Education in Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi, Finland: official figures
The share of adults aged 25 to 64 with a degree-level (tertiary) education was 39.2% in 2025, against 42.7% for Finland and 36.9% across the EU; 3rd highest of 5 regions in Finland.
What percentage of people have a master's degree in Northern and Eastern Finland?
8.4% of residents aged 15 or over in the Northern and Eastern Finland major region held a master's degree in 2024, below the national figure of 11.5%; that is the lowest among the five NUTS 2 major regions, up from 7.2% in 2019.
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyHow many people have a PhD in Northern and Eastern Finland?
Doctoral degree holders made up 0.90% of the population aged 15 or over in the Northern and Eastern Finland major region in 2024, 3rd highest among the five NUTS 2 major regions (Finland 1.20%).
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyWhat is the education level in Northern and Eastern Finland?
23.8% of residents aged 15 or over in the Northern and Eastern Finland major region had no qualification beyond comprehensive school in 2024, below the national figure of 24.9%; that is the lowest among the five NUTS 2 major regions, down from 25.8% in 2019.
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyHow many young people lack qualifications in Northern and Eastern Finland?
14.1% of young adults aged 25 to 29 in Northern and Eastern Finland had not completed any qualification after comprehensive school in 2024 (2nd lowest among the five NUTS 2 major regions; Finland 17.0%).
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyHow many students live in Northern and Eastern Finland?
Students made up 7.8% of the population of Northern and Eastern Finland in 2024, below the national figure of 7.9%; that is 3rd highest among the five NUTS 2 major regions.
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyWhat percentage of people have a degree in Northern and Eastern Finland?
30.0% of residents of Northern and Eastern Finland aged 15 or over held a tertiary qualification in 2024, against 34.1% nationally.
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus) · saved copyHow many young people in Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi leave school early?
12.1% of 18 to 24-year-olds had left education and training early, with at most lower secondary schooling, in 2025, against 9.9% for Finland as a whole and 9.1% across the EU; the highest of 4 regions in Finland. In 2015 it was 8.0%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young people in Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi are NEET?
12.6% of young people aged 15 to 29 were neither in work nor in education or training (NEET) in 2025, against 11.2% for Finland as a whole and 11.0% across the EU; the highest of 4 regions in Finland. In 2015 it was 14.5%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi are in education or training?
26.4% of adults aged 25 to 64 had taken part in education or training in the previous four weeks in 2025, against 28.1% for Finland as a whole and 13.7% across the EU; 2nd lowest of 5 regions in Finland. In 2015 it was 23.2%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi have no qualifications?
In 2025, 9.6% of 25 to 64-year-olds had left education with at most a lower secondary education, against 11.0% for Finland as a whole and 18.8% across the EU; the lowest of 4 regions in Finland. In 2015 it was 11.5%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat education do adults in Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi have?
51.1% of adults aged 25 to 64 had an upper secondary or post-secondary (non-degree) education as their highest level in 2025, against 46.2% for Finland as a whole and 44.3% across the EU; the highest of 5 regions in Finland. In 2015 it was 51.8%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many pupils and students are there in Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi?
Schools in Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi taught 84,567 primary pupils and 127,723 secondary pupils in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi compares with other regions
People aged 15 or over with a master's degree (%) (2024)
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi ranks 5 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People aged 15 or over with a master's degree (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helsinki-Uusimaa | 16.8% |
| 2 | Länsi-Suomi | 9.8% |
| 3 | Etelä-Suomi | 8.9% |
| 4 | Åland | 8.7% |
| 5 | Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi | 8.4% |
People aged 15 or over with a doctoral degree (%) (2024)
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi ranks 3 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People aged 15 or over with a doctoral degree (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helsinki-Uusimaa | 1.80% |
| 2 | Länsi-Suomi | 0.90% |
| 3 | Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi | 0.90% |
| 4 | Etelä-Suomi | 0.90% |
| 5 | Åland | 0.50% |
People aged 15 or over with no qualification beyond basic education (%) (2024)
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi ranks 5 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People aged 15 or over with no qualification beyond basic education (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Åland | 28.7% |
| 2 | Helsinki-Uusimaa | 25.8% |
| 3 | Etelä-Suomi | 25.8% |
| 4 | Länsi-Suomi | 24.0% |
| 5 | Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi | 23.8% |
People aged 25 to 29 with no qualification beyond basic education (%) (2024)
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi ranks 4 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People aged 25 to 29 with no qualification beyond basic education (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helsinki-Uusimaa | 20.8% |
| 2 | Åland | 20.1% |
| 3 | Etelä-Suomi | 17.0% |
| 4 | Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi | 14.1% |
| 5 | Länsi-Suomi | 14.0% |
Students as a share of the population (%) (2024)
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi ranks 3 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Students as a share of the population (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helsinki-Uusimaa | 8.2% |
| 2 | Länsi-Suomi | 8.1% |
| 3 | Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi | 7.8% |
| 4 | Etelä-Suomi | 7.5% |
| 5 | Åland | 5.4% |
Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) (2025)
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi ranks 1 of 4, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi | 12.1% |
| 2 | Etelä-Suomi | 12.1% |
| 3 | Helsinki-Uusimaa | 8.9% |
| 4 | Länsi-Suomi | 7.6% |
Young people (15-29) not in employment, education or training (2025)
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi ranks 1 of 4, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Young people (15-29) not in employment, education or training |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi | 12.6% |
| 2 | Etelä-Suomi | 11.0% |
| 3 | Länsi-Suomi | 10.8% |
| 4 | Helsinki-Uusimaa | 10.6% |
Adults (25-64) in education or training in the last 4 weeks (2025)
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi ranks 4 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) in education or training in the last 4 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helsinki-Uusimaa | 30.8% |
| 2 | Åland | 27.1% |
| 3 | Länsi-Suomi | 27.0% |
| 4 | Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi | 26.4% |
| 5 | Etelä-Suomi | 26.4% |
Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education (2025)
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi ranks 4 of 4, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helsinki-Uusimaa | 12.3% |
| 2 | Etelä-Suomi | 11.4% |
| 3 | Länsi-Suomi | 10.1% |
| 4 | Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi | 9.6% |
Adults (25-64) whose highest level is upper secondary (2025)
Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi ranks 1 of 5, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) whose highest level is upper secondary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi | 51.1% |
| 2 | Åland | 50.9% |
| 3 | Etelä-Suomi | 49.6% |
| 4 | Länsi-Suomi | 48.5% |
| 5 | Helsinki-Uusimaa | 39.6% |
More on Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · Finland
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…)
- Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus): Regional time series 1987-2025 (table 142h, Municipal key figures database): population, housing, education, employment and jobs by NUTS region, region and municipality (PxWeb API POST query, json-stat2, years 2015-2025), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 18a97e220312…)
- 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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