Italy: people with a higher education by age 2023

In 2023, 30 percent of people in Italy aged between 25 and 34 had a higher education degree. Similarly, 27 percent of Italians aged 35 to 44 years obtained a tertiary education title. Figures have steadily increased since 2000, when only around 10 percent of the population between 25 and 50 years successfully completed university studies. Despite this remarkable improvement, Italy ranks among the worst European countries in terms of tertiary educational attainment. In 2023, more than 40 percent of Europeans aged from 25 to 44 held a degree, 10 percent higher than in Italy. Overall, only 19 percent of Italians held a tertiary education, compared to 31 percent of the EU population.

Distribution of people with tertiary educational attainment in Italy from 2000 to 2023, by age group

Characteristic	20 to 24 years	25 to 34 years	35 to 44 years	45 to 54 years	55 to 64 years
2000	1.4%	10.6%	11%	10.1%	6%
2001	1.3%	11.3%	10.8%	10.3%	6%
2002	1.5%	12.2%	10.8%	10.3%	6.5%
2003	1.9%	13%	11.2%	10.6%	6.9%
2004*	2.8%	14.7%	12.3%	11.2%	7.5%
2005	4.8%	16.2%	12.8%	11.2%	8%
2006	6.4%	17.3%	13.6%	11.2%	8.5%
2007	7.1%	18.8%	14.1%	11.3%	9.3%
2008	6.8%	19.9%	15.2%	12%	9.8%
2009	6.7%	20.2%	15.5%	11.9%	10.2%
2010	6%	20.8%	15.8%	12.1%	10.7%
2011	6.2%	21.1%	16.7%	11.6%	10.8%
2012	6.7%	22.5%	17.5%	12.4%	11.5%
2013	7.2%	22.9%	18.5%	12.8%	12%
2014*	7.9%	24.2%	19.4%	12.9%	12.3%
2015	7.5%	25.2%	20.6%	13.5%	12.3%
2016	8.1%	25.6%	20.5%	14%	12.4%
2017	8.7%	26.9%	22.1%	14.8%	12.8%
2018*	9.5%	27.9%	23.1%	15.8%	13%
2019	10.2%	27.9%	23.9%	16.6%	12.8%
2020	10.6%	28.6%	24.7%	16.8%	12.8%
2021*	11.9%	28.3%	24.9%	17.2%	12.7%
2022	12%	29.2%	25.4%	17.9%	12.4%
2023	12%	30.6%	27.4%	19.2%	13.2%

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Release date

June 2024

More information

Region

Italy

Survey time period

2000 to 2023

Age group

20-64 years

Supplementary notes

* Break in time series.

The educational attainment level of an individual is the highest ISCED (International Standard Classification of Education) level successfully completed, the successful completion of an education program being validated by a recognized qualification, i.e. a qualification officially recognized by the relevant national education authorities or recognized as equivalent to another qualification of formal education. In countries where education programs, in particular those belonging to ISCED levels 1 and 2, do not lead to a qualification the criterion of full attendance of the program and normally gaining access to a higher level of education may have to be used instead. When determining the highest level, both general and vocational education should be taken into consideration. The ISCED definition of education includes training. Data on educational attainment level exclude persons who did not answer to the question 'highest level of education or training successfully completed'.

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