Education in Cantabria, Spain: official figures
The share of adults aged 25 to 64 with a degree-level (tertiary) education was 47.8% in 2025, against 42.4% for Spain and 36.9% across the EU; 4th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
How much does Cantabria spend on education?
Education is allocated €725 million in Cantabria's 2026 budget, or 19.3% of total spending (7th lowest of 17; all communities 20.3%).
Source: Ministerio de Hacienda · saved copyHow many school pupils are there in Cantabria?
Cantabria accounts for 1.1% of Spain's pupils in non-university general education in 2024-2025; its pupil numbers changed by -0.8% between 2014-2015 and 2024-2025, against +2.7% nationally (9th steepest fall of 19).
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyWhat percentage of children go to public school in Cantabria?
In 2023-2024, 71.0% of pupils in Cantabria attended public schools, 25.9% state-funded private (concertada) schools and 3.1% fully private schools; the public share ranks 9th highest of 19 (national 66.9%).
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyHow many students are in secondary school in Cantabria?
29,332 children were enrolled in primary education and 23,539 in compulsory secondary education (ESO) in Cantabria in 2024-2025.
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyHow many children attend nursery in Cantabria?
Early childhood education in Cantabria enrolled 14,882 children in 2024-2025, of whom 3,736 (25.1%) were in the 0-3 cycle (nursery) and 11,146 in the 3-6 cycle.
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyHow many students study vocational training (FP) in Cantabria?
Vocational training (FP) enrolled 15,246 students in Cantabria in 2024-2025 against 8,754 in Bachillerato, so FP makes up 63.5% of upper-secondary and vocational enrolment (6th highest of 19; Spain 62.8%); 21.0% of FP students study at a distance.
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyHow many students are in Bachillerato in Cantabria?
Women make up 54.4% of Bachillerato students in Cantabria in 2024-2025, and 383 of the 8,754 students follow it by distance learning.
Source: Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes · saved copyHow many young people in Cantabria 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), compared with 12.8% nationally and 9.1% in the EU; 3rd lowest of 18 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 10.3%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young people in Cantabria are NEET?
In 2025, 7.9% 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 lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 14.7%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Cantabria are in education or training?
15.8% 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; 9th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 10.7%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Cantabria have no qualifications?
In 2025, 26.7% 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; 5th lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 37.6%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat education do adults in Cantabria have?
25.5% 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 highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 24.3%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many pupils and students are there in Cantabria?
Schools in Cantabria taught 30,639 primary pupils and 44,961 secondary pupils in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Cantabria compares with other autonomous communities
Education spending, share of the 2026 regional budget (2026)
Cantabria ranks 11 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Education spending, share of the 2026 regional budget |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 14 | Galicia | 18.4% |
Pupils in public schools, 2023-2024 (non-university general education) (2023-2024)
Cantabria ranks 9 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Pupils in public schools, 2023-2024 (non-university general education) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Galicia | 72.8% |
| 7 | Asturias | 72.2% |
| 8 | Andalusia | 71.6% |
| 9 | Cantabria | 71.0% |
| 10 | Murcia | 69.7% |
| 11 | Aragón | 68.7% |
| 12 | Valencian Community | 68.2% |
Change in pupil numbers, 2014-2015 to 2024-2025 (2024-2025)
Cantabria ranks 11 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Change in pupil numbers, 2014-2015 to 2024-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Aragón | +4.0% |
| 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% |
Vocational training (FP) as a share of FP plus Bachillerato enrolment, 2024-2025 (2024-2025)
Cantabria ranks 6 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Vocational training (FP) as a share of FP plus Bachillerato enrolment, 2024-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Ciudad de Ceuta | 66.4% |
| 4 | Valencian Community | 66.1% |
| 5 | Galicia | 64.6% |
| 6 | Cantabria | 63.5% |
| 7 | Aragón | 63.2% |
| 8 | Madrid | 61.8% |
| 9 | Castilla y León | 61.0% |
Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) (2025)
Cantabria ranks 16 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)
Cantabria ranks 18 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)
Cantabria ranks 9 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) in education or training in the last 4 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Balearic Islands | 16.7% |
| 7 | Catalonia | 16.2% |
| 8 | Murcia | 15.8% |
| 9 | Cantabria | 15.8% |
| 10 | Asturias | 15.4% |
| 11 | Castilla y León | 15.3% |
| 12 | Aragón | 15.1% |
Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education (2025)
Cantabria ranks 15 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Castilla y León | 33.2% |
| 13 | Galicia | 32.6% |
| 14 | Catalonia | 31.3% |
| 15 | Cantabria | 26.7% |
| 16 | Asturias | 26.1% |
| 17 | Madrid | 26.0% |
| 18 | Navarre | 24.3% |
Adults (25-64) whose highest level is upper secondary (2025)
Cantabria ranks 4 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 Cantabria: 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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