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University enrolment in United States

1971 – 2022 · 39 data points section.rank · Countries section.updated Oct 22, 2026

section.source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1971 – 2022

University enrolment, 1971 – 2022 percent · United States · section.levels.world
−1.3 pp section.change_since
United States section.levels.world

section.source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1971 – 2022

section.compare University enrolment · percent
United States
79.4%
section.levels.world
43.6% · 2024

section.source: World Bank — World Development Indicators

The series at a glance United States · 1971 – 2022
Latest value 79.4% · 2022
First value 46.8% · 1971
Highest 88.9% · 2015
Lowest 46.8% · 1971
Data points 39

By year

section.all_years · 1971 – 2022

YearUnited StatesChange section.levels.world
2022 79.4% −5.5 pp 42.0%
2021 84.9% −2.7 pp 41.1%
2020 87.6% −0.3 pp 39.7%
2019 87.9% −0.4 pp 38.7%
2018 88.3% +0.1 pp 37.9%
2017 88.2% −0.7 pp 37.5%
2016 88.8% −0.1 pp 37.1%
2015 88.9% +0.3 pp 36.6%
2014 88.6% −0.1 pp 35.6%
2013 88.7% +8.1 pp 33.1%
2005 80.6% +9.3 pp 24.3%
1999 71.4% +0.5 pp 18.8%
1998 70.9% −8.4 pp 18.1%
1996 79.3% −1.0 pp 16.4%
1995 80.3% +0.9 pp 16.3%
1994 79.5% +0.8 pp 15.8%
1993 78.7% +1.7 pp 15.3%
1992 77.1% +4.2 pp 14.9%
1991 72.8% +1.3 pp 13.5%
1990 71.5% +2.9 pp 13.3%
1989 68.6% +1.8 pp 13.3%
1988 66.8% +2.8 pp 13.0%
1987 64.0% +3.1 pp 13.0%
1986 61.0% +1.7 pp 12.5%
1985 59.2% +0.5 pp 13.6%
1984 58.8% +1.2 pp 13.7%
1983 57.5% +0.7 pp 12.3%
1982 56.9% +1.5 pp 12.4%
1981 55.3% +2.5 pp 12.2%
1980 52.9% +1.1 pp 11.9%
1979 51.8% −0.6 pp 11.4%
1978 52.4% +0.6 pp 11.2%
1977 51.8% −1.8 pp 10.9%
1976 53.6% +3.5 pp 10.7%
1975 50.1% +1.7 pp 11.5%
1974 48.4% +0.1 pp 11.3%
1973 48.3% +0.3 pp 9.7%
1972 48.0% +1.2 pp 10.7%
1971 46.8% 8.7%

section.source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1971 – 2022

Ranking · Countries

2024 · Place 1 is the highest value.

#TerritoryUniversity enrolment
16 Algeria 54.4%
21 Bangladesh 23.7%
13 Brazil 69.7%
14 Bulgaria 69.5%
4 Chile 110.2%
9 China 76.9%
19 Egypt 37.6%
3 Finland 110.3%
12 France 71.5%
10 Germany 76.7%
22 Honduras 23.3%
1 Hong Kong SAR China 120.1%
20 India 34.4%
11 Lithuania 75.6%
17 Mexico 48.2%
5 Norway 95.5%
18 Philippines 47.4%
8 Poland 80.9%
15 Russia 60.4%
7 Saudi Arabia 83.9%
2 South Korea 111.9%
6 Spain 93.8%

section.source: World Bank — World Development Indicators, 2024

section.what

How many young people study at universities and colleges.

section.how

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