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Statistics · Region
Wales: adults with higher education
2000 – 2025 · 26 data points
7 of 12 · Regions of United Kingdom
Updated 21 Oct 2026
Source: OECD Regional Database, 2000 – 2025
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Latest value · 2025
49.7%
−0.4 pp
since 2024
Regions of United Kingdom · 2025
7 of 12
Place 1 is the highest value.
since 2015
+10.9 pp
vs United Kingdom
−3.1 pp
United Kingdom: 52.8% · 2023
Adults with higher education, 2000 – 2025 percent · Wales · United Kingdom
+10.9 pp since 2015
0%
20%
40%
60%
2000
2010
2015
2025
Wales
United Kingdom
Source: OECD Regional Database, 2000 – 2025
Compared with Adults with higher education · percent
Wales
49.7%
United Kingdom
52.8% · 2023
Source: OECD Regional Database
The series at a glance Wales · 2000 – 2025
Latest value
49.7% · 2025
First value
26.4% · 2000
Highest
50.1% · 2024
Lowest
24.8% · 2001
Data points
26
By year
All years · 2000 – 2025
| Year | Wales | Change | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 49.7% | −0.4 pp | — |
| 2024 | 50.1% | +4.0 pp | — |
| 2023 | 46.1% | −0.1 pp | 52.8% |
| 2022 | 46.2% | +1.9 pp | 51.2% |
| 2021 | 44.3% | +0.9 pp | 50.1% |
| 2020 | 43.4% | +0.5 pp | 49.4% |
| 2019 | 42.9% | +3.6 pp | 44.7% |
| 2018 | 39.3% | +0.8 pp | 43.2% |
| 2017 | 38.5% | +0.1 pp | 42.7% |
| 2016 | 38.4% | −0.4 pp | 42.3% |
| 2015 | 38.8% | +1.6 pp | 41.6% |
| 2014 | 37.2% | +1.1 pp | 40.6% |
| 2013 | 36.1% | +1.7 pp | 39.6% |
| 2012 | 34.4% | +0.6 pp | 38.6% |
| 2011 | 33.8% | −0.2 pp | 36.9% |
| 2010 | 34.0% | +1.3 pp | 35.1% |
| 2009 | 32.7% | +3.0 pp | 33.4% |
| 2008 | 29.7% | +1.3 pp | 32.0% |
| 2007 | 28.4% | +1.5 pp | 32.0% |
| 2006 | 26.9% | −0.1 pp | 30.8% |
| 2005 | 27.0% | −0.4 pp | 29.8% |
| 2004 | 27.4% | +0.9 pp | 29.4% |
| 2003 | 26.5% | −1.5 pp | 28.3% |
| 2002 | 28.0% | +3.2 pp | 29.8% |
| 2001 | 24.8% | −1.6 pp | 28.7% |
| 2000 | 26.4% | 28.5% |
Source: OECD Regional Database, 2000 – 2025
Ranking · Regions of United Kingdom
2018 · Place 1 is the highest value.
| # | Territory | Adults with higher education | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greater London | 57.5% | |
| 2 | Scotland | 47.4% | |
| 3 | South East England | 46.9% | |
| 4 | South West England | 43.3% | |
| 5 | Wales | 39.3% | |
| 6 | East of England | 39.2% | |
| 7 | North West England | 38.8% | |
| 8 | Yorkshire and The Humber | 38.3% | |
| 9 | East Midlands | 37.6% | |
| 10 | Northern Ireland | 37.2% | |
| 11 | West Midlands | 36.1% | |
| 12 | North East England | 33.6% |
Source: OECD Regional Database, 2018
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
Wales in numbers