School-leaving age

The school leaving age is the minimum age a person is legally allowed to cease attendance at an institute of compulsory secondary education. Most countries have their school leaving age set the same as their minimum full-time employment age, thus allowing smooth transition from education into employment, whilst a few have it set just below the age at which a person is allowed to be employed.

In contrast, there are numerous countries that have several years between their school leaving age and their legal minimum employment age, thus in some cases preventing any such transition for several years. Countries which have their employment age set below the school leaving age (mostly developing countries), risk giving children the opportunity to leave their education early to earn money for their families.

Leaving age by country

Some countries have different leaving or employment ages, but in certain countries like China and Japan, the average age at which people graduate is 15, depending upon part-time or full-time learning or employment. The table below states the school leaving ages in countries across the world and their respective minimum employment age, showing a comparison of how many countries have synchronised these ages. All information is taken from the Right to Education Project's table unless otherwise indicated.^[1]

Legend

Africa

#	Country	De jure		Education/ Employment gap	Year	Notes
		School leaving age	Employment age
	Algeria	16		0	2011
	Angola	12	14	2	2010
	Benin	?	14		2005
	Botswana	?	15		2004
	Burkina Faso	16	15	-1	2009
	Burundi	12	16	4	2010
	Cameroon	14		0	2001
	Cape Verde	16	14	-2	2001
	Chad	15	?		2007
	Comoros	14	?		1998
	Congo	16		0	2006
	Egypt	14		0	2010
	Eritrea	13	14	1	2007
	Ethiopia	?			2005
	Gabon	16		0	2001
	Gambia	?			2000
	Ghana	15	12	-3	2005
	Guinea	16		0	2012
	Kenya	?			2006
	Libya	15		0	2002
	Madagascar	?	14		2010
	Malawi	?	14		2008
	Mozambique	?	15		2009
	Morocco	13	?		2003
	Namibia	16	14	-2	2011
	Niger	16	14	-2	2008
	Nigeria	15	?		2009
	Rwanda	16		0	2012
	Senegal	16	15	-1	2006
	Seychelles	15		0	2011
	Sierra Leone	15?	?		2006
	South Africa	15		0	2011	A child between the ages of 15 and 18 may only be employed if he or she has completed grade nine.[2]
	Sudan	?	14		2010	Includes South Sudan
	Tanzania	13?	14		2005
	Togo	15	14	-1	2010
	Tunisia	16		0	2008
	Uganda	?			2004
	Zambia	?			2002
	Zimbabwe	?			1995

Asia

#	Country	De jure		Education/ Employment gap	Year	Notes
		School leaving age	Employment age
	Afghanistan	?	15		2010
	Armenia	?	14		2011
	Azerbaijan	?	15		2005
	Bahrain	15	14	-1	2010
	Bangladesh	10	14	4	2008
	Brunei	?	14?		2003	Compulsory Education in Brunei from Primary Education to Secondary Education. Tertiary Education is encouraged.
	Burma	?	13		2011	De facto none
	Cambodia	?	15		2010
	China	15	16	1	2012	Compulsory education lasts 9 years. School leaving age is calculated under the assumption that pupils will enroll in school at age 6 or graduate high school at age 18.
	Georgia	14	16	2	2007
	India	14	14?		2003	The Government is making a law of compulsory education up to 14 years. Any person who wishes to continue his education can continue to work.
	Hong Kong	15	16	1	2012
	Indonesia	15	14	-1	2010?	The school leaving age varies among provinces with most having a leaving age of 15, but a handful having a leaving age of 18.
	Iran	16	15	-1	2003?
	Iraq	?	15		1996
	Israel	18	14	-4	2011?	The age of employment has been lowered, the school leaving age raised.
	Japan	15		0	2009	The vast majority (>90%) of Japanese students complete senior secondary education due to social pressures, despite the leaving age.
	Jordan	16		0	2006
	Lebanon	12	13	1	2005
	Mongolia	17	14	-3	2009
	Nepal	?	14		2004
	North Korea	16		0	2008
	South Korea	15		0	2011	The vast majority of Korean students complete senior secondary education due to social pressures as well as self-satisfaction, despite the leaving age. Government assistance is available to families.
	Kuwait	15	14	-1	2012
	Malaysia	17	14	-3	2006?	Primary school is compulsory, followed by secondary school. 17 is the school leaving age; one may leave only after the release of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia results for admission to the tertiary education. 14 is the minimum employment age. Under-aged people are not allowed to be employed or they risk fines by the Ministry of Human Resources.
	Maldives	?	14		2006
	Pakistan	10	14	4	2009?	Although the minimum age for leaving school is 10 years or primary, which means a 7 year education, the minimum age of employment is considered to be 14. The 14 years old can do only light work and not hazardous employment.
	Philippines	18	15	-3	2015	The implementation of the K-12 program (see Education in the Philippines) also signaled the raise of the school leaving age to 18.
	Saudi Arabia	15		0	2010?	A student may leave school after the age of 15 if permission of his/her father is given. Otherwise, the student must complete school until the age of 18. The employment age in a part-time job or during school holidays is 15.
	Singapore	16	15	-1	2010?	Primary school is compulsory, followed by secondary school. 16 is the school leaving age; one may leave only after the release of Singaporean GCE 'O' Level results for admission to polytechnics, junior colleges, Institute of Technical Education, or work. 15 is the minimum employment age. Under-aged people are not allowed to be employed or they risk fines by the Ministry of Manpower.
	Sri Lanka	14	10	-4	2010
	Syria	15		0	2010
	Taiwan	18		0	2010?
	Tajikistan	16	14	-2	2009
	Thailand	15		0	2011	Students must complete secondary education up to Matthayom 3 and then have the choice of proceeding to upper secondary, vocational schools or dropping out, however due to social pressures most students finish their secondary education and proceed to Matthayom 6, matriculation or other forms of pre-university education.
	United Arab Emirates	18	21	3	2001
	Uzbekistan	18	16	-2	2012
	Vietnam	18	15	-3	2011?	Junior High schools are now compulsory, but in some mountainous regions, many children leave schools earlier to help their parents. The government is trying to reduce that happening. Children must be at least 15 to be legally employed.
	Yemen	?	14		2004

Europe

#	Country	De jure		Education/ Employment gap	Year	Notes
		School leaving age	Employment age
	Andorra	16		0	2001
	Austria	15		0	2011
	Belarus	15	14	-1	2010
	Belgium	18	15	-3	2009?	Full-time education is compulsory from the age of 6 to 15. From the person's 16th to their 18th birthday, they are obliged to pursue at least part-time education so they have a choice between full-time or part-time education.
	Bosnia and Herzegovina	?	15		2011
	Bulgaria	16		0	2007
	Croatia	15		0	2003
	Cyprus	15		0	2011
	Czech Republic	15		0	2010
	Denmark	16	13	-3	2010
	England	18	13-15 (part time light work) 16+ (full time)		2013[3]	Full-time employment is illegal before the last Friday in June of Year Eleven even if the child is already 16.[4] Part-time employment may be undertaken from 14 and in certain cases, for example delivering newspapers, at 13. Rules coming into application in 2011 require all young people to continue with some kind of education or training until 18. Young people aged 16 or 17 may leave school if they enter training or an apprenticeship.
	Estonia	15		0	2002
	Finland	16	15	-1	2010	Citizens must complete comprehensive school. The age of finishing it varies depending on the age of starting school (mostly 7) and years held back. Most graduate from comprehensive school at the age of 16. Pupils who have not finished comprehensive school by the age of 17 (which is marginal) may quit school. Post-secondary (tertiary) education is voluntary.
	France	16		0	2010	The statutory minimum school leaving age is 16. There are, however, a few specific cases where young people may enter employment before the age of 16, such as employment in the parents' company, sporadic work, or young people who have left school early taking up an apprenticeship at 15, to name a few.[5]
	Germany	18	(15)	-3	2003	The statutory minimum school leaving age is essentially set at 18.[6] The federal Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz (Youth Employment Protection Act) regulates the minimum employment age, which is set at 15.[7] However, from the person's 15th to their 18th birthday, they are obliged by state law to pursue at least part-time vocational secondary education, usually within the German dual education system. Some germans students leaving school at 17 and 6 months
	Greece	15		0	2011
	Hungary	18	16	-2	2005
	Iceland	16		0	2010
	Ireland	16	(14)	-2	2000	The statutory minimum age is 16, except for those who have completed less than three years of secondary education, for whom it is 18.[8][9] The minimum working ages are: 14 during school holidays; 15 during term time; 16 for working up to 40 hours per week and 8 hours per day; 18 for working with no age-based restrictions.[8][10] Employees under 18 must be registered.[10] Exemptions may be specified by the Minister for Jobs; this has been done for close relatives.[10][11]
	Italy	16		0	2010
	Latvia	15		0	2005
	Liechtenstein	15		0	2005
	Lithuania	16		0	2011
	Luxembourg	15		0	1997
	Macedonia	18	15	-3	2009?	Compulsory secondary education starts year 2008 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 49 from 18 April 2007).
	Malta	16		0	2012	Although the compulsory education ends at 16, an increasing number of children opt to further their studies while taking up part-time employment.
	Moldova	16	15	-1	2008
	Monaco	16		0	2012
	Montenegro	15		0	2010
	Netherlands	18	13	-5	2014	Education is compulsory from the age of 5 to 18. Secondary education is divided in several levels, with vmbo students typically graduating at age 16, havo students at 17 and vwo students at 18. After obtaining a havo or vwo diploma, the student is no longer obligated to go to school regardless of their age. Except those students which have done vmbo, they must have a mbo level 2 or higher diploma before quitting school. Also, all children between those ages, even if they're refugees or new, have to attend school. Not attending school with-out proper reason for example; sickness or a doctors visit, is illegal and is seen as wagging which is seen as fraud and punishable by law. Until the age of 12 children cannot be punished by law, but as soon as your child or you turn 12 years of age or older, you can be held responsible for wagging. Punishments can be done as a fine, temporary jail time or a community service job done under supervision. Fines can be up to € 3 900 00. These punishments can be given to the student and/or his or her legal parent or guardian.
	Netherlands Antilles	15	12	-3	2010?
	Norway	16	15	-1	2009
	Northern Ireland	16	​		2014[12]
	Poland	18	16	-2	2002	After graduating from Gimnazjum (usually at the age of 15 or 16) one can leave school but is legally required to continue education up to the age of 18. However, this requirement can be satisfied through "education during employment" without attending a school. This can be done as a part of employment, so technically the person leaves school and works full-time.
	Portugal	18	16	-2	2009
	Romania	18	15	-3	2008?
	Russia	15		0	2004
	San Marino	16		0	2003
	Scotland	16	(13)	-3	2013[13]	Compulsory education ends usually after the age of 16 which is generally after fourth year though for some is halfway through fifth year usually. However, many students stay on to fifth and/or sixth year, where qualifications are gained for entry to university. Restrictions apply to working hours of those 13 to 16 year (i.e. maximum hours, work permits, type of work) to ensure that employment fits round requirements of full-time education.
	Serbia	14	15	1	2007
	Slovakia	16	(14)	-2	2006?	From 14 to 17, only part-time jobs allowed. Student can leave school after 10 years of school atendance (usually 16 years) or when first school year after his/her 16th birthday is finished (whatever comes first). Most students continue until maturita exam in last year of high school (student is usually 18 at that time).
	Slovenia	15		0	2012
	Spain	16		0	2009
	Sweden	16		0	2004
	Switzerland	15		0	2001
	Ukraine	17	16	-1	2010
	Wales	16	(14)	-2	2013[14]	Full-time work starts at 16.

North America

#	Country	De jure		Education/ Employment gap	Year	Notes
		School leaving age	Employment age
	Barbados	16	16?		1997
	Belize	14		0	2004
	Canada	16 or 18	16	1	2014	[15]
	Costa Rica	?	15		2010
	Cuba	16		0	2010
	Dominica	16	12	-4	2004?
	Dominican Republic	15		0	2007?
	Grenada	14		0	2009
	Haiti	?	15		2002
	Jamaica	14	12	-2	2003
	Mexico	15		0	2014
	Saint Kitts and Nevis	16		0	1997
	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	?	14?		2001
	Trinidad and Tobago	12		0	2004
	United States	16-18*	14-18*		2010	The school leaving age varies from state to state with most having a leaving age of 16 or 17, but a handful having a leaving age of above that number.[16] Students who complete a certain level of secondary education ("high school") may take a standardized test and be graduated from compulsory education, the General Equivalency Degree. Gifted and talented students are also generally permitted by several states to accelerate their education so as to obtain a diploma prior to attaining the leaving age. Young people may seek employment at 14 in many states but, in practice, most employers seek someone slightly older. However, it is common for those aged 14 (and even younger) to gain employment in agriculture. *Varies by State or Territory |-

Oceania

#	Country	De jure		Education/ Employment gap	Year	Notes
		School leaving age	Employment age
	Australia	15 or 17	14.5	1	2011	The minimum ages from 2009 will be the following: Northern Territory - 15; ACT - 15; South Australia - 17; Queensland - 17; Students must remain in school until they turn 16 years of age or complete Year 10, which ever comes first. From there they must be "learning or earning" which means they must be employed at least 25 hours a week, or be in full time education or be in a combination of both part time employment and part time education which adds up to at least 25 hours a week until they turn 17 or complete Year 12 or equivalent, which ever comes first. Victoria - 17; Western Australia - 15; NSW - 17 (if they want to not do their HSC they need to be working at least 25 hours per week or at TAFE studying until they turn 17); Tasmania - 17.
	Fiji	?	12		1996
	Marshall Islands	14	18	4	2005
	F.S. Micronesia	14	?		1996
	New Zealand	16		0	2010	Those at least 15 may leave school with permission from the Ministry of Education.
	Papua New Guinea	?			2003
	Palau	17	?		2000
	Solomon Islands	?	12		2002

South America

#	Country	De jure		Education/ Employment gap	Year	Notes
		School leaving age	Employment age
	Argentina	18	14	-4	2009
	Bolivia	16	14	-2	2009
	Brazil	17	15	-2	2010	Schooling is mandatory for children 6-16 (years 1-9 in the new Brazilian school system). After that, there is no legal obligation to stay in school. Students who want to qualify for university admission must however complete three additional years (years 10-12) of secondary school (ensino médio), thus normally leaving school at age 17 or 18, depending on one's birthday date. The minimum age for legal work is 17; at 15, one is allowed to have an apprenticeship contract.
	Chile	18	15	-3	2005	Students finish their secondary education (Educación Media in Spanish) at age 18, and working is legal only if the underaged employee (age 17 or younger) is authorised by legal guardian or parents,
	Colombia	15	14	-1	2005
	Guyana	15		0	2003
	Paraguay	14		0	2009	Since the initiation of the Education Reform in 1993, basic education is for a period of nine years to the age of 15. According to the Constitution, compulsory education ends at 12.
	Peru	16	18	2	2009	(Work is legal at 15,16 if is authorised by legal guardian or parents)
	Suriname	10?	14		2005
	Uruguay	14	15	1	2006
	Venezuela	14		0	2007

School retention by country

Country	2009 OECD[17]	1986 Michael Hill[18]
	%-age in full-time education (aged 15-19)	%-age in full-time education (aged 17)	Minimum leaving age required
Australia	78	50	15
Austria	84	N⁄A	N⁄A
Belgium	91	86	16
Brazil	70	N⁄A	N⁄A
Canada	80	79	15/16
Czech Republic	93	N⁄A	N⁄A
Denmark	89	75	16/17
Estonia	89	N⁄A	N⁄A
Finland	90	91	17
France	90	80	16
Germany	93	100	16
Greece	88	55	14.5
Hungary	93	N⁄A	N⁄A
Iceland	88	41	15
Ireland	83	N⁄A	N⁄A
Israel	69	N⁄A	N⁄A
Italy	84	46	14
Japan		91	15
Luxembourg	95	N⁄A	N⁄A
Mexico	61	N⁄A	N⁄A
Netherlands	90	87	16
New Zealand	73	54	15
Norway	81	76	16
OECD average	84	N⁄A	N⁄A
Poland	94	N⁄A	N⁄A
Portugal	85	N⁄A	N⁄A
Slovak Republic	91	N⁄A	N⁄A
Slovenia	94	N⁄A	N⁄A
Spain	80	53	14
Sweden	88	86	16
Switzerland	85	83	15/16
Turkey	56	N⁄A	N⁄A
United Kingdom	78	49	16
United States	85	89	17

See also

• Compulsory education
• Education Index
• Legal working age
• Raising of school leaving age

Notes

External links

• Right to Education