By the end of 2019, altogether 3,435,387 persons, or 74% of the Finnish population aged 15 or over had completed a post-comprehensive level qualification.
The share of persons with an educational qualification grew by 1 percentage point from the year before. 32% of the population had completed a tertiary level qualification.
According to Statistics Finland’s Education Statistics, In 2019, the highest educated persons were those aged 40 to 44, of whom 88% had completed a qualification and 47% a tertiary level qualification.
In all, 87% of persons aged 45 to 49 had completed a qualification and 46% a tertiary level qualification.
The highest educated population lived in Uusimaa, where the population had completed an average of 4.3 years of post-comprehensive level education. The second highest educated population lived in Pirkanmaa, where they have completed on average 3.9 years.
More women with higher education
36% of all women aged over 15 had completed tertiary level qualifications and 25% of women had basic level qualifications. Overall, 28% of men had completed tertiary level qualifications and 28% were without a post-comprehensive level qualification.
The differences between genders were even bigger in younger age groups. In women aged 30 to 34, tertiary level qualifications had been attained by 48% and 12% were without a post-comprehensive level qualification, while for men the corresponding shares were 33% and 18%.
With only basic education
In 2019, there were 103,166 persons aged 20 to 29 with only basic level education, making up 15% of the age group. Among men, 18% of the age group had only basic level education and 13% among women.
The number of persons aged 20 to 29 with only basic level education was highest in Åland, where 23% of the age group had no post-comprehensive level qualification.
The share of persons with only basic level education was lowest in North Karelia, South Ostrobothnia and Central Finland, where 12% of those aged 20 to 29 had no post-comprehensive level qualification.
Persons whose qualifications attained abroad are not known are also included in those without a basic level qualification, Statistics Finland says.
