The percentage of Japanese high school graduates entering universities is not growing as fast as one would expect. Back in fiscal 1960 (April 1960 through March 1961), only 8.2 percent of those finishing high school joined universities, and the ratio remained at around 25 percent for 15 years between fiscal 1975 and fiscal 1990.
The percentage steadily grew in the ensuing two decades from 25.5 percent in fiscal 1991 to 51 percent in fiscal 2011. Since then, however, it has shown a downward trend, falling to 49.9 percent in fiscal 2013.
For the 34 member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an average 62 percent of those finishing secondary education go on to study at universities.