Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)

European Union - 27 countries (from 2020): Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment was 19.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
19.6%
Change on year
down 2.0%
Rank
6th
of 6 regions
All-time high
27.3%
in 2010
All-time low
19.6%
in 2025
Years of data
16
2010–2025

Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020), 2010–2025

01020302010201720252010: 27.3 Percentage2011: 25.5 Percentage2012: 24.6 Percentage2013: 24.1 Percentage2014: 23.8 Percentage2015: 23.6 Percentage2016: 23.8 Percentage2017: 22.8 Percentage2018: 22.2 Percentage2019: 21.5 Percentage2020: 21 Percentage2021: 20.7 Percentage2022: 20.4 Percentage2023: 20.3 Percentage2024: 20 Percentage2025: 19.6 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

The most recent figure for distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) is 19.6%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 16 years on record.

That represents a change of down 2.0% on the previous year and down 16.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) peaked at 27.3% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 19.6%, in 2025.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 16 years of available data.

Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020), year by year

Annual values for Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment level and age group in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020), 2010 to 2025.
Year Percentage Change
2010 27.3%
2011 25.5% -6.6%
2012 24.6% -3.5%
2013 24.1% -2.0%
2014 23.8% -1.2%
2015 23.6% -0.8%
2016 23.8% +0.8%
2017 22.8% -4.2%
2018 22.2% -2.6%
2019 21.5% -3.2%
2020 21.0% -2.3%
2021 20.7% -1.4%
2022 20.4% -1.4%
2023 20.3% -0.5%
2024 20.0% -1.5%
2025 19.6% -2.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 23.9% 21.5% 27.3% 10
2020s 20.3% 19.6% 21.0% 6

Countries ranked near European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)

  1. 3 Portugal 35.2% compare
  2. 4 Malta 33.9% compare
  3. 5 Italy 30.7% compare
  4. 6 Spain 30.4% compare
  5. 7 Euro area (EA11-1999, EA12-2001, EA13-2007, EA15-2008, EA16-2009, EA17-2011, EA18-2014, EA19-2015, EA20-2023, EA21-2026) 22.6% compare
  6. 8 North Macedonia 22.1% compare
  7. 9 Iceland 21.4% compare

See the full ranking of 53 places →

More population data for European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)

All data for European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) →

Frequently asked questions

What is distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)?
Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) was 19.6% in 2025, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment recorded in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)?
The highest recorded value was 27.3% in 2010.
What is the lowest distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment recorded in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)?
The lowest recorded value was 19.6% in 2025.
How does European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) rank for distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment?
European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) ranks 6th out of 6 regions with data for 2025.
Is distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment rising or falling in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)?
Over the last ten years it is down 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment level and age group. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020). Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://population.statizoid.com/stat/distribution-of-population-aged-18-and-over-by-educational-attainment-level-and-age-group/european-union-27-countries-from-2020/

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About this data

Indicator
Distribution of population aged 18 and over by educational attainment level and age group
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
53 places, 998 data points, 2003–2025
Last refreshed