Educational structure of population: documentation of statistics
The documentation of the statistics describes how the statistics were compiled and what methods were used in the compilation. The data help interpret the figures of the statistics and evaluate their reliability and comparability. The quality report is based on the EU's SIMS model. The documentation also contains change releases describing changes in the statistics and possible specifying methodological descriptions.
If you are looking for statistical figures for these statistics, go to the statistics page: Educational structure of population
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
Statistics on the educational structure of the population describe the level of education of the population aged 15 or over. Data recorded on persons who attained a qualification after comprehensive school, lower secondary school or elementary school include, for example,
- place of residence
- sex
- age
- level of education
- field of education.
Data are based on Statistics Finland’s Register of Completed Education and Degrees and published once a year.
Sector coverage (SIMS 3.3)
The statistics have no points of contact with economic activities or sectors.
Statistical unit (SIMS 3.5)
The data used to produce the statistics are obtained from Statistics Finland’s individual-based qualification data and population data. The data from the employment statistics have been produced using existing administrative records. The statistical unit is an individual.
Statistical population (SIMS 3.6)
Reference area (SIMS 3.7)
The statistics cover the population living in Finland. The smallest unit in the statistical reporting is a municipality.
Time coverage (SIMS 3.8)
The Register of Completed Education and Degrees is based on the data on qualifications collected in the 1970 population census which are updated annually. The data of a statistical year are final; any supplements concerning a statistical year are added to the following year’s Register of Completed Education and Degrees.
Base period (SIMS 3.9)
No indices tied to a particular year are calculated from the statistics.
Unit of measure (SIMS 4)
The units of measure in the statistics on the educational structure of the population are the number and percentage of individuals. In the statistics on the educational structure of the population, the population’s level of education is also measured with the average length of the highest level of education completed after the basic level per capita. The level of education indicator 246 means that the theoretic duration of education per capita is 2.5 years after the completion of comprehensive school education. The population's level of education is calculated from the population aged 20 and over. This is because many under the age of 20 have not yet completed their studies. The measure of level of education allows easy comparisons between regions in levels of education and the monitoring of temporal changes.
Reference period (SIMS 5)
The statistics describe the situation on the last day of the reference year.
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Educational institution
An educational institution refers to an administrative unit with a principal or other head, which has teachers and other personnel in its service (role of employers), and which is liable to keep books and compile other documentation, in which students are registered, whose activities are regulated by a legal act or decree, which follows a national curriculum, and which is financed and controlled by a public authority. An educational institution does not refer to a school building or facility. A new educational institution is established, an educational institution is abolished or merged with another educational institution at the decision of the organiser of education (maintainer of the educational institution) or a public authority. Statistics Finland has assigned an individualised educational institution ID to each educational institution. Educational institutions are classified according to a classification of types of educational institutions.
Educational structure of the population
Educational structure of the population describes distribution of the population aged 15 and over to attainers of primary, secondary and tertiary level qualifications and degrees. Attainers of tertiary degrees are further divided into attainers of lowest level tertiary, lower university level, higher university level and doctorate level degrees.
Level of education
In the statistics on the educational structure of the population, the population's level of education is measured with the average length of the highest level of completed education per capita. For example, level of education indicator 246 means that the theoretic duration of education per capita is 2.5 years after completion of comprehensive school education. The population's level of education is calculated from the population aged 20 and over. This is because many under the age of 20 have not yet completed their studies. The measure of level of education allows easy comparisons between regions in levels of education and monitoring of temporal changes. Up to the end of 1997, the population's level of education was calculated from the levels of educational qualifications and degrees attained by the population aged 15 and over. The indicator of level of education can range from 150 to 800. The higher the indicator figure, the higher the level of education. In the group with level of education indicator 150, everybody has completed only elementary school, middle school or comprehensive school, whereas in the group with level of education indicator 800, everyone holds a licentiate or doctorate level degree.
Level of education
Category into which programmes leading to a qualification or degree are divided on the basis of the requirement level. Comment: Selection to education on a particular level of education often requires completion of a lower level of education. The level of education is measured on the basis of both the overall duration or target time of the education and the requirement level. Levels of education: early childhood education and care and pre-primary education (duration varies), primary education (6 years), lower secondary education (3 years, in total 9 years from the beginning of comprehensive education), upper secondary education (3 years, in total 12 years from the beginning of comprehensive education), post-secondary non-tertiary education (1-2 years, in total 13-14 years from the beginning of comprehensive education), lowest tertiary education (2-3 years, in total 14-15 years from the beginning of comprehensive education), bachelor's or equivalent level (3-4 years, in total 15-16 years from the beginning of comprehensive education), master's or equivalent level (5-6 years, in total 17-18 years from the beginning of comprehensive education) and second stage of tertiary education (2-4 years, in total 19-22 years from the beginning of comprehensive education). The level of education indicator cannot be calculated directly on the basis of the duration presented in this concept.
Locality
An urban settlement is a cluster of buildings with at least 200 inhabitants. The delimitation is based on the population information of the previous year. Urban settlements are defined and delimited by the Finnish Environment Institute using geographic information methods that utilise the building and population data of Statistics Finland’s 250 m x 250 m grid data. The population size of grids containing buildings and their neighbouring grids, as well as the number of buildings and their floor area, are reviewed in the definition. From the uniform clusters of dwellings generated in the definition, the ones with at least 200 inhabitants are selected. All new urban settlements generated in the definition are named and numbered at Statistics Finland. In some years certain urban settlements may cease to meet the definition of urban settlement and thus disappear from the classification of urban settlements, merge into other urban settlements or withdraw from them. Administrative regional divisions do not affect the formation of urban settlements, and urban settlements do not follow municipal boundaries.
Population
The resident population of Finland on 31 December is derived from the Population Information System maintained by the Population Register Centre. Since the data for 1993, Statistics Finland and the Population Register Centre have had the same reference period, the turn of the year at midnight, which means that the number of population has been the same.
Programme leading to a qualification or degree; formal education
Programme leading to a qualification or degree refers to education comprising the comprehensive education syllabus, the general upper secondary education syllabus, the matriculation examination, the international diplomas, the Gymnasieexamen diploma, or education and training leading to an initial vocational qualification, a further vocational qualification, a specialist vocational qualification, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, a licentiate, a doctoral degree, or a specialist degree in veterinary medicine.
Qualification or degree
An accomplishment in accordance with the requirements laid down by the education authority subject to an administrative decision.
Qualification/Degree
In statistics on the educational structure of the population, transition form school to further education and work and progress of studies attainers of qualifications or degrees refer to completers of matriculation examination, international matriculation examinations (IB, Reifeprüfung or Gymnasieexamen examination), and attainers of vocational qualifications, university of applied sciences degrees, higher university of applied sciences degrees or university degrees by the end of the statistical reference year. Attainers of qualifications or degrees also include attainers of qualifications or degrees in the armed services, frontier guard service or abroad. One qualification or degree per person is included in statistics: vocational qualification attained at the highest level of education/most recently attained. The data are obtained from Statistics Finland's Register of Completed Education and Degrees. Data can only be entered into the Register for persons who have a Finnish personal ID number. For this reason data on the qualifications or degrees of persons without a personal ID number, e.g. many foreign persons, are missing from the Register.
Tertiary degree
In the statistics on the educational structure of the population, tertiary degrees comprise all lower, higher and doctorate level tertiary degrees. Up to the end of 2001, only degrees obtained at universities and experimental or permanent university of applied sciences in accordance with the decree on universities (464/1998) were included in tertiary degrees.
Tertiary level degree
Lowest level tertiary or university degree completed after upper secondary qualification.
University education
Tertiary education provided by universities. Comment: The objective of the education is a bachelor’s or master’s degree or a scientific postgraduate degree, which are licentiate's and doctoral degrees. Education not leading to a qualification or degree can also be completed.
Vocational education and training
Education and training completed after the comprehensive education syllabus, aimed at producing vocational competence. Comment: Initial, further and specialist vocational qualifications can be obtained in vocational education and training. In addition to completing a qualification, parts of a qualification can also be completed in vocational education and training.
Institutional mandate (SIMS 6)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Legal acts and other agreements (SIMS 6.1)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the general act of the national statistical service, the Statistics Act (280/2004, amend. 361/2013). Only the necessary data that are not available from administrative data sources are collected from data suppliers. Index series are published so that no individual enterprise’s data or development can be deduced from them.
Data sharing (SIMS 6.2)
Data are shared with the Finnish National Agency for Agency as data in accordance with the information service agreement. The data are also shared in international reporting.
Source data (SIMS 18.1)
The data are based on administrative materials and separate collections, which cover data sources outside of the administrative materials. Separate collections yield some 500 qualifications a year.
Frequency of data collection (SIMS 18.2)
The data are updated on an annual basis.
Data collection (SIMS 18.3)
The separate data collections are carried out in the form of web and postal questionnaires.
Data validation (SIMS 18.4)
The statistics are based on already published qualification data, which have been validated. The statistics on the educational structure of the population describe the changes that have occurred and the internal logic of the data.
Data compilation (SIMS 18.5)
The statistics are based on register data. The statistics are not adjusted with statistical methods.
Overall accuracy (SIMS 13.1)
In terms of qualifications completed abroad, the Register of Completed Education and Degrees has been supplemented with data collection targeted at foreign population, which added 26,000 post-primary education qualifications to the register. The Register of Completed Education and Degrees has also been supplemented with an exchange of information carried out between the Nordic statistical agencies. The Nordic exchange of information yielded 13,000 qualifications to the register.
There is still under-coverage in terms of qualifications completed abroad in the Register of Completed Education and Degrees. The educational structure of the population with a foreign background cannot be reported reliably on the basis of the register.
Quality assurance (SIMS 11.1)
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The European Statistics Code of Practice forms the basis for the common quality system of the European Statistical System.
The Code of Practice is based on 16 principles that concern statistical authorities' independence, accountability and the quality of the processes and data to be published.
The principles are in line with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics approved by the United Nations Statistics Commission and are supplementary to them. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information: European Statistics Code of Practice | Statistics Finland and Recommendations of the Advisory Board of Official Statistics of Finland | Statistics Finland
Quality assessment (SIMS 11.2)
In terms of qualifications completed abroad, the Register of Completed Education and Degrees has been supplemented with two separate data collections targeted at foreign population. Data collections took place in 2019 and 2023. Data colllection compiled in 2019 added 26,000 post-primary education qualifications to the Register of Completed Education and Degrees. Data collection compiled in 2023 added 17 700 degrees to The Register of Completed Education and Degrees.
The Register of completed education and degrees has also been supplemented with an exchange of information carried out between the Nordic statistical agencies. The Nordic exchange of information yielded 15,300 qualifications to the register.
The data represent total data. The data on population are based on the data of the Population Information System maintained by the Population Register Centre.
There is still under-coverage in terms of qualifications completed abroad in the Register of Completed Education and Degrees. The educational structure of the population with a foreign background cannot be reported reliably on the basis of the register. Educational sturcture of foreign population has been estimated and published on separate article on Statistics Finland's Tieto &Trendit -platform. Estimated information is not part of the official statistic of Educational Structure of Population.
Data revision - policy (SIMS 17.1)
Revisions – i.e. improvements in the accuracy of statistical data already published – are a normal feature of statistical production and result in improved quality of statistics. The principle is that statistical data are based on the best available data and information concerning the statistical phenomenon. On the other hand, the revisions are communicated as transparently as possible in advance. Advance communication ensures that the users can prepare for the data revisions.
The reason why data in statistical releases become revised is often caused by the data becoming supplemented. Then the new, revised statistical figure is based on a wider information basis and describes the phenomenon more accurately than before.
Revisions of statistical data may also be caused by the calculation method used, such as annual benchmarking or updating of weight structures. Changes of base years and used classifications may also cause revisions to data.
Timeliness (SIMS 14.1)
The statistics are released on time, in accordance with the release calendar. The data are published 6 months after the reference period.
Punctuality (SIMS 14.2)
The statistics are released on time, in accordance with the release calendar. Any delays are reported separately.
Comparability - geographical (SIMS 15.1)
The statistics cover the population of the entire country. Under-coverage is greatest in the regions with the greatest number of immigrants. Under-coverage also pertains to the regions from which individuals head abroad for studies (such as the Åland Islands).
Comparability - over time (SIMS 15.2)
The time series of the statistics extends back to 1970. The data are comparable and the time series is always reported in accordance with the latest statistical year.
Coherence – cross domain (SIMS 15.3)
The statistics on the educational structure of the population are register-based, which are not otherwise published. Data on the educational structure are published in international reporting (Eurostat, OECD) based on the Labour Force Survey. There is a difference attributable to differing methods between sample-based and register-based data on the educational structure.
Coherence - internal (SIMS 15.4)
There are no differences within the internal definitions of the statistics. The released data and classifications always accord with the latest statistical year.
Release calendar (SIMS 8.1)
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data become public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
Release calendar access (SIMS 8.2)
User access (SIMS 8.3)
The data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may be processed at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise specifically stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer and copyright owner of the data. The terms of use for statistical data.
Frequency of dissemination (SIMS 9)
The data are published once a year.
News release (SIMS 10.1)
The release is published monthly/annually/quarterly on the home page of the statistics. (linkki tilaston omille sivuille)
Online database (SIMS 10.3)
The database tables of the statistics can be found in the StatFin database.
Confidentiality - policy (SIMS 7.1)
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed. The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. Alongside the Statistics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and the Finnish Data Protection Act are applied to the processing of personal data. Provisions on the confidentiality of data collected for statistical purposes are laid down in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
The data are processed only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. All persons employed by Statistics Finland have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
Confidentiality - data treatment (SIMS 7.2)
The data in the statistics is available for scientific studies through Statistics Finland’s research services. Given that the statistics do not contain sensitive data, protection is not required.