Education in Vancouver, Canada: official figures
52.8% of people aged 25 to 64 in Vancouver held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2021, 4th highest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, above the national 32.9%.
How many adults in Vancouver did not finish high school?
5.4% of people aged 25 to 64 in Vancouver had no certificate, diploma or degree in 2021, 8th lowest of 69 Canadian cities and metropolitan areas on this site, and 18.7% had a high school diploma as their highest qualification (Canada: 9.9% and 23.0%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people in Vancouver have a college diploma or trade certificate?
In 2021, 14.8% of people aged 25 to 64 in Vancouver had a college, CEGEP or other non-university diploma as their highest qualification and 4.3% an apprenticeship or trades certificate (Canada: 21.4% and 9.6%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people in Vancouver have a master's degree or PhD?
60,100 people aged 25 to 64 in Vancouver, 14.9% of that age group, held a master's degree or an earned doctorate in 2021 (Canada: 8.5%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow many people in Vancouver work in education?
8.6% of the labour force in Vancouver, 34,035 people, worked in educational services in 2021 (Canada: 7.3%).
Source: Statistics Canada · saved copyHow Vancouver compares with other cities in Canada
Bachelor's degree or higher, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census (2021)
Vancouver ranks 4 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Bachelor's degree or higher, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oakville | 61.0% |
| 2 | Richmond Hill | 55.9% |
| 3 | Waterloo | 54.5% |
| 4 | Vancouver | 52.8% |
| 5 | Milton | 50.3% |
| 6 | Ottawa | 49.5% |
| 7 | Toronto | 49.4% |
No certificate, diploma or degree, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census (2021)
Vancouver ranks 62 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | No certificate, diploma or degree, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 59 | Ottawa | 5.6% |
| 60 | Whitby | 5.6% |
| 61 | Victoria | 5.5% |
| 62 | Vancouver | 5.4% |
| 63 | Saanich | 5.1% |
| 64 | Coquitlam | 4.9% |
| 65 | Milton | 4.8% |
Any postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census (2021)
Vancouver ranks 10 of 69, highest first.
| Rank | City | Any postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree, ages 25 to 64, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Ottawa | 76.8% |
| 8 | Burlington | 76.3% |
| 9 | Saguenay | 76.0% |
| 10 | Vancouver | 75.9% |
| 11 | Montréal | 75.2% |
| 12 | Ottawa - Gatineau | 74.4% |
| 13 | Victoria | 74.4% |
More on Vancouver: overview · economy and jobs · poverty and living standards · all cities in Canada
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population (98-316-X2021001): census subdivisions, selected characteristics (Census Profile SDMX API extract, dataflow DF_CSD, gender total, counts and rates), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 46d086943a5e…)
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