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.
Ranking Highlights
- Myanmar tops the progress rankings in Completion of Upper Secondary Education, 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.
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