Spain Tertiary Enrollment
School enrollment, tertiary (% gross) SE.TER.ENRR
Spain's tertiary enrollment was 96.55% in 2025, ranked 14th globally. This represents a 3.0% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 2000–2025.
Overview
Spain's tertiary enrollment stood at 96.55% in 2025, a rise of +2.82pp from 2023. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 96.55% by 2025. Spain ranked 14th globally.
Spain's tertiary enrollment rate has experienced significant growth over the past quarter century, rising from a low of 58.41% in 2000 to 96.55% in 2025. This represents a substantial increase of approximately 38.14 percentage points, placing Spain among the top 15 countries globally in terms of tertiary enrollment. A comparison with peer countries reveals that Spain's rate is slightly lower than Austria's all-time high of 97.64%, but surpasses Malta's 94.61%. The upward trajectory is indicative of Spain's expanding higher education sector, driven in part by the European Union's education policies and a growing emphasis on skills development. With 96.55% of the eligible population enrolled in tertiary education, Spain is poised to maintain its position among the leaders in this indicator. However, a decline in government funding for education or a significant shift in demographic trends could alter the trajectory of Spain's tertiary enrollment rate, potentially leading to a decrease in this indicator in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Tertiary Enrollment | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026* trend | 97.45% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 96.55% | - | - |
| 2025 | 96.55% | +2.82pp | #14 |
| 2023 | 93.73% | −0.78pp | #12 |
| 2022 | 94.51% | −0.08pp | #13 |
| 2021 | 94.59% | +3.64pp | #12 |
| 2020 | 90.95% | −0.07pp | #10 |
| 2019 | 91.02% | −1.15pp | #11 |
| 2018 | 92.17% | +0.29pp | #9 |
| 2017 | 91.89% | +2.08pp | #7 |
| 2016 | 89.81% | +1.23pp | #8 |
| 2015 | 88.57% | +0.57pp | #10 |
| 2014 | 88.00% | +2.79pp | #8 |
| 2013 | 85.21% | +2.32pp | #8 |
| 2012 | 82.89% | +2.17pp | #9 |
| 2011 | 80.72% | +4.34pp | #10 |
| 2010 | 76.38% | +4.95pp | #13 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Spain matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2023. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw tertiary enrollment improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Spain's tertiary enrollment was 96.55% in 2025. Ranked 14th globally. This represents a 3.0% increase from the previous year.
Spain's tertiary enrollment peaked at 96.55% in 2025.
The lowest tertiary enrollment in Spain was 58.41% in 2000.
Spain ranks 14th globally in tertiary enrollment as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SE.TER.ENRR. Data sourced from World Bank.
Spain's tertiary enrollment is projected to reach 96.55% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The tertiary enrollment of Spain in 2025 was 96.55%. This ranks 14th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_spain_tertiary-enrollment,
title = {Spain Tertiary Enrollment},
url = {https://historysaid.com/spain/tertiary-enrollment/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}