Portugal’s early school leaving rate fell by 10.7 percentage points between 2014 and 2024 — the largest drop recorded by any EU member state. That single figure captures a decade of structural change in a country that once sat near the bottom of European education rankings. This article compiles the latest statistics on education in Portugal, covering attainment, student performance, spending, higher education, STEM, and the state of the teaching workforce.
Education in Portugal Statistics: Key Numbers at a Glance
- Portugal’s tertiary attainment rate reached 43% in 2024, surpassing the OECD average of 41% for the first time (OECD, 2025).
- In the 2022 PISA assessment, Portuguese 15-year-olds scored 472 in mathematics, 477 in reading, and 484 in science (OECD, 2023).
- Portugal spends USD 12,956 per student annually, about 14% below the OECD average of USD 15,023 (OECD Education at a Glance 2025).
- 448,235 students were enrolled across 97 higher education institutions in Portugal in the 2023/24 academic year (Eurydice/DGEEC, 2025).
- 53.8% of teachers in Portugal are over 50, the third-highest share among 39 OECD countries (OECD Education at a Glance 2025).
How Has Early School Leaving Changed in Education in Portugal?
Portugal cut its early school leaving rate by 10.7 percentage points between 2014 and 2024 — the steepest reduction among all 27 EU member states over that period. The country cleared the EU’s 2030 target of below 9% well ahead of schedule, according to Eurostat data published in May 2025.
Among young men, the rate dropped 12.7 points — the largest male-specific fall in the EU. Among young women, it fell 8.8 points, again the largest female decline across member states. By comparison, the second-largest overall reduction was Spain at 8.9 points.
| Country | Early School Leaving Rate 2014 (%) | Early School Leaving Rate 2024 (%) | Change (pp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | ~17.4 | ~6.7 | -10.7 |
| Spain | ~21.9 | ~13.0 | -8.9 |
| Malta | ~20.3 | ~13.6 | -6.7 |
| Bulgaria | ~12.9 | ~8.5 | -4.4 |
| EU Average | ~11.8 | ~9.4 | -2.4 |
Source: Eurostat, Early Leavers from Education and Training (edat_lfse_14), May 2025
What Do Students Score? Education in Portugal and PISA Performance
In the 2022 PISA cycle, Portuguese 15-year-olds scored 472 in mathematics, 477 in reading, and 484 in science. All three figures sit roughly in line with OECD averages. That alignment masks a significant decline from 2018, when Portugal’s scores were higher: mathematics fell by 20 points and reading by 15, losses the OECD equates to about one year of learning.
Grade repetition remains a persistent concern. Portugal’s repetition rate of 17% is nearly double the OECD average of 9%, according to the OECD PISA 2022 country note. Regional gaps are also clear — students in Alentejo, Algarve, and the Azores consistently scored below national averages across assessed subjects.
Basic skills gaps emerge sharply at lower secondary level. Year 8 national benchmark data from 2024 showed 84.5% of students in the lowest reading comprehension categories and 79.2% in the lowest grammar categories — a deterioration compared to 2022 results.
| Subject | Portugal 2018 | Portugal 2022 | OECD Average 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 492 | 472 | 472 |
| Reading | 492 | 477 | 476 |
| Science | 492 | 484 | 485 |
Source: OECD PISA 2022 Results — Portugal Country Note
The 2025 national study on bullying and cyberbullying, which surveyed 31,133 students aged 11–18, found that 5.9% reported being victims of bullying and 6.1% reported cyberbullying. The structural pressures reshaping education systems globally — from attention-span shifts to digital distractions — are visible in these patterns of performance and wellbeing.
Education Spending in Portugal: How Does It Compare?
Portugal spent USD 12,956 per student in purchasing power parity terms in the latest reference year, approximately 14% below the OECD average of USD 15,023. As a share of GDP per capita, however, Portugal allocates 29%, above the OECD average of 25%, reflecting the country’s lower overall income base.
Total government spending on education reached over 10.5 billion euros in 2022, according to Statista. The EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility directed an additional €674 million toward digital infrastructure and teacher training in Portuguese schools — one of the largest targeted education investments the country has received from external sources.
| Metric | Portugal | OECD Average |
|---|---|---|
| Annual spending per student (USD PPP) | 12,956 | 15,023 |
| Education spending as % of GDP per capita | 29% | 25% |
| Primary instruction hours per year | 874 | 804 |
| Lower secondary instruction hours per year | 818 | 909 |
Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2025 — Portugal Country Note
Higher Education in Portugal: Enrollment and Attainment
In the 2023/24 academic year, 448,235 students were enrolled across 97 higher education institutions in Portugal. Tertiary attainment among 25–34 year-olds rose from 38% in 2019 to 43% in 2024, the first time Portugal has exceeded the OECD average on this measure.
At the same time, 38% of the overall adult population (25–64) still lacks upper secondary education — more than double the OECD average of 19%. That structural gap largely reflects older cohorts who came through Portugal’s education system before the post-1980s democratization of secondary and higher education.
Tertiary graduates in Portugal earn 74% more than workers with upper secondary education. The OECD average premium is 34%. Graduate employment rates stand at 91%. The gender dimension of higher education also matters here: women in Portugal make up 31.3% of STEM students at the tertiary level and only 18.4% of ICT students, both below EU averages.
| Indicator | Portugal (2024) | OECD Average |
|---|---|---|
| Tertiary attainment rate, 25–34 year-olds | 43% | 48% |
| Adults lacking upper secondary education (25–64) | 38% | 19% |
| Master’s degree holders, 25–34 year-olds | 17% | 16% |
| Wage premium for tertiary vs upper secondary | 74% | 34% |
| Graduate employment rate | 91% | ~85% |
Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2025; EU Education and Training Monitor 2025
International Students in Education in Portugal
Nearly 50,000 international students chose Portugal for higher education in 2022, making up 12% of total enrollment. That compares to just 4% in 2013. About 33% of international students came from Brazil, with Africa as the most represented continent overall.
Twelve Portuguese universities appeared in the QS World University Rankings 2025. Average monthly expenditure for a higher education student reached approximately 904 euros in the 2022/23 academic year, with accommodation costs driving much of that figure.
Source: Eurydice/DGEEC via EU Education and Training Monitor 2025; QS Insights 2024
STEM and Digital Skills in Education in Portugal
STEM enrollment in higher education reached 28.9% in 2023, above the EU average of 26.9% but still short of the EU’s proposed 2030 target of 32%. Portugal produced 10,071 new STEM graduates in 2023, exceeding the official RRP forecast by 166%, according to DGES data.
Under the INCoDe.2030 framework, approximately 90% of primary and secondary teachers voluntarily completed digital competency assessments aligned with the European DigCompEdu framework. Digital development plans have been rolled out across most schools, spanning organizational, pedagogical, and technological dimensions.
The national Impulso Jovens STEAM program targets an increase of 10,000 tertiary STEAM graduates through first-cycle programs and short-term courses. A parallel adult program, Impulso Adultos, aims to train more than 20,000 adults in cooperation with employers and higher education institutions. Those interested in how technology is changing classroom delivery globally will find Portugal’s trajectory a useful case study.
| Indicator | Portugal | EU/OECD Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| STEM enrollment in higher education (2023) | 28.9% | 26.9% (EU avg) |
| New STEM graduates (2023) | 10,071 | — |
| Teachers completing digital skills assessments | ~90% | — |
| Women in STEM tertiary (2023) | 31.3% | — |
| Women in ICT tertiary (2023) | 18.4% | — |
Source: EU Education and Training Monitor 2025 — Portugal; Eurostat
Teacher Workforce Challenges in Education in Portugal
Portugal has one of the oldest teaching workforces in the OECD. As of the latest data, 53.8% of teachers are over 50 — the third-highest share among 39 OECD countries. At the other end, only 2.7% are under 30, the lowest rate in the entire OECD.
Real salaries for primary teachers fell 1.8% between 2015 and 2024, while the OECD average rose 14.6% over the same period. School principals reported a 30-point increase in staff shortage concerns between 2018 and 2022. By 2023, 6.5% of teachers were not fully qualified, according to OECD Education at a Glance 2025.
Staff shortages span the full early childhood education and care cycle. National pedagogical guidelines for creches were approved in March 2024, but implementation is constrained by the limited supply of qualified personnel. The long-term evolution of the teaching profession — from knowledge-deliverer to learning facilitator — poses additional recruitment and retention challenges for a workforce already strained by demographic pressure.
| Indicator | Portugal | OECD Average / Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Teachers over 50 | 53.8% | 3rd highest of 39 countries |
| Teachers under 30 | 2.7% | Lowest in OECD |
| Change in real primary teacher salary (2015–2024) | -1.8% | +14.6% |
| Teachers not fully qualified (2023) | 6.5% | — |
| Rise in principal-reported staff shortage (2018–2022) | +30 points | — |
Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2025 — Portugal Country Profile
For broader context, the future of education as a policy domain involves not just digital tools but structural workforce planning that Portugal is only beginning to address at scale. Research into workforce sustainability in knowledge-intensive professions suggests that salary stagnation and demographic aging create compounding retention risks — a pattern visible in Portugal’s teacher data.
Early Childhood Education Enrollment in Portugal
Pre-primary participation in Portugal is among the highest in the OECD. 99% of four-year-olds are enrolled in early childhood and primary education, placing Portugal fourth out of 40 countries with available data. Enrollment among five-year-olds in ECEC reached 100% — ranking first in the OECD.
Despite high participation rates at the pre-primary stage, capacity constraints remain. The 2025 EU Education and Training Monitor flagged ongoing staff shortages throughout the ECEC cycle and noted that STEM and digital learning are not yet integrated into early childhood policy. New national ECEC strategy guidelines are under development.
| Age Group | Portugal Enrollment Rate | OECD Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 4-year-olds in pre-primary or primary education | 99% | 4th of 40 countries |
| 5-year-olds in ECEC | 100% | 1st of 40 countries |
Source: OECD Education GPS (EAG 2024); Eurostat
FAQs
What is Portugal’s current tertiary education attainment rate?
As of 2024, 43% of Portuguese adults aged 25–64 hold a tertiary degree, according to OECD Education at a Glance 2025. This surpasses the OECD average of 41% for the first time.
How many international students study in Portugal?
Nearly 50,000 international students were enrolled in Portuguese universities in 2022, representing 12% of total higher education enrollment. About a third came from Brazil.
How does Portugal’s PISA performance compare to the OECD?
In 2022, Portugal scored 472 in math, 477 in reading, and 484 in science — roughly equal to OECD averages. Scores fell from 2018 levels by up to 20 points in mathematics.
How much does Portugal spend per student on education?
Portugal spends USD 12,956 per student annually in purchasing power parity terms, about 14% below the OECD average of USD 15,023, per OECD Education at a Glance 2025.
How old is the average teacher in Portugal?
Over 53% of Portuguese teachers are above 50, ranking third among 39 OECD countries. Only 2.7% are under 30 — the lowest share of young teachers across all OECD countries.
Sources
With many years of professional experience within transnational corporations in different industries, Richard Jaimes has had the opportunity to lead people and organizations, investigate future topics, create strategies and innovations, consult senior management and translate insights into business advantages. Richard is also a long time senior consultant with Quantumrun Foresight.
