To main content

Educational attainment of the population in 2020

Highest level of education in the Stockholm area

Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2021-06-22 9.30

Just under three in ten people in the population aged 25–64 years are highly educated. These people often live in metropolitan municipalities and county seats. The majority of municipalities with the highest level of education are located in Stockholm County. In nine municipalities in Stockholm County, one-third or more of the population have at least a three-year post-secondary education. Other municipalities with high levels of education are Lund, Lomma, Uppsala, Umeå, Mölndal and Linköping.

The high level of education in the Stockholm area is largely explained by the abundant presence of workplaces in industries with a large proportion of highly educated employees. This area also offers a wide range of higher education and has a relatively young population with a higher formal level of education than the older population.

Municipalities with the largest proportion and number of inhabitants with at least three years of post-secondary education in 2020. Aged 25–64
MunicipalityShare of inhabitants
with at least a
three year post-
secondary education
MunicipalityNumber of inhabitants
with at least a
three year post-
secondary education
Danderyd 59% Stockholm 243 800
Lund 54% Göteborg 121 800
Lomma 51% Malmö 67 300
Lidingö 48% Uppsala 51 300
Solna 48% Lund 33 500
Täby 46% Linköping 32 500
Stockholm 43% Umeå 27 100
Uppsala 42% Solna 24 000
Sollentuna 42% Örebro 23 900
Nacka 41% Västerås 23 400

In most counties, the proportion of highly educated persons is significantly higher in the county seat and in metropolitan areas than in other municipalities in the county. It is relatively common for smaller municipalities to have a larger proportion of inhabitants with compulsory education than post-secondary education three years or longer as the highest level of educational attainment.

A presentation of all municipalities’ educational levels is available on Statistics Sweden’s website and in the Statistical Database:

Educational attainment of the population

Just over 1.5 million highly educated persons in Sweden

In the population aged 25–64 years, 44 percent have some form of post-secondary education. Just under three in ten, that is, 29 percent, have at least a three-year post-secondary education, which corresponds to 1 530 000 people. In recent years, the proportion of highly educated persons has increased by about half a percentage point per year.

Level of education, by sex, 2020. Aged 25–64

Graph: Level of education, by sex, 2020. Aged 25–64

Young women have highest level of education

The level of education is higher among women than among men. More women than men have a post-secondary education and fewer have only a compulsory education. However, there are still more men than women with a postgraduate degree. Among those with a postgraduate degree aged 25–64 years, 44 percent are women.

Among women in the age groups 25–34 years and 35–44 years, more than half have a post-secondary education. The proportion of highly educated women is 37 percent in the age group 25–34 years and 44 percent in the age group 35–44 years. The corresponding proportions among men were 23 percent and 29 percent, respectively. This difference is due to the fact that more women continue to higher education. Currently, women account for just over 60 percent of persons enrolled in Swedish universities and university colleges.

Statistical Database

More information is available in the Statistical Database

Feel free to use the facts from this statistical news but remember to state Source: Statistics Sweden.

Statistical agency and producer

Statistics Sweden, Education and Jobs

Address
701 89 Örebro
E-mail
ua@scb.se

Enquiries

Tomas Westling

Telephone
+46 10 479 61 78
E-mail
tomas.westling@scb.se