Education in Limburg (NL), Netherlands: official figures
The share of adults aged 25 to 64 with a degree-level (tertiary) education was 37.3% in 2025, against 46.1% for the Netherlands and 36.9% across the EU; 10th highest of 12 provinces in the Netherlands.
What percentage of people have a degree in Limburg province?
In 2024, 28.5% of people aged 15 to 74 in the province of Limburg had completed hbo or university, 5th lowest among the 12 provinces, up from 25.9% in 2019.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyWhat is the education level in Limburg province?
The share of people aged 15 to 74 in the province of Limburg whose highest education was primary school, vmbo or mbo-1 was 28.8% in 2024, above the national figure of 25.9%.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many students live in Limburg province?
Students in hbo and university living in the province of Limburg numbered 35.5 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 Limburg province?
There were 22.8 mbo (secondary vocational) students per 1,000 residents of the province of Limburg in 2025, below the national figure of 25.9.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many secondary school pupils are there in Limburg province?
Secondary-school pupils living in the province of Limburg numbered 41.8 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 Limburg province?
The average resident of the province of Limburg lived 0.8 km by road from the nearest primary school in 2025, level with the national figure of 0.8 km.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow far is the nearest secondary school in Limburg province?
Residents of the province of Limburg lived on average 3.4 km by road from the nearest havo/vwo (pre-university track) secondary school in 2024, 4th shortest among the 12 provinces and level with the national figure of 3.4 km.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyHow many young people in Limburg (NL) leave school early?
9.4% of 18 to 24-year-olds had left education and training early, with at most lower secondary schooling, in 2025, against 7.4% for the Netherlands as a whole and 9.1% across the EU; 3rd highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 8.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young people in Limburg (NL) are NEET?
6.3% of young people aged 15 to 29 were neither in work nor in education or training (NEET) in 2025, against 5.3% for the Netherlands as a whole and 11.0% across the EU; 3rd highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 6.4%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Limburg (NL) are in education or training?
22.9% of adults aged 25 to 64 had taken part in education or training in the previous four weeks in 2025, against 25.9% for the Netherlands as a whole and 13.7% across the EU; the lowest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 17.1%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Limburg (NL) have no qualifications?
22.4% of adults aged 25 to 64 had no qualification beyond lower secondary school in 2025, against 18.4% for the Netherlands as a whole and 18.8% across the EU; 2nd highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 27.2%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat education do adults in Limburg (NL) have?
40.3% of adults aged 25 to 64 had an upper secondary or post-secondary (non-degree) education as their highest level in 2025, against 35.5% for the Netherlands as a whole and 44.3% across the EU; 4th highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 43.4%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many pupils and students are there in Limburg (NL)?
Schools in Limburg (NL) taught 59,644 primary pupils and 86,901 secondary pupils in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Limburg (NL) compares with other provinces
Residents aged 15 to 74 with higher education (hbo or university) (%) (2024)
Limburg (NL) ranks 8 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Residents aged 15 to 74 with higher education (hbo or university) (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Gelderland | 32.1% |
| 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% |
Residents aged 15 to 74 whose highest level is primary, vmbo or mbo-1 (%) (2024)
Limburg (NL) ranks 2 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Residents aged 15 to 74 whose highest level is primary, vmbo or mbo-1 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zeeland | 28.8% |
| 2 | Limburg (NL) | 28.8% |
| 3 | Flevoland | 27.6% |
| 4 | South Holland | 27.2% |
| 5 | Drenthe | 26.8% |
| 6 | Friesland (NL) | 26.6% |
| 7 | North Brabant | 26.5% |
Resident hbo and university students per 1,000 residents (2025)
Limburg (NL) ranks 8 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Resident hbo and university students per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Gelderland | 39.3 |
| 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 |
Average road distance to a havo/vwo secondary school (km) (2024)
Limburg (NL) ranks 9 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average road distance to a havo/vwo secondary school (km) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Flevoland | 3.8 km |
| 7 | Gelderland | 3.7 km |
| 8 | North Brabant | 3.5 km |
| 9 | Limburg (NL) | 3.4 km |
| 10 | Utrecht | 2.6 km |
| 11 | North Holland | 2.5 km |
| 12 | South Holland | 2.5 km |
Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) (2025)
Limburg (NL) ranks 3 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)
Limburg (NL) ranks 3 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)
Limburg (NL) ranks 12 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)
Limburg (NL) ranks 2 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zeeland | 22.5% |
| 2 | Limburg (NL) | 22.4% |
| 3 | North Brabant | 20.8% |
| 4 | Flevoland | 19.6% |
| 5 | Drenthe | 19.4% |
| 6 | South Holland | 19.0% |
| 7 | Gelderland | 18.3% |
Adults (25-64) whose highest level is upper secondary (2025)
Limburg (NL) ranks 4 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 Limburg (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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.