At least 48 percent of women in the said age group held university degrees in 2022, while only 37 percent of their male counterparts achieved the same educational milestone.
At least 48 percent of women in the said age group held university degrees in 2022, while only 37 percent of their male counterparts achieved the same educational milestone.
Women in the European Union aged 25 to 34 surpassed men in the attainment of higher education degrees, according to recent data released by Eurostat.
The latest data, as cited by Erudera, at least 48 percent of women in the said age group held university degrees in 2022, while only 37 percent of their male counterparts achieved the same educational milestone.
It also showed a slight increase in the overall percentage of individuals with tertiary education degrees within this age range, reaching 42 percent in 2022 compared to 41 percent in 2021.
Despite this progress, the EU’s goal of attaining a tertiary education degree for 45 percent of its population remains three percentage points behind target.
However, certain countries have already surpassed this objective. Western European nations exhibit higher shares of university degree holders than their counterparts in Southern Europe.
Ireland led the pack with an impressive 62 percent of its population holding higher education degrees, followed closely by Luxembourg (61 percent), Cyprus (59 percent), Lithuania (58 percent), and the Netherlands (56 percent). Additionally, Sweden (52 percent), Spain and Belgium (both 51 percent), France (50 percent), Denmark (49 percent), Slovenia (47 percent), Latvia (46 percent), and Greece (45 percent) boast significant proportions of university degree holders.
Meanwhile, Romania and Italy have the lowest percentages, with 25 percent and 29 percent of their populations respectively holding university degrees. Hungary falls slightly above them, with 32 percent of its population having completed a college or university education.
Germany, known as a prime destination for international students in Europe, has experienced a decline in the share of individuals holding university degrees over the past decade.
A study conducted by the German Economic Institute revealed that between 2011 and 2021, only 35.7 percent of professionals aged 25 to 34 possessed higher education degrees, compared to the EU average of 41.2 percent during the same period.
However, the study noted that when considering individuals with tertiary and secondary vocational education and training in the 25 to 34 age group combined, Germany surpasses the EU average with 77.0 percent, compared to the EU’s 73.4 percent.
Additionally, the proportion of EU workers aged 25 to 64 without university degrees has declined from 27 percent to 20.7 percent between 2011 and 2021, representing a significant 6.3 percent decrease.
Germany has also witnessed a decrease in the share of individuals with higher education degrees during the same period, rising from 13.4 percent to 15.2 percent.
