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Scandinavia tops education table in Eurostat findings

Denmark Sweden and Finland top the latest Eurostat survey into which European countries show the highest levels of students completing upper secondary education in the European Union. Figures included in the survey took in how many people aged 25 to 29 had upper secondary ed...

Denmark Sweden and Finland top the latest Eurostat survey into which European countries show the highest levels of students completing upper secondary education in the European Union. Figures included in the survey took in how many people aged 25 to 29 had upper secondary education, which the three Scandinavian countries topped with rates of 89, 87 and 85 per cent respectively (with Austria also scoring 85 per cent). The average for the EU as a whole was 71 per cent. The lowest rates were found in Portugal (35 per cent), Spain (58 per cent) and Italy (60 per cent). However, these same countries, along with Greece, showed the greatest improvement in education rates among their younger population compared to that of the older respondents. Finland and Sweden also showed the highest percentages of population with a higher education qualification (31 and 29 per cent respectively), with the lowest rates being in Italy and Portugal showing the lowest rates at 10 per cent with Austria just above on 11 per cent. Finally, the EU wide level of 18 to 24 year olds who left school on or before completing lower secondary education was 20 per cent. Finland (7 per cent) Sweden (10 per cent), Austria and Denmark (both 12 per cent) had the lowest rates of this, while Portugal (46 per cent) had the highest level.