Education in Friesland (NL), Netherlands: official figures
The share of adults aged 25 to 64 with a degree-level (tertiary) education was 38.6% in 2025, against 46.1% for the Netherlands and 36.9% across the EU; 9th highest of 12 provinces in the Netherlands.
What percentage of people have a degree in Friesland?
In 2024, 26.6% of people aged 15 to 74 in Friesland had completed hbo or university, 2nd lowest among the 12 provinces, up from 24.1% in 2019.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyWhat is the education level in Friesland?
The share of people aged 15 to 74 in Friesland whose highest education was primary school, vmbo or mbo-1 was 26.6% in 2024, above the national figure of 25.9%.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many students live in Friesland?
Students in hbo and university living in the province of Friesland numbered 33.3 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2025, below the national figure of 43.0.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many vocational students are there in Friesland?
There were 32.8 mbo (secondary vocational) students per 1,000 residents of Friesland in 2025, above the national figure of 25.9.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many secondary school pupils are there in Friesland?
Secondary-school pupils living in Friesland numbered 51.2 per 1,000 residents in 2025, against 51.0 nationally.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow far is the nearest primary school in Friesland?
The average resident of the province of Friesland lived 0.9 km by road from the nearest primary school in 2025, above the national figure of 0.8 km.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow far is the nearest secondary school in Friesland?
Residents of the province of Friesland lived on average 6.2 km by road from the nearest havo/vwo (pre-university track) secondary school in 2024, 3rd longest among the 12 provinces and above the national figure of 3.4 km.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many young people in Friesland (NL) leave school early?
9.9% of 18 to 24-year-olds had left education and training early, with at most lower secondary schooling, in 2025 (the Netherlands: 7.4%; EU: 9.1%); 2nd highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 8.8%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young people in Friesland (NL) are NEET?
In 2025, 6.8% of 15 to 29-year-olds were not in employment, education or training (the Netherlands: 5.3%; EU: 11.0%); the highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 9.3%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Friesland (NL) are in education or training?
24.1% of adults aged 25 to 64 had taken part in education or training in the previous four weeks in 2025 (the Netherlands: 25.9%; EU: 13.7%); 3rd lowest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 17.5%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Friesland (NL) have no qualifications?
In 2025, 17.6% of 25 to 64-year-olds had left education with at most a lower secondary education (the Netherlands: 18.4%; EU: 18.8%); 4th lowest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 25.1%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat education do adults in Friesland (NL) have?
43.8% of adults aged 25 to 64 had an upper secondary or post-secondary (non-degree) education as their highest level in 2025 (the Netherlands: 35.5%; EU: 44.3%); 2nd highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 49.4%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many pupils and students are there in Friesland (NL)?
Schools in Friesland (NL) taught 41,913 primary pupils and 63,361 secondary pupils in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Friesland (NL) compares with other provinces
Residents aged 15 to 74 with higher education (hbo or university) (%) (2024)
Friesland (NL) ranks 11 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Residents aged 15 to 74 with higher education (hbo or university) (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Groningen | 31.9% |
| 7 | Overijssel | 29.6% |
| 8 | Limburg (NL) | 28.5% |
| 9 | Flevoland | 27.9% |
| 10 | Drenthe | 26.9% |
| 11 | Friesland (NL) | 26.6% |
| 12 | Zeeland | 24.9% |
Residents aged 15 to 74 whose highest level is primary, vmbo or mbo-1 (%) (2024)
Friesland (NL) ranks 6 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Residents aged 15 to 74 whose highest level is primary, vmbo or mbo-1 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Flevoland | 27.6% |
| 4 | South Holland | 27.2% |
| 5 | Drenthe | 26.8% |
| 6 | Friesland (NL) | 26.6% |
| 7 | North Brabant | 26.5% |
| 8 | Overijssel | 26.0% |
| 9 | Gelderland | 26.0% |
Resident hbo and university students per 1,000 residents (2025)
Friesland (NL) ranks 9 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Resident hbo and university students per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Overijssel | 38.2 |
| 7 | North Brabant | 36.3 |
| 8 | Limburg (NL) | 35.5 |
| 9 | Friesland (NL) | 33.3 |
| 10 | Flevoland | 30.8 |
| 11 | Drenthe | 24.3 |
| 12 | Zeeland | 19.6 |
Average road distance to a havo/vwo secondary school (km) (2024)
Friesland (NL) ranks 3 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average road distance to a havo/vwo secondary school (km) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drenthe | 6.3 km |
| 2 | Zeeland | 6.3 km |
| 3 | Friesland (NL) | 6.2 km |
| 4 | Groningen | 4.6 km |
| 5 | Overijssel | 4.1 km |
| 6 | Flevoland | 3.8 km |
| 7 | Gelderland | 3.7 km |
Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) (2025)
Friesland (NL) ranks 2 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drenthe | 10.0% |
| 2 | Friesland (NL) | 9.9% |
| 3 | Limburg (NL) | 9.4% |
| 4 | Flevoland | 9.1% |
| 5 | Zeeland | 8.9% |
| 6 | Overijssel | 8.5% |
| 7 | North Brabant | 8.3% |
Young people (15-29) not in employment, education or training (2025)
Friesland (NL) ranks 1 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Young people (15-29) not in employment, education or training |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Friesland (NL) | 6.8% |
| 2 | Drenthe | 6.7% |
| 3 | Limburg (NL) | 6.3% |
| 4 | Flevoland | 5.6% |
| 5 | Overijssel | 5.5% |
| 6 | South Holland | 5.4% |
| 7 | Gelderland | 5.4% |
Adults (25-64) in education or training in the last 4 weeks (2025)
Friesland (NL) ranks 10 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) in education or training in the last 4 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Flevoland | 25.6% |
| 7 | North Brabant | 25.0% |
| 8 | Drenthe | 24.6% |
| 9 | Overijssel | 24.4% |
| 10 | Friesland (NL) | 24.1% |
| 11 | Zeeland | 23.2% |
| 12 | Limburg (NL) | 22.9% |
Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education (2025)
Friesland (NL) ranks 9 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | South Holland | 19.0% |
| 7 | Gelderland | 18.3% |
| 8 | Overijssel | 17.9% |
| 9 | Friesland (NL) | 17.6% |
| 10 | North Holland | 16.6% |
| 11 | Groningen | 16.4% |
| 12 | Utrecht | 12.9% |
Adults (25-64) whose highest level is upper secondary (2025)
Friesland (NL) ranks 2 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) whose highest level is upper secondary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drenthe | 44.3% |
| 2 | Friesland (NL) | 43.8% |
| 3 | Zeeland | 43.4% |
| 4 | Limburg (NL) | 40.3% |
| 5 | Overijssel | 40.2% |
| 6 | Groningen | 38.6% |
| 7 | Flevoland | 38.5% |
More on Friesland (NL): overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · the Netherlands
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…)
- Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS): Regionale kerncijfers Nederland (table 70072ned): provinces, COROP areas and selected municipalities, 2014-2026, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d2b63aac3a26…)
- 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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