Eurostat: Ireland tops EU for young graduates, Romania at the bottom
Share of 25–34‑year‑olds with tertiary education rose from ~27% in 2005 to ~45% in 2025; women outnumber men.
The share of young people aged 25–34 with tertiary education has risen steadily across the European Union, climbing from about 27% in 2005 to roughly 45% in 2025.
Women now outnumber men among young graduates: 50.5% of women in this age group held a tertiary degree last year, compared with 39.3% of men.
Top and bottom performers
At country level, Ireland recorded the highest share of young people with a university degree in 2025 — around 67% — followed by Luxembourg at 65% and Lithuania at 61%. The EU average stood at about 45%.
Other high-profile figures include France at 56%, Switzerland at 51% and Turkey at 45%. Several countries in the wider European region reported lower rates: Slovenia 43%, Croatia 42%, Germany 41% and Serbia 37%.
Hungary reported 33% and Italy about 31%. In Bosnia and Herzegovina the figure was 27.5%, while Romania recorded the lowest share among EU countries at only 23%.
Photo: press material from the event
