Ireland boasts the highest percentage of 25 to 34 year olds that have completed tertiary education (levels 5 to 8) in the EU, according to Eurostat data.
Among the countries for which data is available, some 62.3% of Ireland’s 25 to 34 year olds had completed tertiary education as of 2022, according to the data, up from 61.7% in 2021 and 58.4% in 2020.
Luxembourg secures the second position, boasting a tertiary education level of 61.0% among this age cohort as of last year, which was down marginally on 2021 (62.6%) but higher than in 2020 (60.6%).
In third spot, Cyprus boasts a tertiary education level of 59.2% in 2022, an increase on 2021, where the percentage stood at 58.3%, and on 2020, where it was 57.8%.
Lithuania ranks fourth with a tertiary education percentage of 58.2% in 2022, maintaining a consistent trajectory of growth – in 2021, the percentage stood at 57.5%, while in 2020, it was 56.2%.
In fifth place is The Netherlands with 56.4% of 25 to 34 year olds having achieved tertiary education in 2022. This was up on 55.6% in 2021 and 52.3% in 2020.
The remainder of the top ten includes Norway (55.6%), Sweden (52.5%), Belgium (51.4%), Switzerland (51.3%), Spain (50.5%, and France (50.4%), all countries that demonstrate similarly strong commitments to higher education.
Across Europe
At a European Union level, including all 27 EU member states, some 42.0% of 25 to 34 year olds had completed tertiary education as of last year, up from 41.4% in 2021 and 40.5% in 2020, the data showed.
In terms of the Euro area (incorporating 20 countries) the percentage for 2022 was 43.2%, up from 42.7% in 2021 and 41.5% in 2020.
Regional focus
On a regional basis, out of the 240 regions considered, 72 regions, equivalent to 30% of all EU regions, have met or exceeded the EU’s target for this area, which stands at 45.0%.
At the upper end of the spectrum, the Lithuanian capital region led with 73.6%, followed by 11 other regions where at least 60.0% of young individuals had tertiary-level educational attainment. These regions included the capital regions of France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Luxembourg, and Denmark.
Top Countries By Tertiary Education Rate, 25-34 Year Olds
| Country | Tertiary Education Rate (%) |
|---|---|
| Ireland | 62.3 |
| Luxembourg | 61.0 |
| Cyprus | 59.2 |
| Lithuania | 58.2 |
| Netherlands | 56.4 |
| Norway | 55.6 |
| Sweden | 52.4 |
| Belgium | 51.4 |
| Switzerland | 51.3 |
| Spain | 50.5 |
| France | 50.4 |
| Denmark | 49.0 |
| Slovenia | 47.3 |
| Latvia | 45.9 |
| Greece | 45.2 |
| Portugal | 44.4 |
| Estonia | 43.9 |
| Euro area – 20 countries | 43.2 |
| Austria | 43.1 |
| Malta | 42.4 |
| European Union – 27 countries | 42.0 |
| Finland | 40.7 |
| Poland | 40.5 |
| Iceland | 40.2 |
| Slovakia | 39.1 |
| Germany | 37.1 |
| Croatia | 35.5 |
| Czechia | 34.6 |
| Bulgaria | 33.8 |
| Serbia | 33.4 |
| Hungary | 31.9 |
| Italy | 29.2 |
| Romania | 24.7 |
