Press release dated 19/08/2010
The Basque Country has double the rate of graduates with a first or higher degree in Science and Technology in the EU-27
It has the highest rate in the zone, with 27.2 graduates per 1,000 inhabitants
The number of graduates aged 20 to 29 with a first or higher degree in Science and Technology in the Basque Country (27.2 per 1000 inhabitants) was more than double the EU-27 average (13.4 per 1000 inhabitants), according to EUSTAT data for 2007, which are the latest available for comparisons for both zones. The Spanish rate for the same period was 11.2 per 1000 inhabitants.
If we compare this data with the figures for each of the EU-27 countries, the Basque Country heads the ranking. Thus, if the rate for our community was 27.2 science and technology university graduates per 1000 inhabitants, it was followed by France (20.7), Finland (18.8), Ireland (18.7), Portugal and Lithuania (both with 18.1), the United Kingdom (17.5), and Denmark (16.4). The countries with the lowest rates were Cyprus (4.2) and Malta (7.1 graduates per 1000 inhabitants).
Special mention should be made of the spectacular performance of this indicator in the Basque Country over recent years, as is clear from the figures for 2000, as our Community had 20.2 graduates with a science and technology degree per 1,000 inhabitants, while Spain had 9.9 and the EU-27 average was 10.1.
Likewise in the educational sphere, and in relation to the percentage of the population aged 20 to 24 who at least completed secondary studies, it is noteworthy that this indicator for the Basque Country stood at 78.0% in 2008, which was close to the average for EU-27 countries (78.5%). However, the Spanish rate (60.0%) was far below this average.
By countries, Slovakia (92.3%), the Czech Republic (91.6%), Poland (91.3%), Slovenia (90.2%), Lithuania (89.1%), Sweden (87.9%) and Ireland (87.7%) were the ones with the highest rates. On the other hand, the countries with the lowest rates for the 20-24 year old age group who had at least completed secondary education were Malta (53.0%), Portugal (54.3%) and Spain (60.0%).
For further information:
Euskal Estatistika-Erakundea / Instituto Vasco de Estadística
C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz
Tlf:+34-945-01 75 00 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01 E-mail: eustat@eustat.es
Contact: Manuel Riveiros
Tel:+34-945-01 75 06 Fax:+34-945-01 75 01
Further press releases on the Basque Country in the European Union 27