> Source: https://coursetojob.com/graduate-salaries/ — updated 2026-09-26 · language: en > Markdown version of this CourseToJob page for AI agents. The HTML page is canonical. Data licence CC BY 4.0: cite the page URL and the original statistical source. World data table # Graduate salaries around the world Updated September 26, 2026 133 countries · data 2015–2025 [How we use data](https://coursetojob.com/methodology/) Quick answer In the typical country we cover, employees with tertiary education earn a median of +53% compared with all employees (128 countries). Their median unemployment rate is 4.6%, against 4.3% for all adults. Sources: ILOSTAT (ILO) - **+53%** median degree premium across countries - **4.6%** median unemployment for tertiary-educated adults (all adults: 4.3%) - **58** countries where tertiary-educated adults have higher unemployment than average ## Key findings - Highest degree premium: Kenya (+617%), Rwanda (+559%), Burundi (+550%), Namibia (+507%), and Niger (+346%). - Lowest degree premium: Myanmar (-16%), Sudan (-3%), Pakistan (0%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (0%), and Armenia (0%). - Tertiary-educated adults have lower unemployment than average in 72 countries and higher unemployment in 58. ## All countries [CSV](https://coursetojob.com/data/graduate-outcomes-by-country.csv) [JSON](https://coursetojob.com/data/graduate-outcomes-by-country.json) | | | | | | | Year | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Kenya](https://coursetojob.com/countries/kenya/) | +617% | 997 | 139 | 6.6% | 4.2% | 2019/2021! | | [Rwanda](https://coursetojob.com/countries/rwanda/) | +559% | 639 | 97 | 8.8% | 4.3% | 2024/2025 | | [Burundi](https://coursetojob.com/countries/burundi/) | +550% | 442 | 68 | 8.8% | 0.8% | 2020! | | [Namibia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/namibia/) | +507% | 2,369 | 390 | 10.4% | 16.6% | 2018! | | [Niger](https://coursetojob.com/countries/niger/) | +346% | 1,097 | 246 | 4.7% | 6.1% | 2022/2017! | | [Eswatini](https://coursetojob.com/countries/eswatini/) | +303% | 1,627 | 404 | 21.6% | 30.5% | 2021/2023! | | [Botswana](https://coursetojob.com/countries/botswana/) | +300% | 1,882 | 471 | 18.0% | 20.8% | 2024 | | [Mozambique](https://coursetojob.com/countries/mozambique/) | +296% | 1,232 | 311 | 7.5% | 4.7% | 2022 | | [Burkina Faso](https://coursetojob.com/countries/burkina-faso/) | +250% | 906 | 259 | 14.6% | 5.1% | 2025 | | [Tanzania](https://coursetojob.com/countries/tanzania/) | +219% | 1,663 | 522 | 4.3% | 1.9% | 2025 | | [Senegal](https://coursetojob.com/countries/senegal/) | +212% | 1,090 | 349 | 14.2% | 4.4% | 2024/2025 | | [Zambia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/zambia/) | +200% | 991 | 330 | 7.7% | 4.2% | 2024 | | [Angola](https://coursetojob.com/countries/angola/) | +200% | 578 | 193 | 20.4% | 7.5% | 2024/2025 | | [Côte d’Ivoire](https://coursetojob.com/countries/cote-divoire/) | +186% | 999 | 349 | 8.5% | 1.9% | 2022 | | [Lesotho](https://coursetojob.com/countries/lesotho/) | +186% | 652 | 228 | 16.7% | 16.1% | 2024 | | [Saint Lucia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/saint-lucia/) | +185% | 2,166 | 760 | 5.1% | 5.9% | 2016/2025! | | [Chad](https://coursetojob.com/countries/chad/) | +167% | 946 | 355 | 5.3% | 2.0% | 2022 | | [Mali](https://coursetojob.com/countries/mali/) | +161% | 949 | 364 | 9.6% | 2.5% | 2024 | | [Uganda](https://coursetojob.com/countries/uganda/) | +151% | 456 | 182 | 8.2% | 2.6% | 2021! | | [Honduras](https://coursetojob.com/countries/honduras/) | +150% | 1,783 | 713 | 5.0% | 4.0% | 2025 | | [Cape Verde](https://coursetojob.com/countries/cape-verde/) | +149% | 1,076 | 433 | 4.2% | 9.5% | 2015/2018! | | [Guatemala](https://coursetojob.com/countries/guatemala/) | +127% | 2,181 | 960 | 2.6% | 1.5% | 2025 | | [Guinea-Bissau](https://coursetojob.com/countries/guinea-bissau/) | +117% | 589 | 272 | 6.0% | 2.6% | 2022 | | [Kiribati](https://coursetojob.com/countries/kiribati/) | +110% | 960 | 458 | 1.8% | 7.5% | 2023/2020! | | [Costa Rica](https://coursetojob.com/countries/costa-rica/) | +106% | 2,941 | 1,431 | 4.0% | 4.7% | 2025 | | [Brazil](https://coursetojob.com/countries/brazil/) | +105% | 1,743 | 852 | 3.0% | 4.5% | 2025 | | [Dominican Republic](https://coursetojob.com/countries/dominican-republic/) | +101% | 2,030 | 1,008 | 4.0% | 3.8% | 2025 | | [Barbados](https://coursetojob.com/countries/barbados/) | +99% | 1,667 | 836 | 3.0% | 4.7% | 2016/2024! | | [Peru](https://coursetojob.com/countries/peru/) | +97% | 1,557 | 789 | 4.5% | 3.6% | 2025 | | [South Africa](https://coursetojob.com/countries/south-africa/) | +96% | 1,107 | 566 | 11.4% | 28.9% | 2020/2024! | | [India](https://coursetojob.com/countries/india/) | +94% | 1,467 | 756 | 8.3% | 2.5% | 2025 | | [Benin](https://coursetojob.com/countries/benin/) | +83% | 535 | 292 | 8.5% | 1.3% | 2022 | | [Tunisia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/tunisia/) | +83% | 1,341 | 732 | 20.6% | 12.8% | 2019/2023! | | [Trinidad and Tobago](https://coursetojob.com/countries/trinidad-and-tobago/) | +81% | 2,106 | 1,164 | 2.4% | 3.2% | 2016/2024! | | [Bangladesh](https://coursetojob.com/countries/bangladesh/) | +79% | 758 | 424 | 9.5% | 2.2% | 2024 | | [Suriname](https://coursetojob.com/countries/suriname/) | +78% | 1,226 | 689 | — | — | 2016! | | [Liberia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/liberia/) | +77% | 550 | 310 | 8.3% | 5.4% | 2017! | | [Equatorial Guinea](https://coursetojob.com/countries/equatorial-guinea/) | +77% | 1,088 | 616 | 5.8% | 4.7% | 2023 | | [Chile](https://coursetojob.com/countries/chile/) | +75% | 2,639 | 1,506 | 7.2% | 7.9% | 2024/2025 | | [Djibouti](https://coursetojob.com/countries/djibouti/) | +75% | 1,422 | 812 | 23.5% | 29.5% | 2017/2025! | | [Thailand](https://coursetojob.com/countries/thailand/) | +74% | 2,136 | 1,226 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 2025 | | [Ghana](https://coursetojob.com/countries/ghana/) | +73% | 571 | 330 | 5.0% | 2.7% | 2025 | | [Ethiopia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/ethiopia/) | +72% | 409 | 238 | 6.1% | 3.1% | 2021! | | [Panama](https://coursetojob.com/countries/panama/) | +72% | 2,416 | 1,409 | 6.4% | 6.5% | 2025 | | [Türkiye](https://coursetojob.com/countries/turkiye/) | +70% | 2,874 | 1,691 | 7.0% | 7.1% | 2025 | | [Palau](https://coursetojob.com/countries/palau/) | +68% | 1,399 | 831 | — | — | 2023 | | [Madagascar](https://coursetojob.com/countries/madagascar/) | +68% | 272 | 162 | 6.0% | 1.2% | 2015! | | [Belize](https://coursetojob.com/countries/belize/) | +67% | 1,412 | 847 | 4.4% | 5.8% | 2019! | | [Marshall Islands](https://coursetojob.com/countries/marshall-islands/) | +67% | 1,007 | 604 | 1.3% | 7.3% | 2019/2021! | | [Colombia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/colombia/) | +67% | 1,501 | 901 | 8.0% | 7.0% | 2025 | | [Democratic Republic of the Congo](https://coursetojob.com/countries/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/) | +66% | 303 | 183 | 5.1% | 1.4% | 2016/2020! | | [Uruguay](https://coursetojob.com/countries/uruguay/) | +65% | 2,219 | 1,349 | 1.8% | 5.0% | 2024/2025 | | [Bhutan](https://coursetojob.com/countries/bhutan/) | +64% | 1,948 | 1,188 | 4.5% | 2.0% | 2025 | | [Indonesia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/indonesia/) | +60% | 701 | 437 | 2.2% | 1.8% | 2023 | | [Mauritius](https://coursetojob.com/countries/mauritius/) | +60% | 2,008 | 1,255 | 3.3% | 4.3% | 2024 | | [Mexico](https://coursetojob.com/countries/mexico/) | +60% | 1,238 | 775 | 2.9% | 2.0% | 2025 | | [Sri Lanka](https://coursetojob.com/countries/sri-lanka/) | +58% | 743 | 470 | 5.5% | 2.5% | 2024 | | [Ecuador](https://coursetojob.com/countries/ecuador/) | +55% | 1,653 | 1,065 | 5.0% | 2.4% | 2025 | | [Nepal](https://coursetojob.com/countries/nepal/) | +55% | 774 | 501 | 6.0% | 8.2% | 2017! | | [Gambia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/gambia/) | +54% | 285 | 185 | 5.9% | 5.5% | 2018/2025! | | [Philippines](https://coursetojob.com/countries/philippines/) | +54% | 1,128 | 733 | 2.3% | 1.5% | 2024 | | [Cambodia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/cambodia/) | +54% | 1,086 | 706 | 2.3% | 2.1% | 2025 | | [Togo](https://coursetojob.com/countries/togo/) | +54% | 363 | 236 | 6.9% | 1.7% | 2022 | | [Samoa](https://coursetojob.com/countries/samoa/) | +53% | 940 | 613 | 2.6% | 3.2% | 2022 | | [Bulgaria](https://coursetojob.com/countries/bulgaria/) | +53% | 3,930 | 2,572 | 1.4% | 3.1% | 2025 | | [Croatia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/croatia/) | +52% | 5,374 | 3,526 | 2.5% | 3.9% | 2025 | | [Maldives](https://coursetojob.com/countries/maldives/) | +50% | 1,481 | 987 | 2.4% | 2.8% | 2019! | | [Jordan](https://coursetojob.com/countries/jordan/) | +50% | 1,401 | 934 | 22.3% | 12.6% | 2024 | | [Timor-Leste](https://coursetojob.com/countries/timor-leste/) | +50% | 673 | 449 | 1.7% | 1.2% | 2021/2022! | | [Paraguay](https://coursetojob.com/countries/paraguay/) | +49% | 1,118 | 751 | 2.2% | 2.8% | 2017! | | [Bahamas](https://coursetojob.com/countries/bahamas/) | +47% | 2,259 | 1,536 | 3.5% | 7.2% | 2024 | | [Guyana](https://coursetojob.com/countries/guyana/) | +46% | 1,800 | 1,234 | 6.4% | 10.2% | 2024/2021! | | [Portugal](https://coursetojob.com/countries/portugal/) | +43% | 2,610 | 1,827 | 3.8% | 5.0% | 2025 | | [Germany](https://coursetojob.com/countries/germany/) | +42% | 7,449 | 5,248 | 2.9% | 3.4% | 2022/2025 | | [Malta](https://coursetojob.com/countries/malta/) | +40% | 4,068 | 2,906 | 2.2% | 2.5% | 2020/2025! | | [Antigua and Barbuda](https://coursetojob.com/countries/antigua-and-barbuda/) | +40% | 1,626 | 1,162 | 3.2% | 6.2% | 2023/2018! | | [Fiji](https://coursetojob.com/countries/fiji/) | +40% | 1,632 | 1,169 | 4.0% | 3.9% | 2024 | | [Moldova](https://coursetojob.com/countries/moldova/) | +39% | 1,140 | 821 | 2.8% | 1.2% | 2025 | | [Argentina](https://coursetojob.com/countries/argentina/) | +37% | 1,663 | 1,210 | 2.9% | 5.7% | 2025 | | [Nigeria](https://coursetojob.com/countries/nigeria/) | +36% | 256 | 188 | 8.3% | 2.7% | 2024 | | [Romania](https://coursetojob.com/countries/romania/) | +36% | 4,334 | 3,183 | 1.3% | 4.8% | 2025 | | [United States](https://coursetojob.com/countries/united-states/) | +35% | 6,067 | 4,481 | 2.7% | 3.4% | 2025 | | [Lebanon](https://coursetojob.com/countries/lebanon/) | +35% | 1,804 | 1,336 | 10.4% | 8.6% | 2019! | | [Comoros](https://coursetojob.com/countries/comoros/) | +33% | 439 | 329 | 8.6% | 3.6% | 2021! | | [Lithuania](https://coursetojob.com/countries/lithuania/) | +33% | 4,682 | 3,527 | 3.8% | 6.4% | 2025 | | [Luxembourg](https://coursetojob.com/countries/luxembourg/) | +32% | 10,003 | 7,599 | 5.1% | 5.6% | 2025 | | [Switzerland](https://coursetojob.com/countries/switzerland/) | +32% | 7,391 | 5,621 | 3.6% | 4.3% | 2025 | | [Puerto Rico](https://coursetojob.com/countries/puerto-rico/) | +30% | 2,186 | 1,680 | 8.4% | 12.9% | 2020! | | [Hungary](https://coursetojob.com/countries/hungary/) | +30% | 2,559 | 1,971 | 1.8% | 3.8% | 2025 | | [Slovenia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/slovenia/) | +29% | 6,152 | 4,764 | 2.3% | 3.2% | 2025 | | [Bolivia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/bolivia/) | +29% | 1,334 | 1,037 | 3.7% | 2.1% | 2025 | | [Spain](https://coursetojob.com/countries/spain/) | +29% | 5,605 | 4,357 | 5.7% | 9.4% | 2025 | | [Estonia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/estonia/) | +28% | 4,649 | 3,620 | 4.7% | 6.3% | 2025 | | [Australia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/australia/) | +28% | 4,255 | 3,324 | 2.6% | 3.1% | 2021/2025! | | [Latvia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/latvia/) | +28% | 4,454 | 3,483 | 3.7% | 6.3% | 2025 | | [Afghanistan](https://coursetojob.com/countries/afghanistan/) | +27% | 823 | 647 | 8.4% | 4.5% | 2020/2021! | | [Ireland](https://coursetojob.com/countries/ireland/) | +26% | 4,524 | 3,595 | 3.0% | 3.6% | 2021/2025! | | [El Salvador](https://coursetojob.com/countries/el-salvador/) | +26% | 1,161 | 924 | 3.0% | 2.2% | 2025 | | [Vietnam](https://coursetojob.com/countries/vietnam/) | +25% | 1,397 | 1,117 | 1.3% | 1.0% | 2024 | | [Georgia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/georgia/) | +25% | 913 | 731 | 7.2% | 7.0% | 2023/2025 | | [France](https://coursetojob.com/countries/france/) | +25% | 6,337 | 5,079 | 4.7% | 6.2% | 2025 | | [Slovakia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/slovakia/) | +25% | 4,422 | 3,550 | 2.1% | 4.9% | 2025 | | [Cyprus](https://coursetojob.com/countries/cyprus/) | +23% | 4,724 | 3,851 | 3.4% | 3.8% | 2025 | | [Czechia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/czechia/) | +22% | 4,464 | 3,669 | 1.3% | 2.3% | 2025 | | [Serbia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/serbia/) | +21% | 3,211 | 2,645 | 5.3% | 6.3% | 2025 | | [Italy](https://coursetojob.com/countries/italy/) | +21% | 5,856 | 4,844 | 2.9% | 5.4% | 2025 | | [Iceland](https://coursetojob.com/countries/iceland/) | +20% | 5,986 | 4,977 | 2.8% | 3.5% | 2020/2025! | | [United Kingdom](https://coursetojob.com/countries/united-kingdom/) | +20% | 4,633 | 3,861 | 2.8% | 3.4% | 2025 | | [Poland](https://coursetojob.com/countries/poland/) | +19% | 4,363 | 3,656 | 1.3% | 2.4% | 2025 | | [Netherlands](https://coursetojob.com/countries/netherlands/) | +19% | 7,862 | 6,636 | 2.7% | 2.8% | 2025 | | [Austria](https://coursetojob.com/countries/austria/) | +18% | 7,610 | 6,444 | 3.9% | 5.0% | 2025 | | [Finland](https://coursetojob.com/countries/finland/) | +17% | 6,491 | 5,547 | 4.9% | 8.0% | 2025 | | [Guinea](https://coursetojob.com/countries/guinea/) | +16% | 614 | 531 | 16.7% | 4.7% | 2019! | | [Denmark](https://coursetojob.com/countries/denmark/) | +15% | 7,116 | 6,198 | 4.9% | 5.0% | 2025 | | [Canada](https://coursetojob.com/countries/canada/) | +14% | 4,561 | 3,988 | 5.1% | 5.7% | 2025 | | [Greece](https://coursetojob.com/countries/greece/) | +13% | 3,386 | 2,999 | 6.2% | 8.2% | 2025 | | [Belgium](https://coursetojob.com/countries/belgium/) | +12% | 8,420 | 7,489 | 3.5% | 5.1% | 2025 | | [Norway](https://coursetojob.com/countries/norway/) | +12% | 6,881 | 6,127 | 2.5% | 2.8% | 2025 | | [Sweden](https://coursetojob.com/countries/sweden/) | +12% | 5,424 | 4,852 | 5.0% | 6.6% | 2025 | | [Mongolia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/mongolia/) | +11% | 1,694 | 1,524 | 4.1% | 4.9% | 2025 | | [Egypt](https://coursetojob.com/countries/egypt/) | +10% | 719 | 656 | 9.1% | 4.1% | 2024 | | [Laos](https://coursetojob.com/countries/laos/) | +1% | 542 | 539 | 2.2% | 0.9% | 2022 | | [Tonga](https://coursetojob.com/countries/tonga/) | 0% | 714 | 711 | — | — | 2023 | | [Armenia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/armenia/) | 0% | 865 | 865 | 6.9% | 7.2% | 2023 | | [Bosnia and Herzegovina](https://coursetojob.com/countries/bosnia-and-herzegovina/) | 0% | 2,601 | 2,601 | 7.2% | 9.5% | 2025 | | [Pakistan](https://coursetojob.com/countries/pakistan/) | 0% | 397 | 397 | 9.0% | 5.1% | 2025 | | [Sudan](https://coursetojob.com/countries/sudan/) | -3% | 348 | 358 | 20.5% | 6.2% | 2022 | | [Myanmar](https://coursetojob.com/countries/myanmar/) | -16% | 349 | 413 | 0.4% | 0.7% | 2020! | | [Japan](https://coursetojob.com/countries/japan/) | — | — | — | 2.4% | 2.7% | 2020! | | [Malaysia](https://coursetojob.com/countries/malaysia/) | — | — | — | 2.2% | 2.3% | 2022 | | [New Zealand](https://coursetojob.com/countries/new-zealand/) | — | — | — | 2.6% | 3.3% | 2020! | | [Singapore](https://coursetojob.com/countries/singapore/) | — | — | — | 3.2% | 3.0% | 2025 | | [South Korea](https://coursetojob.com/countries/south-korea/) | — | — | — | 2.6% | 2.7% | 2025 | PPP$ = international dollars per month, adjusted for price differences. Degree premium = median monthly earnings of employees with advanced (tertiary) education compared with all employees. Unemployment = adults aged 25 and over. Latest year per country; years differ between countries. ## How to read this data The International Labour Organization collects these figures from national labour force and household surveys. “Advanced education” means short-cycle tertiary, bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels (ISCED 5–8). Earnings are for employees only, so self-employed people are not included. A high degree premium can mean that graduates are scarce, not only that degrees are valuable. Where few people hold degrees, graduates often earn much more than average; where many do, the gap is usually smaller. Unemployment can be higher for graduates in countries where young graduates wait longer for suitable jobs. ## Frequently asked questions **How much more do university graduates earn?** In the typical country, employees with tertiary education earn a median of +53% compared with all employees, across 128 countries with ILO data. The biggest premiums are in Kenya (+617%), Rwanda (+559%), and Burundi (+550%). The gap is smaller in countries where many adults have degrees. **Are graduates less likely to be unemployed?** Usually, but not everywhere. The median unemployment rate for tertiary-educated adults is 4.6%, against 4.3% for all adults. Graduates have lower unemployment than average in 72 countries and higher unemployment in 58. **What does PPP$ mean?** PPP$ (purchasing power parity dollars) adjust for differences in prices between countries, so an amount in PPP$ buys roughly the same basket of goods everywhere. It is the fairest way to compare pay across countries. **Can I download this data?** Yes. The full table is free to download as CSV or JSON under a CC BY 4.0 licence. Please credit CourseToJob and the International Labour Organization. ## Sources 1. [ILOSTAT — Median monthly earnings of employees by education](https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/) — EAR_EMTM_SEX_EDU_CUR_NB_A 2. [ILOSTAT — Unemployment rate by age and education](https://ilostat.ilo.org/data/) — UNE_DEAP_SEX_AGE_EDU_RT_A **How to cite this page:** CourseToJob (2026). Graduate salaries around the world: the degree premium by country. https://coursetojob.com/graduate-salaries/ (accessed September 26, 2026) [Report a data or content issue](mailto:hello@elitedigitalagency.io?subject=Data%20issue%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fcoursetojob.com%2Fgraduate-salaries%2F)