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 of 5 years old but (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
Color legend | Ages legend |
Ages unsynchronised: School leaving age higher | 0 denotes education is not compulsory. (13) denotes part-time employment available from 13 |
Ages unsynchronised: Employment age higher | 0 denotes no minimum employment age as children could be, in theory, employed from birth |
Ages synchronised | ― denotes no information available |
No information / No age set / Age varies by jurisdiction | ? denotes the age set is unknown |
Africa
Age gap | Country | De jure | Year | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
School leaving age | Employment age | ||||
0 | ![]() |
19 | 2011 | ||
2 | ![]() |
12 | 14 | 2010 | |
![]() |
? | 14 | 2005 | ||
![]() |
? | 15 | 2004 | ||
-1 | ![]() |
16 | 15 | 2009 | . |
4 | ![]() |
12 | 16 | 2010 | |
0 | ![]() |
14 | 2001 | ||
-2 | ![]() |
16 | 14 | 2001 | |
![]() |
15 | ? | 2007 | ||
![]() |
14 | ? | 1998 | ||
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2006 | ||
0 | ![]() |
14 | 2010 | ||
1 | ![]() |
13 | 14 | 2007 | |
![]() |
? | 2005 | |||
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2001 | ||
![]() |
? | 2000 | |||
-3 | ![]() |
15 | 12 | 2005 | |
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2012 | ||
![]() |
? | 2006 | |||
0 | ![]() |
15 | 2002 | ||
![]() |
? | 14 | 2010 | ||
![]() |
? | 14 | 2008 | ||
![]() |
? | 15 | 2009 | ||
![]() |
13 | ? | 2003 | ||
-2 | ![]() |
16 | 14 | 2011 | |
-2 | ![]() |
16 | 14 | 2008 | |
![]() |
15 | ? | 2009 | ||
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2012 | ||
-1 | ![]() |
16 | 15 | 2006 | |
0 | ![]() |
15 | 2011 | ||
![]() |
15? | ? | 2006 | ||
-2 | ![]() |
17 | 15 | 2018 | |
0 | ![]() |
15 | 2011 | A child between the ages of 15 and 18 may only be employed if he or she has completed grade 9.[2] | |
![]() |
? | 14 | 2010 | Includes South Sudan | |
![]() |
13? | 14 | 2005 | ||
-1 | ![]() |
15 | 14 | 2010 | |
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2008 | ||
![]() |
? | 2004 | |||
![]() |
? | 2002 | |||
![]() |
? | 1995 | |||
Americas
Age gap | Country | De jure | Year | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
School leaving age | Employment age | ||||
![]() |
18 | 16[3] | 2008 | ||
![]() |
16 | 16? | 1997 | ||
0 | ![]() |
14 | 2004 | ||
-2 | ![]() |
16 | 14 | 2009 | |
-2 | ![]() |
17 | 15 | 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. |
![]() |
16 in Quebec and Alberta, 17 everywhere else | 14-18, varies by province and industry | 2014 | [4] | |
-3 | ![]() |
18 | 15 | 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 | ![]() |
15 | 14 | 2005 | |
-20 | ![]() |
17-18 | 15 | 2010 | |
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2010 | ||
-4 | ![]() |
16 | 12 | 2004? | |
0 | ![]() |
18 | 2007? | ||
0 | ![]() |
14 | 2009 | ||
0 | ![]() |
15 | 2003 | ||
![]() |
? | 15 | 2002 | ||
-2 | ![]() |
14 | 12 | 2003 | |
0 | ![]() |
15 | 2014 | ||
0 | ![]() |
14 | 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 | ![]() |
16 | 18 | 2009 | (Work is legal at 15,16 if it is authorised by legal guardian or parents) |
0 | ![]() |
16 | 1997 | ||
![]() |
? | 14? | 2001 | ||
![]() |
10? | 14 | 2005 | ||
0 | ![]() |
12 | 2004 | ||
![]() |
16-19* | 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.[5] 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 | ![]() |
14 | 15 | 2006 | |
0 | ![]() |
14 | 2007 | ||
Asia
Age gap | Country | De jure | Year | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
School leaving age | Employment age | ||||
2 | ![]() |
13 | 15 | 2010 | |
![]() |
? | 14 | 2011 | ||
![]() |
? | 15 | 2005 | ||
-1 | ![]() |
15 | 14 | 2010 | |
4 | ![]() |
10 | 14 | 2008 | |
-3 | ![]() |
17 | 14 | 2003 | Compulsory Education in Brunei from Primary Education to Secondary Education. Tertiary Education is encouraged. |
![]() |
? | 13 | 2011 | De facto none | |
![]() |
? | 15 | 2010 | ||
1 | ![]() |
15 | 16 | 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. |
2 | ![]() |
14 | 16 | 2007 | |
![]() |
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. | |
1 | ![]() |
18 | 19 | 2019 | |
-2 | ![]() |
15 | 13 | 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. |
-1 | ![]() |
16 | 15 | 2003? | |
![]() |
? | 15 | 1996 | ||
-4 | ![]() |
18 | 14 | 2011? | The age of employment has been lowered, the school leaving age raised. |
0 | ![]() |
15 | 2009 | The vast majority (>90%) of Japanese students complete senior secondary education due to social pressures, despite the leaving age. | |
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2006 | ||
1 | ![]() |
12 | 13 | 2005 | |
-3 | ![]() |
17 | 14 | 2009 | |
![]() |
? | 14 | 2004 | ||
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2008 | ||
0 | ![]() |
15 | 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 | ![]() |
15 | 14 | 2012 | |
-3 | ![]() |
17 | 14 | 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. |
![]() |
? | 14 | 2006 | ||
4 | ![]() |
10 | 14 | 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 | ![]() |
18 | 15 | 2015 | The implementation of the K-12 program (see Education in the Philippines) also signaled the raise of the school leaving age to 18. |
0 | ![]() |
15 | 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. | |
-1 | ![]() |
16 | 15 | 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. |
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2014 |
For further information http://www.moe.gov.lk/sinhala/images/publications/Education_First_SL/Education_First_SL.pdf | |
0 | ![]() |
15 | 2010 | ||
0 | ![]() |
18 | 2010? | ||
-2 | ![]() |
16 | 14 | 2009 | |
0 | ![]() |
15 | 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. | |
3 | ![]() |
18 | 21 | 2001 | |
-2 | ![]() |
18 | 16 | 2012 | |
-3 | ![]() |
18 | 15 | 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. |
![]() |
? | 14 | 2004 | ||
Europe
Age gap | Country | De jure | Year | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
School leaving age | Employment age | |||||
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2001 | |||
0 | ![]() |
15 | 2011 | |||
-1 | ![]() |
15 | 14 | 2010 | ||
-3 | ![]() |
18 | 15 | 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. | |
![]() |
? | 15 | 2011 | |||
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2007 | |||
0 | ![]() |
15 | 2003 | |||
0 | ![]() |
15 | 2011 | |||
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2010 | |||
-3 | ![]() |
16 | 13 | 2010 | ||
0 | ![]() |
15 | 2002 | |||
-1 | ![]() |
16 | 15 | 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 | ![]() |
16 | 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.[6] | ||
-3 | ![]() |
18 | (15) | 2003 | The statutory minimum school leaving age is essentially set at 18.[7] The federal Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz (Youth Employment Protection Act) regulates the minimum employment age, which is set at 15.[8] 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 | |
0 | ![]() |
15 | 2011 | |||
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2019 | A student aged 15 can work during school holidays, with parental permission. Between 16 and 18 a minor can work during the schoolyear 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., no night shifts.[9] | ||
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2010 | |||
-2 | ![]() |
16 | (14) | 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.[10][11] 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.[10][12] Employees under 18 must be registered.[12] Exemptions may be specified by the Minister for Jobs; this has been done for close relatives.[12][13] | |
-2 | ![]() |
18 | 16 | 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 | ![]() |
15 | 2005 | |||
0 | ![]() |
15 | 2005 | |||
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2011 | |||
0 | ![]() |
18 | 1997 | |||
-3 | ![]() |
18 | 15 | 2009? | Compulsory secondary education starts year 2008 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 49 from 18 April 2007). | |
0 | ![]() |
16 | 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 | ![]() |
16 | 15 | 2008 | ||
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2012 | |||
0 | ![]() |
15 | 2010 | |||
-5 | ![]() |
18 | 13 | 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 without 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. | |
-3 | ![]() |
15 | 12 | 2010? | ||
-1 | ![]() |
16 | 15 | 2009 | ||
![]() |
14-18* | 15 | 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 | ![]() |
18 | 16 | 2009 | ||
-1 | ![]() |
16 | 15 | 2008? | ||
0 | ![]() |
15 | 2004 | |||
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2003 | |||
1 | ![]() |
14 | 15 | 2007 | ||
-2 | ![]() |
16 | (14) | 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 | ![]() |
15 | 2012 | |||
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2009 | |||
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2004 | |||
0 | ![]() |
15 | 2001 | |||
-1 | ![]() |
17 | 16 | 2010 | ||
-1 | ![]() |
16 | 15 | 2015[14] | Full-time employment is illegal before the last Friday in June of Year Eleven even if the child is already 16.[15] Part-time employment may be undertaken from 14 and in certain cases, for example delivering newspapers, at 13. Since 2011 all young people must continue with some kind of education or training until 18 which can include an apprenticeship. | |
-1 | Northern Ireland | 16 | (15) | 2014[16] | ||
-3 | ![]() |
16 | (13) | 2013[17] | 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 | ![]() |
16 | (14) | 2013[18] | Full-time work starts at 16. | |
Oceania
Age gap | Country | De jure | Year | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
School leaving age | Employment age | ||||
![]() |
15 or 17 | 11 for supervised work, 13 for easy work ' 14.5 for most jobs | 2011 |
The minimum ages from 2009 will be the following: | |
![]() |
? | 18 | 1996 | ||
4 | ![]() |
14 | 18 | 2005 | |
![]() |
14 | ? | 1996 | ||
0 | ![]() |
16 | 2010 | Those at least 15 may leave school with permission from the Ministry of Education. | |
![]() |
? | 2003 | |||
![]() |
17 | ? | 2000 | ||
![]() |
? | 12 | 2002 | ||
School retention by country
Country | 2009 OECD[19] |
1986 Michael Hill[20] | |
---|---|---|---|
%-age in full-time education (aged 15–19) |
%-age in full-time education (aged 17) |
Minimum leaving age required | |
![]() |
78 | 50 | 15 |
![]() |
84 | N⁄A | N⁄A |
![]() |
91 | 86 | 16 |
![]() |
70 | N⁄A | N⁄A |
![]() |
80 | 79 | 15/16 |
![]() |
93 | N⁄A | N⁄A |
![]() |
89 | 75 | 16/17 |
![]() |
89 | N⁄A | N⁄A |
![]() |
90 | 91 | 17 |
![]() |
90 | 80 | 16 |
![]() |
93 | 100 | 16 |
![]() |
88 | 55 | 14.5 |
![]() |
93 | N⁄A | N⁄A |
![]() |
88 | 41 | 15 |
![]() |
83 | N⁄A | N⁄A |
![]() |
69 | N⁄A | N⁄A |
![]() |
84 | 46 | 14 |
![]() |
91 | 15 | |
![]() |
95 | N⁄A | N⁄A |
![]() |
61 | N⁄A | N⁄A |
![]() |
90 | 87 | 16 |
![]() |
73 | 54 | 15 |
![]() |
81 | 76 | 16 |
OECD average | 84 | N⁄A | N⁄A |
![]() |
94 | N⁄A | N⁄A |
![]() |
85 | N⁄A | N⁄A |
![]() |
91 | N⁄A | N⁄A |
![]() |
94 | N⁄A | N⁄A |
![]() |
80 | 53 | 14 |
![]() |
88 | 86 | 16 |
![]() |
85 | 83 | 15/16 |
![]() |
56 | N⁄A | N⁄A |
![]() |
78 | 49 | 16 |
![]() |
85 | 89 | 17 |
Notes
- "Country Table - At What Age?...are school-children employed, married and taken to court". The Right to Education Project. Retrieved 2014-01-02.
- Mahery, Prinslean; Proudlock, Paula (April 2011). "Legal guide to age thresholds for children and young people" (PDF) (5 ed.). Children's Institute, University of Cape Town. p. 12. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- https://www.mpd.gov.ar/index.php/marco-normativo/365-normativa-nacional/leyes/3244-ley-n-26-390-de-prohibicion-del-trabajo-infantil-y-proteccion-del-trabajo-adolescente
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-15. Retrieved 2014-02-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Mikulecky, Marga (April 2013). "Compulsory School Age Requirements" (PDF). Education Commission of the States. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- Contribution to EIRO thematic feature on Youth and work - case of France Archived 2012-08-02 at Archive.today
- "School: leaving it too early" - by Andrew Leigh Archived 2014-01-03 at the Wayback Machine
- Text of the German Youth Employment Protection Act in German, provided by the German Federal Ministry of Justice.
- Diákmunkát vállalnál? Idén még többet kereshetsz vele April 18, 2019
- "Children and rights in Ireland". Citizens Information. Ireland: Citizens Information Board. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
-
- "School attendance". Citizens Information. Ireland: Citizens Information Board. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- "Education (Welfare) Act, 2000". Irish Statute Book. §§2, 17. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
-
- "Hours of work for young people". Citizens Information. Ireland: Citizens Information Board. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- "Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act, 1996". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- "S.I. No. 2/1997 - Protection of Young Persons (Employment of Close Relatives) Regulations, 1997". Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- "School leaving age - GOV.UK". GOV.UK. Government Digital Service. 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- "Getting a full-time Job at 16". Connexions Direct. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
- "School leaving age - GOV.UK". GOV.UK. Government Digital Service. 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- "School leaving age - GOV.UK". GOV.UK. Government Digital Service. 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- "School leaving age - GOV.UK". GOV.UK. Government Digital Service. 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2014-04-02.
- Skills beyond school. p. 343. OECD. 2011
- Percentage in full-time education at 17 related to termination ages for compulsory education in various countries (1986) Social Policy: A comparative analysis by Michael Hill