They mean per capita. Countries with very cheap or free university allow very few people to go on such terms, relative to the size of the population.

Yes but they also generally don't offer bullshit degrees that people obtain and then end up working at McDonalds.

Germany, Switzerland, Belgium all come to mind as countries with free or near-free education that while they don't graduate the same % of their population through tertiary eduction it's not for lack of available opportunity but rather many people choose not to pursue tertiary eduction.

This is actually a good thing because they are often choosing alternatives like vocational education that is more suited to their career choices.

Baristas with university degrees is the outcome of pushing everyone to get a degree and is common place in both the US, Canada and Australia as a result as all 3 have this same notion that you need a degree to get a job. Atleast in Australia and Canada you don't also get saddled with crippling debt.

Sure. I'm not saying their approach is bad or wrong, I'm supportive of it. I'm just observing that it results in far fewer people getting degrees. Agreed that this may be for the best.

I see, that wasn't how I interpreted what you originally wrote but yes, fewer people with degrees but seemingly better outcome.