Education in Nordwestschweiz, Switzerland: official figures
The share of adults aged 25 to 64 with a degree-level (tertiary) education was 45.7% in 2025, against 46.2% for Switzerland and 36.9% across the EU; 4th highest of 7 regions in Switzerland.
How much does Northwestern Switzerland spend on education?
In 2024 the cantonal governments of Northwestern Switzerland together spent CHF 4.6 billion on education, 30.7% of their budget and CHF 3,749 per resident, 4th highest of 7 greater regions (all cantons: CHF 3,423).
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyHow much does Northwestern Switzerland spend on vocational training?
Upper-secondary general schools (Gymnasien and similar) received CHF 379.67 million and initial vocational training CHF 412.23 million from the cantonal governments of Northwestern Switzerland together in 2024.
Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copyHow many young people in Nordwestschweiz leave school early?
The early school leaving rate was 5.4% in 2025 (18 to 24-year-olds with no upper secondary qualification who are not in education or training), against 5.5% for Switzerland as a whole and 9.1% across the EU; 4th highest of 7 statistical regions in Switzerland. In 2015 it was 3.6%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young people in Nordwestschweiz are NEET?
8.4% of young people aged 15 to 29 were neither in work nor in education or training (NEET) in 2025, against 8.7% for Switzerland as a whole and 11.0% across the EU; 3rd highest of 7 statistical regions in Switzerland. In 2015 it was 7.0%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Nordwestschweiz are in education or training?
25.0% of adults aged 25 to 64 had taken part in education or training in the previous four weeks in 2025, against 26.3% for Switzerland as a whole and 13.7% across the EU; 4th highest of 7 statistical regions in Switzerland. In 2015 it was 32.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many adults in Nordwestschweiz have no qualifications?
13.8% of adults aged 25 to 64 had no qualification beyond lower secondary school in 2025, against 13.9% for Switzerland as a whole and 18.8% across the EU; 4th highest of 7 statistical regions in Switzerland. In 2015 it was 10.7%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat education do adults in Nordwestschweiz have?
40.5% of adults aged 25 to 64 had an upper secondary or post-secondary (non-degree) education as their highest level in 2025, against 39.9% for Switzerland as a whole and 44.3% across the EU; 3rd lowest of 7 statistical regions in Switzerland. In 2015 it was 48.7%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many pupils and students are there in Nordwestschweiz?
Schools in Nordwestschweiz taught 76,110 primary pupils and 84,718 secondary pupils in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- The cantonal governments' own spending on compulsory schooling in Northwestern Switzerland was CHF 1.9 billion in 2024 and special-needs schools another CHF 462.92 million, together CHF 1,936 per resident. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Universities and universities of applied sciences took CHF 1.0 billion of cantonal money in Northwestern Switzerland in 2024, CHF 828 per resident (3rd lowest of 7 greater regions), and research a further CHF 229.86 million. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
- Education spending per resident in Northwestern Switzerland grew by 9.6% between 2019 and 2024. Source: Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF) · saved copy
How Nordwestschweiz compares with other statistical regions
Cantonal education spending per resident (CHF) (2024)
Nordwestschweiz ranks 4 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Cantonal education spending per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Région lémanique | CHF 4,416 |
| 2 | Zürich | CHF 3,938 |
| 3 | Espace Mittelland | CHF 3,836 |
| 4 | Nordwestschweiz | CHF 3,749 |
| 5 | Ticino | CHF 3,260 |
| 6 | Zentralschweiz | CHF 2,451 |
| 7 | Ostschweiz | CHF 2,079 |
Cantonal spending on universities per resident (CHF) (2024)
Nordwestschweiz ranks 5 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Cantonal spending on universities per resident (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zürich | CHF 1,376 |
| 2 | Région lémanique | CHF 1,343 |
| 3 | Espace Mittelland | CHF 1,024 |
| 4 | Ticino | CHF 1,002 |
| 5 | Nordwestschweiz | CHF 828 |
| 6 | Ostschweiz | CHF 606 |
| 7 | Zentralschweiz | CHF 536 |
Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) (2025)
Nordwestschweiz ranks 4 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Early leavers from education and training (age 18-24) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Région lémanique | 6.9% |
| 2 | Zentralschweiz | 5.7% |
| 3 | Espace Mittelland | 5.4% |
| 4 | Nordwestschweiz | 5.4% |
| 5 | Ticino | 5.3% |
| 6 | Zürich | 5.2% |
| 7 | Ostschweiz | 4.1% |
Young people (15-29) not in employment, education or training (2025)
Nordwestschweiz ranks 3 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Young people (15-29) not in employment, education or training |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Région lémanique | 12.0% |
| 2 | Ticino | 10.9% |
| 3 | Nordwestschweiz | 8.4% |
| 4 | Espace Mittelland | 8.1% |
| 5 | Zürich | 7.6% |
| 6 | Zentralschweiz | 7.4% |
| 7 | Ostschweiz | 7.1% |
Adults (25-64) in education or training in the last 4 weeks (2025)
Nordwestschweiz ranks 4 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) in education or training in the last 4 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zürich | 28.5% |
| 2 | Région lémanique | 27.8% |
| 3 | Espace Mittelland | 26.3% |
| 4 | Nordwestschweiz | 25.0% |
| 5 | Zentralschweiz | 24.6% |
| 6 | Ticino | 24.6% |
| 7 | Ostschweiz | 24.4% |
Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education (2025)
Nordwestschweiz ranks 4 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) with at most lower secondary education |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Région lémanique | 18.1% |
| 2 | Ticino | 14.6% |
| 3 | Espace Mittelland | 13.8% |
| 4 | Nordwestschweiz | 13.8% |
| 5 | Ostschweiz | 13.6% |
| 6 | Zürich | 11.5% |
| 7 | Zentralschweiz | 10.8% |
Adults (25-64) whose highest level is upper secondary (2025)
Nordwestschweiz ranks 5 of 7, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Adults (25-64) whose highest level is upper secondary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ostschweiz | 45.6% |
| 2 | Espace Mittelland | 44.9% |
| 3 | Ticino | 42.9% |
| 4 | Zentralschweiz | 42.8% |
| 5 | Nordwestschweiz | 40.5% |
| 6 | Région lémanique | 35.5% |
| 7 | Zürich | 31.9% |
More on Nordwestschweiz: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · Switzerland
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 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…)
- 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_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…)
- Federal Finance Administration (EFV/AFF): Detaillierte Daten FS und GFS Modell: Standardauswertungen (financial statistics of the Confederation, cantons, communes and social insurance, 1990-2024; standardauswertung.csv with its codelist, saved zipped), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5fec658d1506…)
- 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…)
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