Completion of Upper Secondary Education by Country
What Is Completion of Upper Secondary Education?
Completion of Upper Secondary Education measures the percentage of the population aged 25 and older that has at least finished upper secondary school (equivalent to high school). It indicates how many adults hold a diploma or certificate beyond lower secondary education. This cumulative percentage reflects the share of the adult population with upper secondary credentials.
Why Completion of Upper Secondary Education Matters to a Country’s Progress
- Signals workforce readiness, since individuals with upper secondary diplomas are more likely to have the basic skills employers need.
- Correlates with economic growth, as higher educational attainment often boosts productivity and innovation.
- Reflects social equity, because broader access to upper secondary completion can reduce income disparities and poverty risks.
Implications for Policy & Society
- Low completion rates often prompt governments to invest in teacher training, school infrastructure, and financial aid to keep students in school.
- Higher completion rates support a more skilled labor force, reducing unemployment and enabling higher-value job creation.
- Persistent regional or gender gaps in completion highlight the need for targeted programs to ensure equal educational opportunities.
- Monitoring annual changes helps evaluate interventions like vocational pathways, curriculum reforms, and retention policies to improve completion.
How to Read the Rankings
- A higher completion rate indicates a larger share of adults (aged 25+) who have at least completed upper secondary school.
- “Most Recent Year” shows the latest percentage; “Change” shows the difference from the prior year’s rate.
- Data gaps or reporting lags may cause apparent fluctuations, so compare multi-year trends for accuracy.
Ranking Highlights
- Myanmar tops the progress rankings in Educational Attainment (Upper Secondary), recording an increase from 22.76 to 61.79. Nicaragua follows with a gain from 26.75 to 52.35, while Namibia rounds out the top three, rising from 7.76 to 33.03.
- Across all 164 countries, the average year-over-year change was +0.29 percentage points with a median change of +0.66 percentage points.
- Overall, 106 countries improved in this area while 58 worsened. Click on a country to open the full country scorecard and see how it performs across a range of key indicators.
| Rank | Country | Most Recent Year | Previous Year | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Myanmar | 61.79% (2020) | 22.76% (2019) | +39.03 pp |
| 2 |  Nicaragua | 52.35% (2021) | 26.75% (2014) | +25.60 pp |
| 3 |  Namibia | 33.03% (2016) | 7.76% (2014) | +25.26 pp |
| 4 |  Guinea | 32.50% (2019) | 7.39% (2018) | +25.11 pp |
| 5 |  Uganda | 38.76% (2021) | 14.24% (2019) | +24.52 pp |
| 6 |  Tunisia | 43.94% (2023) | 19.44% (2022) | +24.50 pp |
| 7 |  Nigeria | 65.67% (2022) | 43.93% (2021) | +21.74 pp |
| 8 |  Pakistan | 26.79% (2021) | 11.57% (2019) | +15.22 pp |
| 9 |  Oman | 63.50% (2022) | 49.06% (2021) | +14.45 pp |
| 10 |  Andorra | 61.22% (2022) | 47.35% (2016) | +13.87 pp |
| 11 |  Maldives | 28.75% (2019) | 16.10% (2017) | +12.65 pp |
| 12 |  Papua New Guinea | 19.61% (2022) | 9.05% (2018) | +10.55 pp |
| 13 |  Laos | 23.99% (2022) | 14.64% (2017) | +9.35 pp |
| 14 |  Trinidad and Tobago | 63.40% (2022) | 54.06% (2021) | +9.34 pp |
| 15 |  Gambia | 29.00% (2023) | 20.26% (2020) | +8.74 pp |
| 16 |  Peru | 64.49% (2023) | 56.45% (2022) | +8.04 pp |
| 17 |  Ghana | 22.94% (2022) | 15.60% (2017) | +7.34 pp |
| 18 |  Ethiopia | 11.81% (2021) | 4.53% (2019) | +7.29 pp |
| 19 |  Yemen | 25.61% (2023) | 18.60% (2014) | +7.01 pp |
| 20 |  Brazil | 60.11% (2023) | 54.01% (2022) | +6.10 pp |
| 21 |  Belize | 43.29% (2020) | 37.47% (2019) | +5.82 pp |
| 22 |  Tuvalu | 38.94% (2022) | 33.13% (2019) | +5.82 pp |
| 23 |  Bahamas | 90.90% (2023) | 85.86% (2019) | +5.04 pp |
| 24 |  Tonga | 68.78% (2021) | 63.87% (2018) | +4.91 pp |
| 25 |  Guyana | 35.23% (2019) | 30.83% (2018) | +4.40 pp |
| 26 |  Samoa | 43.90% (2022) | 39.56% (2019) | +4.34 pp |
| 27 |  Mali | 9.66% (2022) | 5.41% (2020) | +4.25 pp |
| 28 |  Togo | 16.11% (2022) | 11.87% (2019) | +4.24 pp |
| 29 |  Benin | 10.69% (2022) | 6.47% (2021) | +4.23 pp |
| 30 |  United States | 95.29% (2023) | 91.19% (2022) | +4.10 pp |
| 31 |  Turkmenistan | 32.99% (2019) | 29.01% (2015) | +3.98 pp |
| 32 |  Comoros | 22.79% (2022) | 18.92% (2021) | +3.87 pp |
| 33 |  Norway | 79.07% (2022) | 75.26% (2021) | +3.81 pp |
| 34 |  Mongolia | 82.91% (2023) | 79.15% (2022) | +3.76 pp |
| 35 |  France | 78.04% (2023) | 74.41% (2022) | +3.63 pp |
| 36 |  Tanzania | 6.54% (2022) | 3.03% (2020) | +3.51 pp |
| 37 |  Honduras | 19.20% (2023) | 15.78% (2022) | +3.42 pp |
| 38 |  Senegal | 10.72% (2022) | 7.41% (2019) | +3.31 pp |
| 39 |  Paraguay | 45.61% (2022) | 42.47% (2021) | +3.14 pp |
| 40 |  Afghanistan | 12.60% (2022) | 9.46% (2021) | +3.14 pp |
| 41 |  Mexico | 40.86% (2023) | 37.90% (2022) | +2.96 pp |
| 42 |  Egypt | 54.31% (2022) | 51.79% (2021) | +2.53 pp |
| 43 |  Qatar | 51.43% (2022) | 49.13% (2021) | +2.30 pp |
| 44 |  Burundi | 5.60% (2017) | 3.33% (2014) | +2.27 pp |
| 45 |  Guinea-Bissau | 15.99% (2022) | 13.80% (2019) | +2.19 pp |
| 46 |  Zambia | 38.45% (2022) | 36.32% (2021) | +2.13 pp |
| 47 |  Grenada | 49.80% (2020) | 47.68% (2019) | +2.12 pp |
| 48 |  India | 33.70% (2023) | 31.61% (2022) | +2.09 pp |
| 49 |  Malta | 55.24% (2022) | 53.19% (2021) | +2.05 pp |
| 50 |  Philippines | 34.46% (2022) | 32.43% (2021) | +2.03 pp |
| 51 |  Cambodia | 11.53% (2021) | 9.61% (2020) | +1.92 pp |
| 52 |  Zimbabwe | 65.94% (2022) | 64.13% (2021) | +1.81 pp |
| 53 |  Türkiye | 41.06% (2023) | 39.26% (2022) | +1.80 pp |
| 54 |  Chile | 68.43% (2023) | 66.63% (2022) | +1.80 pp |
| 55 |  Greece | 68.63% (2022) | 67.12% (2021) | +1.52 pp |
| 56 |  South Africa | 44.17% (2023) | 42.66% (2022) | +1.51 pp |
| 57 |  North Macedonia | 71.95% (2023) | 70.52% (2022) | +1.44 pp |
| 58 |  Albania | 53.27% (2022) | 51.84% (2021) | +1.42 pp |
| 59 |  Bolivia | 52.12% (2023) | 50.71% (2022) | +1.42 pp |
| 60 |  Hungary | 82.64% (2022) | 81.41% (2021) | +1.23 pp |
| 61 |  Cyprus | 77.66% (2022) | 76.44% (2021) | +1.21 pp |
| 62 |  Angola | 22.05% (2021) | 20.84% (2019) | +1.21 pp |
| 63 |  Rwanda | 14.63% (2023) | 13.46% (2022) | +1.17 pp |
| 64 |  Serbia | 76.10% (2023) | 74.94% (2022) | +1.16 pp |
| 65 |  San Marino | 58.59% (2022) | 57.45% (2020) | +1.14 pp |
| 66 |  New Zealand | 75.11% (2020) | 73.99% (2019) | +1.12 pp |
| 67 |  South Korea | 80.86% (2023) | 79.77% (2022) | +1.09 pp |
| 68 |  United Kingdom | 79.41% (2023) | 78.34% (2022) | +1.07 pp |
| 69 |  Botswana | 45.96% (2023) | 44.88% (2022) | +1.07 pp |
| 70 |  Colombia | 57.02% (2023) | 56.08% (2022) | +0.94 pp |
| 71 |  Ukraine | 72.48% (2021) | 71.54% (2020) | +0.94 pp |
| 72 |  United Arab Emirates | 74.39% (2022) | 73.48% (2021) | +0.91 pp |
| 73 |  Bulgaria | 79.32% (2022) | 78.43% (2021) | +0.89 pp |
| 74 |  Lithuania | 92.00% (2022) | 91.11% (2021) | +0.88 pp |
| 75 |  Croatia | 79.99% (2022) | 79.11% (2021) | +0.88 pp |
| 76 |  Belgium | 75.13% (2022) | 74.25% (2021) | +0.88 pp |
| 77 |  Sweden | 83.98% (2022) | 83.11% (2021) | +0.87 pp |
| 78 |  Romania | 73.03% (2022) | 72.17% (2021) | +0.86 pp |
| 79 |  Armenia | 95.57% (2022) | 94.72% (2021) | +0.85 pp |
| 80 |  Uzbekistan | 96.84% (2022) | 96.04% (2021) | +0.80 pp |
| 81 |  Russia | 92.70% (2023) | 92.00% (2022) | +0.70 pp |
| 82 |  Moldova | 75.43% (2023) | 74.75% (2022) | +0.67 pp |
| 83 |  Nepal | 12.85% (2021) | 12.20% (2019) | +0.65 pp |
| 84 |  Saint Lucia | 20.39% (2022) | 19.75% (2021) | +0.65 pp |
| 85 |  Estonia | 86.47% (2022) | 85.84% (2021) | +0.63 pp |
| 86 |  Iran | 44.96% (2022) | 44.34% (2021) | +0.62 pp |
| 87 |  Vanuatu | 19.18% (2020) | 18.56% (2019) | +0.61 pp |
| 88 |  Finland | 81.34% (2022) | 80.74% (2021) | +0.61 pp |
| 89 |  Kuwait | 31.20% (2018) | 30.60% (2017) | +0.60 pp |
| 90 |  Luxembourg | 77.41% (2022) | 76.92% (2021) | +0.49 pp |
| 91 |  Austria | 82.56% (2023) | 82.09% (2022) | +0.47 pp |
| 92 |  North Korea | 79.77% (2022) | 79.34% (2021) | +0.43 pp |
| 93 |  Ireland | 79.52% (2022) | 79.09% (2021) | +0.43 pp |
| 94 |  Canada | 89.57% (2023) | 89.17% (2022) | +0.40 pp |
| 95 |  Sri Lanka | 64.07% (2022) | 63.68% (2021) | +0.39 pp |
| 96 |  Slovakia | 90.18% (2022) | 89.81% (2021) | +0.37 pp |
| 97 |  Liberia | 26.16% (2019) | 25.79% (2017) | +0.36 pp |
| 98 |  Switzerland | 84.28% (2023) | 83.92% (2022) | +0.36 pp |
| 99 |  Italy | 52.80% (2022) | 52.44% (2021) | +0.36 pp |
| 100 |  Mauritius | 50.67% (2022) | 50.31% (2021) | +0.35 pp |
| 101 |  Niger | 3.16% (2022) | 2.81% (2019) | +0.35 pp |
| 102 |  Georgia | 93.20% (2023) | 92.86% (2022) | +0.34 pp |
| 103 |  Netherlands | 74.05% (2022) | 73.85% (2021) | +0.20 pp |
| 104 |  Israel | 85.32% (2022) | 85.19% (2021) | +0.13 pp |
| 105 |  Saudi Arabia | 64.77% (2023) | 64.66% (2022) | +0.12 pp |
| 106 |  Thailand | 39.44% (2023) | 39.33% (2022) | +0.11 pp |
| 107 |  Slovenia | 86.00% (2022) | 86.00% (2021) | 0.00 pp |
| 108 |  Belarus | 97.89% (2023) | 97.90% (2022) | 0.00 pp |
| 109 |  Ecuador | 45.38% (2022) | 45.43% (2021) | -0.05 pp |
| 110 |  Burkina Faso | 5.26% (2023) | 5.33% (2022) | -0.07 pp |
| 111 |  Spain | 55.25% (2023) | 55.35% (2022) | -0.10 pp |
| 112 |  Germany | 80.80% (2022) | 80.94% (2021) | -0.14 pp |
| 113 |  Panama | 51.13% (2023) | 51.29% (2022) | -0.16 pp |
| 114 |  Bahrain | 66.73% (2023) | 66.95% (2022) | -0.22 pp |
| 115 |  Czech Republic | 91.17% (2022) | 91.43% (2021) | -0.27 pp |
| 116 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 72.05% (2023) | 72.32% (2022) | -0.27 pp |
| 117 |  Denmark | 76.80% (2022) | 77.08% (2021) | -0.27 pp |
| 118 |  Iraq | 22.93% (2021) | 23.38% (2018) | -0.45 pp |
| 119 |  Indonesia | 39.11% (2023) | 39.57% (2022) | -0.46 pp |
| 120 |  Guatemala | 17.56% (2023) | 18.08% (2022) | -0.51 pp |
| 121 |  Iceland | 79.15% (2022) | 79.73% (2021) | -0.58 pp |
| 122 |  Seychelles | 84.31% (2020) | 84.91% (2019) | -0.60 pp |
| 123 |  Portugal | 47.41% (2023) | 48.12% (2022) | -0.71 pp |
| 124 |  Malawi | 12.15% (2020) | 12.97% (2017) | -0.82 pp |
| 125 |  Madagascar | 8.87% (2021) | 9.71% (2018) | -0.84 pp |
| 126 |  Costa Rica | 39.91% (2023) | 40.98% (2022) | -1.07 pp |
| 127 |  Uruguay | 33.72% (2023) | 34.79% (2022) | -1.07 pp |
| 128 |  Azerbaijan | 91.81% (2023) | 92.90% (2022) | -1.09 pp |
| 129 |  Barbados | 32.02% (2019) | 33.29% (2018) | -1.27 pp |
| 130 |  Tajikistan | 80.67% (2017) | 82.34% (2016) | -1.67 pp |
| 131 |  Brunei | 68.77% (2022) | 70.84% (2021) | -2.07 pp |
| 132 |  El Salvador | 33.81% (2023) | 35.95% (2022) | -2.14 pp |
| 133 |  Mozambique | 11.64% (2022) | 14.04% (2020) | -2.40 pp |
| 134 |  Australia | 78.96% (2023) | 81.67% (2022) | -2.71 pp |
| 135 |  Côte d'Ivoire | 14.08% (2022) | 16.81% (2021) | -2.73 pp |
| 136 |  Sierra Leone | 12.09% (2019) | 14.83% (2018) | -2.73 pp |
| 137 |  Vietnam | 39.10% (2023) | 41.92% (2022) | -2.83 pp |
| 138 |  Chad | 4.56% (2019) | 7.48% (2018) | -2.93 pp |
| 139 |  Kazakhstan | 94.32% (2019) | 97.40% (2018) | -3.09 pp |
| 140 |  Palau | 87.56% (2020) | 90.79% (2014) | -3.23 pp |
| 141 |  Venezuela | 58.07% (2017) | 61.92% (2016) | -3.85 pp |
| 142 |  Bangladesh | 29.31% (2022) | 33.66% (2021) | -4.35 pp |
| 143 |  Mauritania | 5.57% (2019) | 10.14% (2017) | -4.57 pp |
| 144 |  Kenya | 37.58% (2022) | 43.91% (2021) | -6.33 pp |
| 145 |  Malaysia | 69.80% (2022) | 76.29% (2021) | -6.49 pp |
| 146 |  Cameroon | 14.26% (2018) | 21.17% (2014) | -6.91 pp |
| 147 |  Suriname | 20.24% (2018) | 27.62% (2016) | -7.38 pp |
| 148 |  Jamaica | 56.37% (2022) | 63.89% (2021) | -7.53 pp |
| 149 |  Jordan | 42.56% (2023) | 50.24% (2020) | -7.68 pp |
| 150 |  Dominican Republic | 36.03% (2023) | 43.78% (2022) | -7.75 pp |
| 151 |  Lebanon | 42.44% (2019) | 52.70% (2018) | -10.26 pp |
| 152 |  Lesotho | 6.47% (2019) | 20.47% (2018) | -13.99 pp |
| 153 |  Singapore | 63.37% (2023) | 79.04% (2022) | -15.67 pp |
| 154 |  Marshall Islands | 48.39% (2021) | 64.56% (2019) | -16.16 pp |
| 155 |  Eswatini | 19.38% (2023) | 35.81% (2022) | -16.43 pp |
| 156 |  Democratic Republic of the Congo | 7.74% (2020) | 25.22% (2018) | -17.48 pp |
| 157 |  Fiji | 25.93% (2021) | 44.56% (2017) | -18.63 pp |
| 158 |  Latvia | 69.23% (2023) | 88.77% (2022) | -19.54 pp |
| 159 |  Poland | 67.00% (2023) | 88.20% (2022) | -21.20 pp |
| 160 |  Montenegro | 59.26% (2021) | 81.92% (2020) | -22.66 pp |
| 161 |  Kyrgyzstan | 65.32% (2018) | 91.52% (2017) | -26.20 pp |
| 162 |  Timor-Leste | 14.93% (2022) | 41.45% (2021) | -26.52 pp |
| 163 |  Kiribati | 45.88% (2020) | 74.02% (2019) | -28.14 pp |
| 164 |  Nauru | 31.47% (2021) | 97.11% (2013) | -65.64 pp |
Source: World Bank. Only countries with complete data (both points within the past 10 years) are shown.