–64 whose highest completed education is tertiary (ISCED 5–8) divided by all people of that age.
Education & commute
United States in numbers