Education in Flanders, Belgium: official figures
The share of adults aged 25 to 64 with a degree-level (tertiary) education was 47.7% in 2025, against 47.5% for Belgium and 36.9% across the EU; 2nd highest of 3 regions in Belgium.
How many young people in Flanders leave school early?
5.5% of 18 to 24-year-olds had left education and training early, with at most lower secondary schooling, in 2025 (Belgium: 7.3%; EU: 9.1%). In 2015 it was 7.2%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young people in Flanders are NEET?
In 2025, 7.3% of 15 to 29-year-olds were not in employment, education or training (Belgium: 9.8%; EU: 11.0%). In 2015 it was 10.7%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Flanders are in education or training?
18.8% of adults aged 25 to 64 had taken part in education or training in the previous four weeks in 2025 (Belgium: 18.0%; EU: 13.7%). In 2015 it was 7.0%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Flanders have no qualifications?
In 2025, 12.4% of 25 to 64-year-olds had left education with at most a lower secondary education (Belgium: 15.1%; EU: 18.8%). In 2015 it was 22.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat education do adults in Flanders have?
39.9% of adults aged 25 to 64 had an upper secondary or post-secondary (non-degree) education as their highest level in 2025 (Belgium: 37.5%; EU: 44.3%). In 2015 it was 39.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many pupils and students are there in Flanders?
Schools in Flanders taught 448,211 primary pupils and 619,692 secondary pupils in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Flanders compares with other regions
Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) (2025)
Flanders ranks 3 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wallonia | 9.8% |
| 2 | Brussels-Capital Region | 8.8% |
| 3 | Flanders | 5.5% |
Young people (15-29) not in employment, education or training (2025)
Flanders ranks 3 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Young people (15-29) not in employment, education or training |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wallonia | 13.1% |
| 2 | Brussels-Capital Region | 12.8% |
| 3 | Flanders | 7.3% |
Adults (25-64) in education or training in the last 4 weeks (2025)
Flanders ranks 2 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) in education or training in the last 4 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brussels-Capital Region | 23.5% |
| 2 | Flanders | 18.8% |
| 3 | Wallonia | 14.5% |
Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education (2025)
Flanders ranks 3 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wallonia | 18.9% |
| 2 | Brussels-Capital Region | 18.0% |
| 3 | Flanders | 12.4% |
Adults (25-64) whose highest level is upper secondary (2025)
Flanders ranks 1 of 3, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) whose highest level is upper secondary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flanders | 39.9% |
| 2 | Wallonia | 37.7% |
| 3 | Brussels-Capital Region | 25.0% |
More on Flanders: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · Belgium
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset edat_lfse_04: Adults (25-64) with a degree-level education, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6ff9f4bfff72…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset trng_lfse_04: Participation rate of adults in education and training (last 4 weeks) by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 42ceced85786…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset edat_lfse_04: Population aged 25-64 by educational attainment level, sex and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 63810622cd71…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset edat_lfse_22: Young people neither in employment nor in education and training (NEET) by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1467a7225373…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset edat_lfse_16: Early leavers from education and training by sex and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c3cc66b98a4a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset educ_uoe_enra11: Pupils and students enrolled by education level, sex and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 20b6224cca4f…)
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