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Level of education attained by the population aged 15 and over. By sex and level of education

Level of education attained by the population aged 15 and over. By sex and level of education Catalonia. 2021
Value % over total Variation (%)
Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women Total
Total 3,226,128 3,380,758 6,606,886 100.0 100.0 100.0 -0.1 -0.3 -0.2
Primary education or lower 420,456 573,396 993,852 13.0 17.0 15.0 3.2 -0.2 1.2
First stage of secondary education and similar 969,436 862,126 1,831,562 30.0 25.5 27.7 -2.1 -2.0 -2.0
Second stage of secondary education and similar 795,405 746,907 1,542,312 24.7 22.1 23.3 -1.1 -1.0 -1.1
Higher education 1,040,831 1,198,329 2,239,160 32.3 35.4 33.9 1.2 1.4 1.3
Units: Persons.
Source: Idescat, based on the INE Population and Housing Census.

Last update: July 26, 2023.

Methodological note

Educational level refers to the highest level of study attained by an individual, regardless of whether they are currently studying within the date of reference. An individual is considered to have reached a certain level of instruction when he or she has finished and passed all of the years required for this level and thus has the necessary conditions for obtaining the corresponding qualification or diploma.

Level of education attained

Results are offered by the levels of education in the CCED-2020 (A), adapted and aggregated in 4 categories:

  • Primary education and lower (categories 01 to 03 of the CCED-2020 A, adapted)
  • Lower secondary education and similar (category 04 of the CCED-2020 A adapted)
  • Upper secondary education and similar (categories 05 to 07 of the CCED-2020 A, adapted)
  • Tertiary education (categories 08 to 12 of the CCED-2020 A, adapted)

The source of this information for the years 2001, 2011 and 2021 is the Population and Housing Census, which is carried out by the INE and, with annual frequency from 2021, provides the main demographic and social characteristics of the population.

For the years 2018 to 2020, the source of the information is the Education Attainment Statistics, carried out by Idescat.

You can get more information about these statistics in the methodology.