Portugal is one of the least-educated nations in Europe, with only 28% of its over-30 population holding a high school diploma. Although Portugal offers free education to its people until they turn 18 years old, only 27% of its men and 32% of its women have completed high school. Many analysts blame Portugal's lack of an educated workforce for its significant economic struggles.
More about education and employment in Portugal:
- As of 2012, the unemployment rate in Portugal was about 14%, and youth unemployment was about 35%.
- Portugal's 30% overall high school graduation rate is significantly lower than that of Germany, where 89% of its residents complete high school, and the Czech Republic, where 91% graduate. The percentage of people in the United States who earn a high school diploma or pass their General Educational Development (GED) exam is 85%.
- Although Portugal's dropout rate is high, Turkey's dropout rate is even higher. About 74% of students in Turkey drop out before graduating from high school.