Education in Canary Islands, Spain: official figures
The share of adults aged 25 to 64 with a degree-level (tertiary) education was 36.3% in 2025, against 42.4% for Spain and 36.9% across the EU; 13th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
How much does the Canary Islands spend on education?
Education is allocated €2.61 billion in the Canary Islands' 2026 budget, or 19.8% of total spending (8th lowest of 17; all communities 20.3%), a change of +7.0% on 2025.
Source: Ministerio de Hacienda · saved copyHow many school pupils are there in the Canary Islands?
The Canary Islands accounts for 4.0% of Spain's pupils in non-university general education in 2024-2025; its pupil numbers changed by -8.0% between 2014-2015 and 2024-2025, against +2.7% nationally (2nd steepest fall of 19).
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyWhat percentage of children go to public school in the Canary Islands?
In 2023-2024, 76.8% of pupils in the Canary Islands attended public schools, 14.9% state-funded private (concertada) schools and 8.3% fully private schools; the public share ranks 5th highest of 19 (national 66.9%).
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyHow many students are in secondary school in the Canary Islands?
105,377 children were enrolled in primary education and 84,700 in compulsory secondary education (ESO) in the Canary Islands in 2024-2025.
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyHow many children attend nursery in the Canary Islands?
Early childhood education in the Canary Islands enrolled 52,760 children in 2024-2025, of whom 12,289 (23.3%) were in the 0-3 cycle (nursery) and 40,471 in the 3-6 cycle.
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyHow many students study vocational training (FP) in the Canary Islands?
Vocational training (FP) enrolled 49,325 students in the Canary Islands in 2024-2025 against 34,862 in Bachillerato, so FP makes up 58.6% of upper-secondary and vocational enrolment (3rd lowest of 19; Spain 62.8%); 29.7% of FP students study at a distance.
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyHow many students are in Bachillerato in the Canary Islands?
Women make up 52.9% of Bachillerato students in the Canary Islands in 2024-2025, and 3,254 of the 34,862 students follow it by distance learning.
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyHow many young people in Canary Islands leave school early?
15.9% 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; 2nd highest of 18 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 21.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young people in Canary Islands are NEET?
In 2025, 14.3% of 15 to 29-year-olds were not in employment, education or training, compared with 11.5% nationally and 11.0% in the EU; 2nd highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 24.2%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Canary Islands are in education or training?
13.1% 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; 2nd lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 8.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Canary Islands have no qualifications?
36.3% of adults aged 25 to 64 had no qualification beyond lower secondary school in 2025, compared with 34.6% nationally and 18.8% in the EU; 8th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 49.3%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat education do adults in Canary Islands have?
27.5% 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; 2nd highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 24.1%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many pupils and students are there in Canary Islands?
Schools in Canary Islands taught 113,705 primary pupils and 160,876 secondary pupils in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Canary Islands compares with other autonomous communities
Education spending, share of the 2026 regional budget (2026)
Canary Islands ranks 10 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Education spending, share of the 2026 regional budget |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Extremadura | 20.2% |
| 8 | Castilla-La Mancha | 20.1% |
| 9 | Castilla y León | 19.9% |
| 10 | Canary Islands | 19.8% |
| 11 | Cantabria | 19.3% |
| 12 | Aragón | 18.8% |
| 13 | Balearic Islands | 18.7% |
Pupils in public schools, 2023-2024 (non-university general education) (2023-2024)
Canary Islands ranks 5 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Pupils in public schools, 2023-2024 (non-university general education) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Castilla-La Mancha | 82.3% |
| 3 | Extremadura | 80.3% |
| 4 | Ciudad de Ceuta | 80.3% |
| 5 | Canary Islands | 76.8% |
| 6 | Galicia | 72.8% |
| 7 | Asturias | 72.2% |
| 8 | Andalusia | 71.6% |
Change in pupil numbers, 2014-2015 to 2024-2025 (2024-2025)
Canary Islands ranks 18 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Change in pupil numbers, 2014-2015 to 2024-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Andalusia | -1.9% |
| 14 | Castilla-La Mancha | -2.3% |
| 15 | Castilla y León | -3.0% |
| 16 | Asturias | -4.1% |
| 17 | Ciudad de Ceuta | -6.2% |
| 18 | Canary Islands | -8.0% |
| 19 | Extremadura | -9.1% |
Vocational training (FP) as a share of FP plus Bachillerato enrolment, 2024-2025 (2024-2025)
Canary Islands ranks 17 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Vocational training (FP) as a share of FP plus Bachillerato enrolment, 2024-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 19 | Asturias | 57.7% |
Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) (2025)
Canary Islands ranks 2 of 18, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murcia | 20.6% |
| 2 | Canary Islands | 15.9% |
| 3 | Castilla-La Mancha | 15.7% |
| 4 | La Rioja | 15.5% |
| 5 | Balearic Islands | 15.2% |
| 6 | Extremadura | 15.0% |
| 7 | Andalusia | 14.5% |
Young people (15-29) not in employment, education or training (2025)
Canary Islands ranks 2 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Young people (15-29) not in employment, education or training |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ciudad de Melilla | 16.5% |
| 2 | Canary Islands | 14.3% |
| 3 | Ciudad de Ceuta | 14.2% |
| 4 | Andalusia | 13.3% |
| 5 | Extremadura | 12.7% |
| 6 | Murcia | 12.5% |
| 7 | Valencian Community | 12.1% |
Adults (25-64) in education or training in the last 4 weeks (2025)
Canary Islands ranks 18 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) in education or training in the last 4 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Extremadura | 14.8% |
| 14 | La Rioja | 14.8% |
| 15 | Galicia | 14.7% |
| 16 | Castilla-La Mancha | 14.0% |
| 17 | Andalusia | 13.7% |
| 18 | Canary Islands | 13.1% |
| 19 | Ciudad de Melilla | 11.5% |
Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education (2025)
Canary Islands ranks 8 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Murcia | 44.1% |
| 6 | Andalusia | 41.7% |
| 7 | Valencian Community | 39.9% |
| 8 | Canary Islands | 36.3% |
| 9 | Balearic Islands | 36.1% |
| 10 | La Rioja | 35.8% |
| 11 | Aragón | 35.1% |
Adults (25-64) whose highest level is upper secondary (2025)
Canary Islands ranks 2 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) whose highest level is upper secondary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Balearic Islands | 28.7% |
| 2 | Canary Islands | 27.5% |
| 3 | Asturias | 27.2% |
| 4 | Cantabria | 25.5% |
| 5 | Ciudad de Melilla | 25.2% |
| 6 | Navarre | 24.9% |
| 7 | Castilla y León | 24.7% |
More on Canary Islands: 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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