Eurostat reports significant ageing of teaching workforce across EU

According to data published by Eurostat on October 5, 2026, the European Union is experiencing a notable ageing of its teaching workforce. In 2024, there were 5.30 million teachers in primary and secondary schools across the EU, representing an increase of 36,500 compared to 2023. Women currently account for 72.9% of the teaching staff, while men comprise 27.1%.

Demographic analysis reveals that 40.4% of teachers are aged 50 or older, while only 8.0% are under 30. Cyprus recorded the lowest share of young teachers at 3.1%, followed by Portugal at 3.3% and Poland at 4.0%. Conversely, Luxembourg leads with 15.3% of teachers under 30. Regarding the ageing workforce, five countries reported that over half of their teachers are at least 50 years old, with Lithuania having the highest proportion at 58.4%, followed by Portugal, Italy, Latvia, and Estonia. At the other end of the spectrum, Ireland, Malta, and Luxembourg reported the lowest percentages of teachers aged 50 and above.

The findings highlight a significant demographic disparity across member states. While the overall number of teachers has risen, the low influx of young educators suggests potential long-term challenges for the sustainability and renewal of the education sector across the bloc.