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 themselves or their families.
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 synchronized these ages. All information is taken from the Right to Education Project's table unless otherwise indicated.[1]
| Color legend | Ages legend |
|---|---|
| (13) denotes part-time employment available from 13 | |
| ? denotes the age set is unknown | |
| Age gap | Country | De jure | Year | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School leaving age | Employment age | ||||
| 0 | Algeria | 2011 | |||
| 2 | Angola | 2010 | |||
| Benin | 2005 | ||||
| Botswana | 2004 | ||||
| -1 | Burkina Faso | 2009 | . | ||
| 4 | Burundi | 2010 | |||
| 0 | Cameroon | 2001 | |||
| -2 | Cape Verde | 2001 | |||
| Chad | 2007 | ||||
| Comoros | 1998 | ||||
| 0 | Congo | 2006 | |||
| 0 | Egypt | 2010 | |||
| 1 | Eritrea | 2007 | |||
| Ethiopia | 2005 | ||||
| 0 | Gabon | 2001 | |||
| Gambia | 2000 | ||||
| -3 | Ghana | 2005 | |||
| 0 | Guinea | 2012 | |||
| Kenya | 2006 | ||||
| 0 | Libya | 2002 | |||
| 4 | Madagascar | 2010 | |||
| Malawi | 2008 | ||||
| Mozambique | 2009 | ||||
| Morocco | 2003 | ||||
| -2 | Namibia | 2011 | |||
| -2 | Niger | 2008 | |||
| -3 | Nigeria | 2020 | |||
| 0 | Rwanda | 2012 | |||
| -1 | Senegal | 2006 | |||
| 0 | Seychelles | 2011 | |||
| Sierra Leone | 2006 | ||||
| -2 | Somalia | 2018 | |||
| 0 | South Africa | 2011 | A child between the ages of 15 and 18 may only be employed if they have completed grade 9.[2] | ||
| Sudan | 2010 | Includes South Sudan | |||
| Tanzania | 2005 | ||||
| -1 | Togo | 2010 | |||
| 0 | Tunisia | 2008 | |||
| Uganda | 2004 | ||||
| Zambia | 2002 | ||||
| Zimbabwe | 1995 | ||||
| Age gap | Country | De jure | Year | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School leaving age | Employment age | |||||
| Argentina | 2008 | |||||
| Barbados | 1997 | |||||
| 0 | Belize | 2004 | ||||
| -2 | Bolivia | 2009 | ||||
| -3 | Brazil | 2006 | Schooling is mandatory for children 6–18 (years 1–12 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 18, if the birthday date is between 1 May and 31 December. The minimum age for legal work is 18; at 15, one is allowed to have an apprenticeship contract. If the student's birthday date is between 1 January and 30 April, the age is 17, while if the student's birthday date is between 1 May and 31 December, then the age is 18, and occurs in the last day of 12th grade (early-mid December). | |||
| Canada | 12–18, varies by jurisdiction and industry[3] | The school leaving age is 16 in all Canadian provinces and territories except the provinces of Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Ontario, where the school leaving age is 18.[4] [5] [6] In Ontario, if a 17-year-old student's birth date falls between end of the school year to 31 December, they may withdraw from the school at the end of that current school year. | ||||
| -3 | Chile | 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, | |||
| -1 | Colombia | 2005 | ||||
| -1 | Costa Rica | 2010 | ||||
| 0 | Cuba | 2010 | ||||
| -4 | Dominica | 2004? | ||||
| 0 | Dominican Republic | 2007? | ||||
| 0 | Grenada | 2009 | ||||
| 0 | Guyana | 2003 | ||||
| Haiti | 2002 | |||||
| -2 | Jamaica | 2003 | ||||
| 0 | Mexico | 2014 | ||||
| 0 | Paraguay | 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. | |||
| 2 | Peru | 2009 | Work is legal at 15,16 if it is authorised by legal guardian or parents. | Employers are obliged to report regularly on the performance and attendance of students who they employ to help ensuring their education does suffer because of their employment. | ||
| 0 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 1997 | ||||
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 2001 | |||||
| Suriname | 2005 | |||||
| 0 | Trinidad and Tobago | 2004 | ||||
| 0 | United States | 2010 | The school leaving age varies from state to state with most having a leaving age of 18, but a handful having a leaving age of above that number.[7] 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. *Varies by State or Territory | |||
| 1 | Uruguay | 2006 | ||||
| 0 | Venezuela | 2007 | ||||
| Age gap | Country | De jure | Year | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School leaving age | Employment age | ||||
| 2 | Afghanistan | 2010 | |||
| Armenia | 2011 | ||||
| Azerbaijan | 2005 | ||||
| -1 | Bahrain | 2010 | |||
| 4 | Bangladesh | 2008 | |||
| -3 | Brunei | 2003 | Compulsory education in Brunei from primary education to secondary education. Tertiary education is encouraged. | ||
| Myanmar | 2011 | De facto none | |||
| Cambodia | 2010 | ||||
| 1 | People's Republic of China | 2012 | Compulsory education lasts 9 years. School-leaving age is calculated under the assumption that pupils will enroll in school at age 6 and graduate high school at age 18. | ||
| 2 | Georgia | 2007 | |||
| 0 | India | 2003 | The Government is making a law of compulsory education up to 14 years. Any person who wishes to continue their education can continue to work. | ||
| 0 | Hong Kong, China | 2019 | Children aged under 15 are prohibited from working in all industrial undertakings. Children aged 13 and 14 may be employed in non-industrial establishments, subject to the condition that they attend full-time schooling if they have not yet completed Form III of secondary education and to other conditions which aim at protecting their safety, health and welfare.[8] | ||
| -2 | Indonesia | 2018 | The school leaving age varies among provinces with most having a leaving age of 15, but a handful having a leaving age of 18. Children aged under 15 are prohibited from working in all industrial undertakings. | ||
| 0 | Iran | 2015 | Compulsory education lasts 9 years, including primary and lower secondary education. School-leaving age is calculated under the assumption that pupils will enroll in primary education at age 6 and graduate lower secondary education at age 15.[9] [10] [11] [12] | ||
| Iraq | 1996 | ||||
| -4 | Israel | 2011? | The age of employment has been lowered, the school leaving age raised. | ||
| 0 | Japan | 2009 | The vast majority (>90%) of Japanese students complete senior secondary education due to social pressures, despite the leaving age. | ||
| 0 | Jordan | 2006 | |||
| 1 | Lebanon | 2005 | |||
| -3 | Mongolia | 2009 | |||
| Nepal | 2004 | ||||
| 0 | North Korea | 2008 | |||
| 0 | South Korea | 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. | ||
| -1 | Kuwait | 2012 | |||
| -3 | Malaysia | 2006? | Primary school is compulsory, followed by a secondary school. 17 is the school leaving age; one may leave only after the release of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia results for admission to 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 | 2006 | ||||
| 4 | Pakistan | 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. | ||
| -3 | Philippines | 2015 | The implementation of the K-12 program (see Education in the Philippines) also signaled the rise of the school leaving age to 18. | ||
| 0 | Saudi Arabia | 2010? | A student may leave school after the age of 15 if permission of their 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. | ||
| -1 | Singapore | 2010? | Primary school is compulsory, followed by the 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. | ||
| 0 | Sri Lanka | 2014 | For further information http://www.moe.gov.lk/sinhala/images/publications/Education_First_SL/Education_First_SL.pdf | ||
| 0 | Syria | 2010 | |||
| 0 | Taiwan | 2010 | Compulsory education is up to Grade 9.Grades 10-12(senior high) is considered a form of basic education, but is not mandatory. | ||
| -2 | Tajikistan | 2009 | |||
| 0 | Thailand | 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. | ||
| Turkey | ???? | ||||
| 3 | United Arab Emirates | 2001 | |||
| -2 | Uzbekistan | 2012 | |||
| -3 | Vietnam | 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. | ||
| -1 | Yemen | 2004 | Basic education lasts 9 years and is compulsory for ages 6–15. School-leaving age is calculated under the assumption that pupils will enroll in basic education at age 6 and graduate at age 15.[13] | ||
| Age gap | Country | De jure | Year | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School leaving age | Employment age | |||||
| 0 | Andorra | 2001 | ||||
| 0 | Austria | 2011 | ||||
| -2 | Belarus | 2010 | ||||
| -2 | Belgium | 2021 | Full-time education is compulsory from the age of 5 until the age of 16. After the age of 16 students can follow part-time or full-time education. At this age students can start working in their spare time, with specific labour laws in place. It is important to note that Belgium has three distinct schooling systems one for the Flemish Community, one for the German Community and one for the French Community. | |||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2011 | |||||
| 0 | Bulgaria | 2007 | ||||
| 0 | Croatia | 2003 | ||||
| 0 | Cyprus | 2011 | ||||
| -1 | Czech Republic | 2012 | ||||
| -3 | Denmark | 2010 | ||||
| 0 | Estonia | 2002 | ||||
| -1 | Finland | 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. | |||
| 0 | France | 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.[14] | |||
| -3 | Germany | 2003 | The statutory minimum school leaving age is essentially set at 18.[15] The federal Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz (Youth Employment Protection Act) regulates the minimum employment age, which is set at 15.[16] 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 German students leave school at 17 and 6 months. | |||
| 0 | Greece | 2011 | ||||
| 0 | Hungary | 2019 | A student aged 15 can work during school holidays, with parental permission. Between 16 and 18 a minor can work during the school year too, but only with parental permission. Minors can not work more than 40 hours a week, and they can work only between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., with no night shifts.[17] | |||
| 0 | Iceland | 2010 | ||||
| -2 | Ireland | 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.[18] [19] 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. Employees under 18 must be registered.[20] Exemptions may be specified by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment; this has been done for close relatives.[21] | |||
| -2-0 | Italy | 2010 | Full-time education is compulsory from the age of 6 to 16. From the person's 16th to their 18th birthday, they can either choose to continue full-time school or start an apprenticeship while still going to school for at least one week a month. | |||
| 0 | Latvia | 2005 | ||||
| 0 | Liechtenstein | 2005 | ||||
| 0 | Lithuania | 2011 | ||||
| 0 | Luxembourg | 1997 | ||||
| -3 | Republic of Macedonia | 2009? | Compulsory secondary education starts the year 2008 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 49 from 18 April 2007). | |||
| 0 | Malta | 2012 | Although the compulsory education ends at 16, an increasing number of children opt to further their studies while taking up part-time employment. | |||
| -1 | Moldova | 2008 | ||||
| 0 | Monaco | 2012 | ||||
| 0 | Montenegro | 2010 | ||||
| -5 | Netherlands | 2014 | Education is compulsory from the age of 5 to 18. Secondary education is divided into 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. Students who have done VMBO must have an MBO level 2 or higher diploma before quitting school. Also, all children between those ages, even if they are refugees or new, have to attend school.Not attending school without proper reason, such as sickness or a doctor's visit, is illegal and punishable by law. Children can be punished by law for failure to attend school starting at age 12. 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 their legal parent or guardian. | |||
| -3 | Netherlands Antilles | 2010? | ||||
| -1 | Norway | 2009 | ||||
| -3-1 | Poland | 2002 | After graduating from an 8-year primary school (usually at the age of 14 or 15) one can leave school but is legally required to continue education up to the age of 18. However, this requirement can be satisfied through vocational training, without attending a school. This can be done as a part of employment, so technically the person leaves a school and works full-time. | |||
| -2 | Portugal | 2009 | ||||
| -1 | Romania | 2008 | ||||
| 0 | Russia | 2004 | ||||
| 0 | San Marino | 2003 | ||||
| 1 | Serbia | 2007 | ||||
| -2 | Slovakia | 2006? | From 14 to 17, only part-time jobs allowed. Student can leave school after 10 years of school attendance (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 19 at that time). | |||
| 0 | Slovenia | 2012 | ||||
| 0 | Spain | 1997 | ||||
| 0 | Sweden | 2004 | ||||
| 0 | Switzerland | 2001 | ||||
| -1 | Ukraine | 2010 | ||||
| -1 | England | 2015[22] | The full legal working age in England corresponds with the end of formal education, which is mandatory from the first September after a child turns 5, to the last Friday of June in Year 11 (when an individual is aged either 15-16).Full-time employment is illegal before this point, although part-time employment may be undertaken from 14 and in certain cases, for example delivering newspapers, at 13. The Education and Skills Act 2008 (which began being implemented in England in 2013) maintains the school-leaving age in England at 16, but requires that individuals above the school-leaving age (whom are aged between 16-18) either be working full-time or enrolled in a higher education institution (with higher education options open to those aged 16 and above including further education colleges or sixth forms, universities from the age of 17). This provision (as stipulated) applies solely to England and there is no legal requirement for an individual to be either working or remain enrolled in educational facility, above the age of 16, in any other UK nation. | |||
| -1 | Northern Ireland | 2014[23] | ||||
| -3 | Scotland | 2013[24] | Compulsory education usually ends after the age of 16 which is generally after fourth year, though this is halfway through fifth year for some. 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 aged 13 to 16 (i.e. maximum hours, work permits, type of work) to ensure that employment fits around requirements of full-time education. | |||
| -2 | Wales | 2013[25] | Full-time work starts at 16. | |||
| Age gap | Country | De jure | Year | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School leaving age | Employment age | ||||
| Australia | 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, whichever 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 | 1996 | ||||
| 4 | Marshall Islands | 2005 | |||
| Federated States of Micronesia | 1996 | ||||
| 0 | New Zealand | 2010 | Those at least 15 may leave school with permission from the Ministry of Education. | ||
| Papua New Guinea | 2003 | ||||
| Palau | 2000 | ||||
| Solomon Islands | 2002 | ||||
| Country | 2009 OECD[26] | 1986 Michael Hill[27] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| %-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 | |
| Republic of 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 | |
| Slovakia | 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 | |