PhD Percentage by Country / Number of Doctorate Degrees per Country 2024

1. Slovenia

Slovenia is the highest-ranking country in the number of PhD degrees earned by adults between the ages of 25 and 64. An impressive 3.6% of the entire population in Slovenia has a PhD. The distribution between PhD adults by gender in Slovenia finds more female doctorates than male PhD earners. About 4.5% of adult females have a PhD, compared to about 3% of adult males in Slovenia.

2. Switzerland

Switzerland has the second-highest rate of PhDs globally, with nearly 3% of the adult population holding this advanced degree. In Switzerland, men are more likely to hold a PhD, representing 4% of the total male population, compared to about 2.5% for female doctorates.

3. Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, 2% of the total population holds a PhD. There are several countries nearly tied for 2% of the population with PhDs, and almost all of the highly educated countries are in Europe. In Luxembourg, 2.5% of male population have PhD degrees, compared to 2% of females.

4. United States

The United States is not far behind these European countries when it comes to having a highly educated population. About 1.8% of the U.S. population holds a PhD. Men are about as likely as women to have a PhD in the United States.

5. Sweden

Coming in fifth, Sweden is home to 1.6% of its total population as doctorate degree holders. In this country, males and females are just about equal when it comes to this advanced degree. Around 2.5% of males have a PhD, while 2.2% of females hold a PhD in Sweden.

6. Germany

Another European country on our list of the most PhDs, Germany has about 1.4% of its population with a doctorate degree. This country sees a more significant discrepancy between males and females when it comes to higher education. About 1.75% of males are awarded PhDs, while only about 1% of females earn this degree in Germany.

7. The United Kingdom

Seventh on our list of highly educated countries with the most PhDs, the United Kingdom has about 1.3% of its population holding a doctorate. In the United Kingdom, males and females are pretty close to equal in higher education. Males account for more PhD degrees, with about 2.5%, while females are close behind with nearly 2.3% holding PhDs.

8. Australia

Breaking up the stranglehold at the top of our list between Europe and the United States, Australia makes the list by tying with the UK for the most PhD holding citizens per capita. In Australia, as in the UK, 1.3% of the population holds a doctorate degree. Males and females are awarded PhDs at almost identical rates, with males earning a PhD just slightly more frequently. Males account for 1.1% of the population earning PhDs in the country, while females account for 1.0%.