This map is based on Eurostat population data and a dataset created by Barro and Lee (2013) to analyse educational attainment across the world between 1950 and 2010. The dataset uses UNESCO’s International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED), which is one of the most suitable for comparisons of ‘education statistics and indicators across countries on the basis of uniform and internationally-agreed definition’ (Barro and Lee, 2013, p 185). Educational comparisons are never ideal, but some are better than others. The meaning of ‘no school’ can range from arrived from outside Europe having never been to school, to hardly ever attended school, which will be the case for many older people, through to attended school but achieved so little that in terms of educational benefit it is as if the person never went.

Using the data for the latest year (2010), the map shows the distribution of the estimated numbers of people aged 15 years and over in Europe who have had no formal schooling. The total number is nearly 19 million, representing 3.7% of all Europe’s population aged 15 and over living in the countries mapped in this atlas. The highest numbers of people who have had no schooling are in Turkey, followed by Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom. However, it is interesting, and surprising, to see that the highest percentage is observed in Switzerland (11.7%). This is followed by Turkey (10.5%), Portugal (10.1%), Cyprus (10.0%) and Luxembourg (6.2%). On the other hand, the lowest percentages are observed in the Czech Republic (0.1%), Denmark (0.14%), Estonia (0.2%) and Norway (0.2%).

This map uses data from the same study conducted by Barro and Lee (2013) as was used for the map on the previous page. The total estimated number of people across Europe who have, at most, primary education is 106 million people, representing about 21% of all residents aged 15 and over. The highest number is in Turkey, the second highest in the United Kingdom and third highest in Italy.