Education in Basque Country, Spain: official figures
The share of adults aged 25 to 64 with a degree-level (tertiary) education was 58.2% in 2025, against 42.4% for Spain and 36.9% across the EU; the highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
How much does the Basque Country spend on education?
Education is allocated €3.82 billion in the Basque Country's 2026 budget, or 22.1% of total spending (4th highest of 17; all communities 20.3%), a change of +3.4% on 2025.
Source: Ministerio de Hacienda · saved copyHow many school pupils are there in the Basque Country?
The Basque Country accounts for 4.4% of Spain's pupils in non-university general education in 2024-2025; its pupil numbers changed by -1.7% between 2014-2015 and 2024-2025, against +2.7% nationally (8th steepest fall of 19).
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyWhat percentage of children go to public school in the Basque Country?
In 2023-2024, 51.8% of pupils in the Basque Country attended public schools, 47.3% state-funded private (concertada) schools and 0.9% fully private schools; the public share ranks the lowest of 19 (national 66.9%).
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyHow many students are in secondary school in the Basque Country?
117,722 children were enrolled in primary education and 89,904 in compulsory secondary education (ESO) in the Basque Country in 2024-2025.
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyHow many children attend nursery in the Basque Country?
Early childhood education in the Basque Country enrolled 70,090 children in 2024-2025, of whom 24,244 (34.6%) were in the 0-3 cycle (nursery) and 45,846 in the 3-6 cycle.
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyHow many students study vocational training (FP) in the Basque Country?
Vocational training (FP) enrolled 49,608 students in the Basque Country in 2024-2025 against 33,255 in Bachillerato, so FP makes up 59.9% of upper-secondary and vocational enrolment (5th lowest of 19; Spain 62.8%); 3.4% of FP students study at a distance.
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyHow many students are in Bachillerato in the Basque Country?
Women make up 54.2% of Bachillerato students in the Basque Country in 2024-2025, and 543 of the 33,255 students follow it by distance learning.
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyHow many young people in Basque Country leave school early?
3.6% of 18 to 24-year-olds had left education and training early, with at most lower secondary schooling, in 2025, compared with 12.8% nationally and 9.1% in the EU; the lowest of 18 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 9.7%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young people in Basque Country are NEET?
In 2025, 7.2% of 15 to 29-year-olds were not in employment, education or training, compared with 11.5% nationally and 11.0% in the EU; the lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 12.8%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Basque Country are in education or training?
19.8% of adults aged 25 to 64 had taken part in education or training in the previous four weeks in 2025, compared with 15.8% nationally and 13.7% in the EU; the highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 12.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Basque Country have no qualifications?
In 2025, 20.3% of 25 to 64-year-olds had left education with at most a lower secondary education, compared with 34.6% nationally and 18.8% in the EU; the lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 30.1%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat education do adults in Basque Country have?
21.5% of adults aged 25 to 64 had an upper secondary or post-secondary (non-degree) education as their highest level in 2025, compared with 23.0% nationally and 44.3% in the EU; 4th lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 22.2%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many pupils and students are there in Basque Country?
Schools in Basque Country taught 129,624 primary pupils and 164,600 secondary pupils in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Basque Country compares with other autonomous communities
Education spending, share of the 2026 regional budget (2026)
Basque Country ranks 4 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Education spending, share of the 2026 regional budget |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murcia | 25.5% |
| 2 | Andalusia | 22.9% |
| 3 | Valencian Community | 22.2% |
| 4 | Basque Country | 22.1% |
| 5 | Madrid | 20.4% |
| 6 | La Rioja | 20.3% |
| 7 | Extremadura | 20.2% |
Pupils in public schools, 2023-2024 (non-university general education) (2023-2024)
Basque Country ranks 19 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Pupils in public schools, 2023-2024 (non-university general education) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Navarre | 66.9% |
| 14 | La Rioja | 66.9% |
| 15 | Castilla y León | 66.2% |
| 16 | Balearic Islands | 64.9% |
| 17 | Catalonia | 64.7% |
| 18 | Madrid | 54.0% |
| 19 | Basque Country | 51.8% |
Change in pupil numbers, 2014-2015 to 2024-2025 (2024-2025)
Basque Country ranks 12 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Change in pupil numbers, 2014-2015 to 2024-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Ciudad de Melilla | +0.7% |
| 10 | Galicia | -0.4% |
| 11 | Cantabria | -0.8% |
| 12 | Basque Country | -1.7% |
| 13 | Andalusia | -1.9% |
| 14 | Castilla-La Mancha | -2.3% |
| 15 | Castilla y León | -3.0% |
Vocational training (FP) as a share of FP plus Bachillerato enrolment, 2024-2025 (2024-2025)
Basque Country ranks 15 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Vocational training (FP) as a share of FP plus Bachillerato enrolment, 2024-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Ciudad de Melilla | 60.3% |
| 13 | Andalusia | 60.2% |
| 14 | Murcia | 60.1% |
| 15 | Basque Country | 59.9% |
| 16 | Castilla-La Mancha | 59.2% |
| 17 | Canary Islands | 58.6% |
| 18 | Balearic Islands | 58.6% |
Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) (2025)
Basque Country ranks 18 of 18, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Asturias | 10.6% |
| 13 | Galicia | 10.4% |
| 14 | Castilla y León | 10.2% |
| 15 | Madrid | 9.6% |
| 16 | Cantabria | 8.9% |
| 17 | Navarre | 7.8% |
| 18 | Basque Country | 3.6% |
Young people (15-29) not in employment, education or training (2025)
Basque Country ranks 19 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Young people (15-29) not in employment, education or training |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Aragón | 10.7% |
| 14 | Catalonia | 10.6% |
| 15 | La Rioja | 10.5% |
| 16 | Madrid | 10.4% |
| 17 | Navarre | 9.8% |
| 18 | Cantabria | 7.9% |
| 19 | Basque Country | 7.2% |
Adults (25-64) in education or training in the last 4 weeks (2025)
Basque Country ranks 1 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) in education or training in the last 4 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basque Country | 19.8% |
| 2 | Valencian Community | 18.3% |
| 3 | Navarre | 18.1% |
| 4 | Madrid | 16.8% |
| 5 | Ciudad de Ceuta | 16.8% |
| 6 | Balearic Islands | 16.7% |
| 7 | Catalonia | 16.2% |
Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education (2025)
Basque Country ranks 19 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Galicia | 32.6% |
| 14 | Catalonia | 31.3% |
| 15 | Cantabria | 26.7% |
| 16 | Asturias | 26.1% |
| 17 | Madrid | 26.0% |
| 18 | Navarre | 24.3% |
| 19 | Basque Country | 20.3% |
Adults (25-64) whose highest level is upper secondary (2025)
Basque Country ranks 16 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) whose highest level is upper secondary |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Valencian Community | 22.0% |
| 14 | Catalonia | 21.8% |
| 15 | Andalusia | 21.6% |
| 16 | Basque Country | 21.5% |
| 17 | Murcia | 20.7% |
| 18 | Extremadura | 18.5% |
| 19 | Ciudad de Ceuta | 18.0% |
More on Basque Country: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · Spain
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…)
- Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes: Datos y cifras. Curso escolar 2025-2026, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a30e9c96a067…)
- Ministerio de Hacienda: Presupuestos Generales de las Comunidades Autónomas, año 2026 (resumen ejecutivo, published 31 March 2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81db80f35219…)
- 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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