12 answers, 5 from Spain's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
12.8% of young people aged 18 to 24 in Spain had left education and training early in 2025, the lowest annual figure on record, according to the Ministry of Education's analysis of labour force survey education data. The rate was 20.0% in 2015. The EU average was 9.1%.
Early leavers have at most lower secondary education and are not studying or training. The rate was 15.9% for men and 9.5% for women. The ministry's figures are based on INE's labour force survey.
11.5% of people aged 15 to 29 in Spain were neither in employment nor in education or training in 2025, 0.5 points lower than in 2024, according to the Ministry of Education's analysis of labour force survey education data.
The rate was 9.1% for young people with upper secondary or higher education and 15.3% for those with lower secondary education or less. The rates for men and women were almost the same.
52.5% of people aged 25 to 34 in Spain had tertiary education in 2025, up from 41.0% in 2015, against an OECD average of 47.5%, according to the Ministry of Education's summary of OECD Education at a Glance 2026. Tertiary education here includes higher vocational training as well as university.
The share of young adults without upper secondary education fell from 34.4% to 24.5%. The OECD report found that young tertiary graduates in Spain earned 48% more than those with upper secondary education.
73.3% of two-year-olds in Spain were enrolled in early childhood education in 2024, against an OECD average of 50.3%, according to the Ministry of Education's summary of OECD Education at a Glance 2026. The share has risen 17.7 points since 2015.
Among children under two, 34.5% were enrolled. Between three and five, enrolment was 97.8%, almost universal. The first cycle of early childhood education in Spain covers children up to three and is not compulsory.
Public spending on education in Spain was 4.6% of GDP in 2022, according to the World Bank's government expenditure on education indicator, which draws on UNESCO data. It was 4.9% in 2020.
The indicator covers spending by central, regional and local governments on all levels of education. In Spain most school spending is managed by the regions. It does not include what families pay themselves for private schooling.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts net primary school enrolment in Spain at 97.3% in 2017. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 17th highest of 45 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 95.7%. Worldwide: 31st of 134.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts gross secondary school enrolment in Spain at 118.5% in 2024. The peak was 127.8% in 2012 and the low 117.2% in 2008. Europe & Central Asia median: 101.1%; Spain is 5th highest of 34. Worldwide: 9th of 100.
93.8%: that is gross tertiary enrolment in Spain for 2024, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Since 2005 it has ranged from 68.1% (2005) to 95.4% (2021). It is 4th highest of 34 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 71.1%. World rank, highest first: 7th of 90.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2021, is 99.7%. No year since 2005 has been higher. Europe & Central Asia median: 99.8%; Spain is 4th highest of 6. World rank, highest first: 4th of 43.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts government spending on education in Spain at 4.6% of GDP in 2022. Since 2005 it has ranged from 4.1% of GDP (2005) to 4.9% of GDP (2009). It is 21st highest of 45 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 4.5% of GDP. Worldwide: 63rd of 155.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2017, is 13. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 14; its low point was 2011, at 12. Europe & Central Asia median: 13; Spain is 20th highest of 39. World rank, highest first: 96th of 130.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2024, is 98.5%. The peak was 100.0% in 2006 and the low 95.1% in 2016. Europe & Central Asia median: 98.2%; Spain is 13th highest of 30. World rank, highest first: 33rd of 104.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error