More women graduates in EU, across nearly all fields of study

In 2024, the European Union saw a total of 4.5 million graduates, with women forming the larger cohort at 2.6 million compared to 1.9 million men. This trend highlights a continued shift in higher education demographics across the EU.

Data from Eurostat reveals that women are now the majority in nearly all fields of study. In education, female graduates significantly outnumber men, with four times as many women completing degrees. The fields of health and social services also show a strong female presence, with women graduating at nearly three times the rate of men.

Women also surpass men in arts and humanities, as well as social sciences and journalism, graduating more than twice as frequently in these areas. The gender balance is notably equal in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and veterinary medicine.

However, a significant gender gap persists in information and communication technologies (ICT), where men still dominate, outnumbering women 3.7 to one. This disparity underscores ongoing challenges in encouraging female participation in STEM fields.