Netherlands: School enrollment, tertiary (% gross)

Key figures

Over five years it is up 2.94 percentage points from 83.65% in 2018. Since 2001 it is up 33.61 percentage points from 52.98% in 2001. The World Bank has no value for 4 of the years in between; the chart leaves those gaps open rather than joining across them.

What the numbers say

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 11.81 percentage points in 2011 and the biggest yearly fall was 0.31 percentage points in 2016. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2023, Netherlands had the 5th highest value of the 38 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Netherlands in the 2023 ranking

• Argentina — 2nd of 38: 107.82%
• Türkiye — 3rd of 38: 105.89%
• Singapore — 4th of 38: 97.29%
• Belgium — 6th of 38: 82.15%
• Croatia — 7th of 38: 81.18%
• Malta — 8th of 38: 80.53%

What this measures

Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Tertiary education, whether or not to an advanced research qualification, normally requires, as a minimum condition of admission, the successful completion of education at the secondary level.

Limitations: Enrollment indicators are based on annual school surveys, but do not necessarily reflect actual attendance or dropout rates during the year. Also, the length of education differs across countries and can influence enrollment rates, although the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) tries to minimize the difference. For example, a shorter duration for primary education tends to increase the rate; a longer one to decrease it (in part because older children are more at risk of dropping out). Moreover, age at enrollment may be inaccurately estimated or misstated, especially in communities where registration of births is not strictly enforced.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 19 values

School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) in nearby economies

• Albania — 84.15% (2024)
• Andorra — 67.68% (2024)
• Armenia — 52.77% (2024)
• Austria — 92.61% (2024)
• Azerbaijan — 41.34% (2024)
• Belarus — 70.11% (2024)
• Belgium — 82.15% (2023)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — 45.5% (2023)
• Bulgaria — 69.55% (2024)
• Croatia — 81.18% (2023)
• Cyprus

More education data for Netherlands

• Primary school starting age (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Lower secondary school starting age (years) — 12 (2025)
• Secondary education, duration (years) — 6 (2025)
• Primary education, pupils — 1.14 million (2023)
• Secondary education, pupils — 1.61 million (2023)
• Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP) — 5.18% (2022)
• School enrollment, primary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1 (2020)
• School enrollment, primary and secondary (gross), gender parity index (GPI) — 1.01 (2020)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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• Real change or random noise? A plain guide to reading your numbers — 2 min read

Questions people ask

What is Netherlands's school enrollment, tertiary (% gross)?

86.59% in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2001?

It is up 33.61 percentage points from 52.98% in 2001. The highest value was 89.39% in 2021 and the lowest 52.98% in 2001.

How does Netherlands rank?

5th highest of 38 economies with data for 2023.

Where does this data come from?

The World Bank's World Development Indicators, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API..

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SE.TER.ENRR, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), uri: https://databrowser.uis.unesco.org/resources, note: The data are obtained through the UIS API. Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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