To mark World Teachers’ Day on October 5, Eurostat released demographic data showing that teachers in the Baltic states are among the oldest in the European Union, eng.lsm.lv reported. Across the EU, the data reveals a stark generational divide, with older educators outnumbering younger colleagues by a wide margin in multiple member states.
Baltic and Southern European Nations Face Aging Workforces
In five EU countries, more than half of all primary and secondary school teachers were aged 50 or older. Lithuania recorded the highest share at 58.4%, followed by Portugal at 55.6% and Italy at 54.3%. Latvia stood at 54.0%, while Estonia reported 50.6% of its teaching workforce in the 50-and-over bracket.
By contrast, countries with the lowest shares of older teachers presented a nearly inverted demographic picture. Ireland reported only 20.8% of its educators aged 50 or older, Malta recorded 20.9%, and Luxembourg stood at 22.0%.
Young Educators Remain Scarce Across Most Member States
Teachers under the age of 30 accounted for a relatively high share of the workforce in only a handful of nations. Luxembourg led this group with 15.3%, followed closely by Denmark at 15.2%, Belgium at 14.9%, and Austria at 14.6%.
Meanwhile, the lowest proportions of young teachers under 30 appeared in Cyprus at 3.1%, Portugal at 3.3%, and Poland at 4.0%. Across the entire 27-nation bloc, the workforce totals 5.30 million primary and secondary school teachers, representing an increase of 36,500 compared to the previous year.
Overall EU Demographics Show Few Young Entrants
Women make up the vast majority of the European teaching workforce at 72.9%, while men account for the remaining 27.1%. Overall, 40.4% of all EU teachers are aged 50 or older, contrasted with just 8.0% who are under 30.
Middle age groups form steady segments of the profession. Educators aged 30 to 34 comprise 9.5% of the workforce, and those aged 35 to 49 account for 11.6%. Older cohorts show consistent distribution, with each five-year band from age 40 to 59 representing between 14.1% and 15.8% of all teachers.
Male representation remains relatively stable across most age brackets, fluctuating between 26% and 30%. The only notable exception occurs among teachers aged 65 and older, where men account for 35.6%, a variation linked directly to differences in statutory retirement ages.
Frequently Asked Questions About EU Teacher Demographics
How many total teachers work in the European Union?
In 2024, a total of 5.30 million teachers worked in primary and secondary schools across the EU, marking an increase of 36,500 positions compared to 2023.
Which EU country has the highest percentage of older teachers?
Lithuania has the highest share of teachers aged 50 or over in the EU, standing at 58.4%, according to Eurostat data released for World Teachers’ Day.
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