What European countries have the lowest level of education?

Valerie Charoux
2 days ago
2 min read

Education News Europe – Here is the ranking of European countries that have the lowest level of education, that is less than primary and lower secondary education, according to a Eurostat report published in December 2025.

Ranking of Top 10 European countries that have the lowest level of education:

1 – Türkiye

Türkiye ranks No. 1 European country that has the lowest level of education with 51.5% of people aged between 15 – 64 years old having reached less than primary and lower secondary education.

2 – Portugal

Portugal ranks 2^ndEuropean country that has the lowest level of education with 38.7% of people aged between 15 – 64 years old having reached less than primary and lower secondary education.

For the population aged 25-74 years old, the percentage of the population that has the lowest level of education is 45.5%.

3 – Spain

Spain ranks 3^rd European country that has the lowest level of education with 37% of people aged between 15 – 64 years old having reached less than primary and lower secondary education.

4 – Italy

Italy ranks 4^th European country that has the lowest level of education with 35.7% of people aged between 15 – 64 years old having reached less than primary and lower secondary education.

5 – Malta

Malta ranks 5^th European country that has the lowest level of education with 29.1% of people aged between 15 – 64 years old having reached less than primary and lower secondary education.

6 – North Macedonia

North Macedonia ranks 6^th European country that has the lowest level of education with 28.9% of people aged between 15 – 64 years old having reached less than primary and lower secondary education.

7 – Denmark

Denmark ranks 7^th European country that has the lowest level of education with 24.2% of people aged between 15 – 64 years old having reached less than primary and lower secondary education.

This is lower than the Euro Area percentage of the population that has the lowest level of education, that is 26.2% between 2023 and 2025, but around the same percentage as the European Union that is 24.1%.

8 – Norway

Norway ranks 8^th European country that has the lowest level of education with 24% of people aged between 15 – 64 years old having reached less than primary and lower secondary education.

9 – Netherlands

Netherlands ranks 9^th European country that has the lowest level of education with 23.7% of people aged between 15 – 64 years old having reached less than primary and lower secondary education.

10 – Iceland

Iceland ranks 10^th European country that has the lowest level of education with 23.1% of people aged between 15 – 64 years old having reached less than primary and lower secondary education.