Italy ranks second-to-last in the EU for degree attainment as the situation worsens

Brussels – Italy lags behind in the EU and falls further back at the UN level. When it comes to education and university degrees, the country stands out for its low level of skills, studies, and preparedness. It is the second-to-last EU member state in terms of graduation rates, ahead only of Romania. The problem is certified by Eurostat in its publication of the progress made in meeting the UN Sustainable Development target for education. 

The Sustainable Development Goal Quality Education (SDG 4) seeks to ensure access for all to quality education through all stages of life, as well as to increase the number of young people and adults who have the relevant skills for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship. One of the Eurostat indicators used to measure progress towards the target is the tertiary attainment rate, which measures the share of the population aged 25-34 that has completed tertiary education.

While among EU countries, in 2024, Ireland (65.2%), Luxembourg (63.8%), and Cyprus (60.1%) had the highest tertiary education attainment rates, on the other hand, Romania (23.2%), Italy (31.6%), and Hungary (32.3%) had the lowest rates.

The updated Eurostat data also confirms a worsening of Italy’s position: at the end of 2023, Italy ranked third-to-last for the number of university degrees and diplomas obtained, and a year later, its placement in this particular ranking has further deteriorated — further evidence of an issue that puts the country in an economically weak position. With an aging population and a shortage of young people, the low number of qualified individuals poses challenges to Italy’s capacity for innovation and competitiveness.