Which countries in Europe have the most educated populations?

In Europe, Nordic and Baltic countries boast the highest proportions of residents with higher education degrees, with women generally being the most educated.

The Role of Education in Job and Resource Competition

Education has always been a key factor in job and resource competition. Across Europe, the percentage of adults with tertiary education, the highest level of education, varies significantly.

On average, nearly one-third of the European Union's population aged 25-74 holds a higher education degree. This includes qualifications from public and private universities, colleges, technical training institutes, and vocational schools. Educational attainment also differs by age and gender.

How Are Educational Levels Defined?

Educational levels are categorized as low (less than high school), middle (high school), or high (university studies). Eurostat, the European data agency, uses the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) to define these levels:

- Low: Pre-primary, primary, and lower secondary education (ISCED levels 0–2)

- Medium: Upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education (ISCED levels 3 and 4)

-High: Tertiary education (ISCED levels 5–8), which includes universities, colleges, technical training institutes, and vocational schools

In 2022, 31.8% of the EU population aged 25-74 had attained higher education, with the range spanning from 17.4% in Romania to 49.8% in Ireland.

Nordic and Baltic Countries Lead in Higher Education

The Nordic and Baltic countries consistently surpass the EU average in the proportion of higher education graduates. Sweden and Norway rank third and fourth, respectively, with over 45% of their populations holding tertiary education degrees.

In Latvia, 44% of the population has a higher education degree, and other Nordic and Baltic countries also report higher than average shares of tertiary graduates.

In the UK, 43.5% of those aged 25-74 have higher education degrees, exceeding the proportions found in the EU's "Big Four" countries. France leads this group with 38.2%, followed by Spain at 38%.

Countries with Lower Tertiary Education Rates

Romania has the lowest share of tertiary graduates at 17.4%, followed by Italy at 18.5%. Germany's figure is also slightly below the EU average, at 31.5%.

This data highlights the varying educational attainment across Europe, with Nordic and Baltic countries leading in higher education rates.