Romania had the highest share of early leavers from education and training in 2022, of 16%, according to data from the European statistics office Eurostat. Spain came next with 14%, followed by Hungary, Germany and Italy - each with 12%.

At the other end of the scale, Croatia (2%), Ireland, Slovenia and Greece (each 4%), and Poland and Lithuania (each 5%) had the lowest shares of early school leavers.

“In 2022, the share of early leavers from education and training was lower for young women than for young men across all EU members apart from Bulgaria (men 9%, women 12%) and Greece (men 4%, women 5%),” reads the Eurostat press release.

Early school leavers are defined as young people aged 18-24 leaving early from education and training. According to Eurostat, their share has steadily decreased in the EU over the last 10 years, from 13% in 2012 to 10% in 2022.

The target is to drop the rate at the EU level to below 9% by 2030, and the statistics office said eighteen EU members have already met this indicator.

irina.marica@romania-insider.com

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