8 answers, 2 from Portugal's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
6.1% of people aged 18 to 24 in Portugal left education and training early in 2025, down from 6.6% in 2024, according to Eurostat. It was 8.1% in 2023.
An early leaver is someone aged 18 to 24 who has at most lower secondary education and is not in any education or training. The figure comes from the labour force survey, so it can change from year to year because of sampling. School-level statistics are published by the DGEEC.
Portugal's government spent 4.6% of GDP on education in 2022, down from 4.8% in 2021, according to the World Bank, which uses UNESCO Institute for Statistics data.
The figure covers public spending at all levels, from pre-primary to university, including transfers to private institutions, but not what families pay themselves. Spending as a share of GDP can fall when GDP grows quickly even if spending in euros rises. Eurostat and the OECD publish similar figures that may differ slightly because of definitions.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
97.6%: that is net primary school enrolment in Portugal for 2017, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Since 2005 it has ranged from 96.7% (2016) to 99.3% (2010). Europe & Central Asia median: 95.7%; Portugal is 15th highest of 45. World rank, highest first: 27th of 134.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross secondary school enrolment in Portugal was 120.3% in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at 120.9%; its low point was 2006, at 95.7%. It is 6th highest of 48 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 102.3%. Of 138 countries with 2023 data, 11th highest.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts gross tertiary enrolment in Portugal at 77.7% in 2023. No year since 2015 has been higher. It is 21st highest of 49 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 75.9%. Of 120 countries with 2023 data, 28th highest.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts government spending on education in Portugal at 4.6% of GDP in 2022. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 4.5% of GDP, and Portugal placed 22nd highest of 45. Worldwide: 64th of 155.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the number of primary pupils per teacher in Portugal was 12 in 2017. Its high point since 2005 was 2014, at 13; its low point was 2005, at 11. It is 22nd highest of 39 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 13. World rank, highest first: 101st of 130.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the primary completion rate in Portugal was 104.5% in 2023. No year since 2018 has been higher. It is 5th highest of 42 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 97.9%. Worldwide: 14th of 131.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error