Europe Edges Closer to Its 2030 Higher Education Goal, But Regional Gaps Remain

Europe’s ambition to raise the educational attainment of its young adults is taking shape, but the progress remains uneven across the continent. The latest data from Eurostat reveal that more than one-third of EU regions have already reached the Union’s 2030 goal for higher education, even as others continue to lag far behind.

In 2024, around 44% of Europeans aged between 25 and 34 held a university or equivalent qualification—just shy of the EU’s 45% target. This figure represents a steady climb over the past decade, driven by growing access to universities, international student mobility, and labour markets that increasingly reward advanced qualifications.

The success, however, is not evenly spread. The highest levels of educational attainment are concentrated in major cities and regions known for their research, technology, and innovation clusters. Young adults in capital areas such as Brussels, Copenhagen, Dublin, Madrid, Paris, Vilnius, Budapest, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Bratislava, and Stockholm are now among the most highly educated in Europe. Other top-performing regions include Luxembourg, Cyprus, and parts of Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and Ireland—all home to advanced industries and strong university networks.

By contrast, many regions in the south and east of the continent continue to struggle. Rural areas and island territories, where agriculture and traditional industries dominate, tend to show much lower rates of university completion. Large parts of Romania and Hungary, along with selected regions in Italy, France, Greece, Portugal, and Croatia, report fewer than one in four young adults with a tertiary degree. In many of these areas, vocational and apprenticeship routes remain the main path into employment, reflecting both economic structure and local tradition.

The divide underscores a broader challenge for the European Union: ensuring that education and training systems align with changing economic needs without leaving certain regions behind. Policymakers see the 45% goal as more than a symbolic milestone—it is a measure of how prepared Europe’s workforce will be for an economy increasingly powered by digital technology, green transformation, and high-value services.

While the overall picture suggests that the EU is close to meeting its target, maintaining momentum will require investment in regional universities, student mobility, and lifelong learning. As Europe enters the second half of the decade, the success of its education strategy may well depend on how effectively it can bridge the gap between thriving knowledge hubs and regions still waiting for their turn to catch up.

Source: EUROSTAT