Gender gap in early school leaving spans 9.8 pp across EU in 2025
Eurostat reports the gender gap in early school leaving varies by 9.8 percentage points across the EU in 2025, from a +6.4 pp male disadvantage in Spain to a –3.4 pp advantage in Romania, with the bloc average at +3.1 pp.
The gender gap in early school leaving spans 9.8 percentage points across the EU in 2025, from a +6.4 pp disadvantage for young men in Spain to a –3.4 pp advantage in Romania, while the EU average stands at +3.1 pp.
Spain shows the widest male disadvantage
Eurostat records 15.9 % of Spanish young men leaving school early versus 9.5 % of young women, a gap of +6.4 pp. The figure marks the highest male‑biased gap among the three cases presented.
Romania reverses the trend
In Romania, 13.8 % of young men leave early compared with 17.2 % of young women, giving a –3.4 pp gap that favours women. It is the only negative gap in the snapshot.
EU average and broader picture
Across the EU, 10.6 % of young men and 7.5 % of young women leave school early, producing a +3.1 pp male‑biased gap. The spread of 9.8 pp between Spain and Romania highlights divergent national dynamics.
| Country | Gap (young men – young women) (pp) |
|---|---|
| Spain | +6.4 |
| Romania | –3.4 |
| EU average | +3.1 |
| Source: Eurostat, early school leaving by sex, 2025 | |
Policymakers will need to address the contrasting trajectories: Spain may require targeted retention programmes for boys, while Romania faces a growing risk of female disengagement.
