Education in Zeeland, Netherlands: official figures
The share of adults aged 25 to 64 with a degree-level (tertiary) education was 34.1% in 2025, against 46.1% for the Netherlands and 36.9% across the EU; the lowest of 12 provinces in the Netherlands.
What percentage of people have a degree in Zeeland?
In 2024, 24.9% of people aged 15 to 74 in the province of Zeeland had completed hbo or university, the lowest among the 12 provinces, up from 22.3% in 2019.
Source: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS) · saved copyWhat is the education level in Zeeland?
The share of people aged 15 to 74 in the province of Zeeland 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 Zeeland?
Students in hbo and university living in Zeeland numbered 19.6 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 Zeeland?
There were 26.2 mbo (secondary vocational) students per 1,000 residents of the province of Zeeland 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 Zeeland?
Secondary-school pupils living in the province of Zeeland numbered 48.6 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 Zeeland?
The average resident of Zeeland 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 Zeeland?
Residents of Zeeland lived on average 6.3 km by road from the nearest havo/vwo (pre-university track) secondary school in 2024, 2nd 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 Zeeland leave school early?
The early school leaving rate was 8.9% in 2025 (18 to 24-year-olds with no upper secondary qualification who are not in education or training) (the Netherlands: 7.4%; EU: 9.1%); 5th highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 15.1%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young people in Zeeland are NEET?
In 2025, 4.7% of 15 to 29-year-olds were not in employment, education or training (the Netherlands: 5.3%; EU: 11.0%); 2nd lowest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 6.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Zeeland are in education or training?
23.2% 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%); 2nd lowest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 18.0%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Zeeland have no qualifications?
In 2025, 22.5% of 25 to 64-year-olds had left education with at most a lower secondary education (the Netherlands: 18.4%; EU: 18.8%); the highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 27.6%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat education do adults in Zeeland have?
43.4% 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%); 3rd highest of 12 provinces in Netherlands. In 2015 it was 47.3%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many pupils and students are there in Zeeland?
Schools in Zeeland taught 23,964 primary pupils and 34,098 secondary pupils in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Zeeland compares with other provinces
Residents aged 15 to 74 with higher education (hbo or university) (%) (2024)
Zeeland ranks 12 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)
Zeeland ranks 1 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)
Zeeland ranks 12 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)
Zeeland ranks 2 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)
Zeeland ranks 5 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 8 | Gelderland | 7.4% |
Young people (15-29) not in employment, education or training (2025)
Zeeland ranks 11 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Young people (15-29) not in employment, education or training |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | South Holland | 5.4% |
| 7 | Gelderland | 5.4% |
| 8 | Groningen | 5.2% |
| 9 | North Holland | 4.9% |
| 10 | North Brabant | 4.9% |
| 11 | Zeeland | 4.7% |
| 12 | Utrecht | 4.0% |
Adults (25-64) in education or training in the last 4 weeks (2025)
Zeeland ranks 11 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)
Zeeland ranks 1 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)
Zeeland ranks 3 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 Zeeland: 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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