Europe: A Higher Proportion of Early Leavers Are Men

APRIL, 9, 2025 - In 2023, 11.3% of young men and 7.7% of young women in the EU were early leavers from education and training. The proportion of early leavers among young men was 3.6 percentage points (pp) higher than that of young women. Nearly all EU countries reported a higher percentage of early leavers for young men compared to young women, with particularly significant differences in Italy (5.5 pp), Germany (4.8 pp), Spain (4.7 pp), Finland (4.6 pp), Latvia, and Malta (both 4.5 pp). France fell into the average range with a difference of 4.0 pp.  (Figure on cover page)

Between 2013 and 2023, most EU countries saw a decline in the number of early leavers among young men. Spain recorded the largest drop, with an 8.5 pp decrease in early school leavers among young women, followed closely by Portugal with an 8.2 pp drop. However, six EU countries reported an increase of more than 1.0 pp in the proportion of young women who were early leavers in 2023 compared to 2013, including Germany (1.1 pp) and Denmark (2.5 pp).

In contrast, the proportions of early leavers were roughly equal for young women and young men in Romania, Czechia, Greece, and Bulgaria, differing by only +/- 0.2 pp.  (Figure 1) 

The majority of EU countries also reported a decrease in early leavers among young men. The largest decline in this group occurred in Portugal, with a reduction of 13.6 pp, followed by Spain with a decrease of more than 10.0 pp compared to 2013. Conversely, four countries saw increases exceeding 1.0 pp: Austria, Finland, Denmark, and Germany.

A similar trend was observed among young women. Spain had the most significant decline in early school leavers, down 8.5 pp from 2013 to 2023, followed by Portugal with an 8.2 pp reduction. However, six EU countries reported an increase of over 1.0 pp in the proportion of young women who were early leavers in 2023 compared to 2013: Germany (1.1 pp), Lithuania (1.4 pp), Estonia (2.2 pp), Slovenia (2.3 pp), Denmark (2.5 pp), and Cyprus (5.8 pp).  (Figures 2 and 3)

In an upcoming story, we will analyze how the most vulnerable students, who are more likely to drop out, tend to be enrolled in professional or training programs.