In recent years, educational attainment has come to the forefront as a key indicator of a region’s growth and development. In 2022, the European Union witnessed significant progress in this area, with over two-fifths (42.0%) of the population aged 25-34 attaining a tertiary level of education. While some individuals within this age group may still be studying, this statistic indicates a positive trend towards higher levels of educational achievement.
Analyzing the data from the 240 NUTS 2 regions, excluding Mayotte (France) and Åland (Finland), we find that 72 regions, equivalent to 30% of all EU regions, have already surpassed the EU’s policy target of 45.0% for tertiary educational attainment. These regions are notably shaded in green-blue on the map, highlighting their commendable accomplishments.
Taking the lead in this regard is the Lithuanian capital region, recording an impressive 73.6% of young people with a tertiary level of education. Additionally, there are 11 more regions where at least 60.0% of young individuals have reached similar educational heights. These regions include the capital cities of France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Luxembourg, and Denmark. It is certainly no coincidence that these regions are perceived as attractive destinations for highly qualified professionals, owed in part to the diverse educational opportunities, employment prospects, and appealing social and lifestyle offerings they provide.
Among the high achievers, significant shares of tertiary educational attainment were also found in Utrecht (Netherlands) and Pais Vasco (Spain) – regions known for their focus on research, innovation, and high-technology manufacturing. Notably, Northern and Western Ireland stood out as the only other EU region to exceed the 60.0% mark.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, 17 regions reported less than a quarter of individuals aged 25-34 attaining a tertiary level of education in 2022. Seven out of the eight regions in Romania, excluding the capital region of Bucharest-Ilfov, were among these regions. Hungary had three regions, Bulgaria had two, and Czechia had one region in this category. The south of Italy, with three regions, and Guyane (France), as the outermost region, were also part of this list. These regions are characterized by factors such as rural or isolated locations, limited highly skilled employment opportunities, and a vocational education focus that emphasizes apprenticeships and training schemes over academic qualifications.
The regions with the lowest levels of tertiary educational attainment were Sud-Muntenia (16.0%) and Sud-Est (17.0%) in Romania, Severozápad (18.0%) in the Czech Republic, and Észak-Magyarország (18.2%) in Hungary.
For further information on education and training within the EU, you can explore the dedicated section of the interactive edition of “Regions in Europe – 2023” and the “Eurostat regional yearbook – 2023 edition.” These resources, accompanied by the Statistical Atlas’s corresponding maps, offer extensive insights through a user-friendly interface.
To access additional resources, please visit the following:
– Thematic section on education and training
– Database on education and training
– Thematic section on regions and cities
– Database on regional statistics by NUTS classification
The EU’s strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training towards the European Education Area and beyond (2021-2030) sets several policy targets, one of which pertains to tertiary educational attainment. The objective is to ensure that, by 2030, at least 45.0% of individuals aged 25-34 possess a tertiary level of educational qualification.
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