The school leaving age is the minimum age a person is legally allowed to cease attendance at an institute of compulsorysecondary 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.
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 synchronized these ages. All information is taken from the Right to Education Project's table unless otherwise indicated.[1]
Color legend
Ages legend
Ages unsynchronised: School leaving age higher
(13) denotes part-time employment available from 13
Ages unsynchronised: Employment age higher
? denotes the age set is unknown
Ages synchronised: Mixed
Ages synchronised
No information / No age set / Age varies by jurisdiction
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. The minimum age for legal work is 18. If the student's birthday date is between 1 January and 31 March, the age is 17, while if the student's birthday date is between 1 April and 31 December, then the age is 18, and occurs in the last day of 12th grade (early-mid December).
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.[5][6][7] 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
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
Colombia
15
14
2005
-1
Costa Rica
17 or 18
15
2010
0
Cuba
16
2010
-4
Dominica
16
12
2004?
0
Dominican Republic
18
2007?
0
Grenada
14
2009
0
Guyana
15
15
2003
Haiti
?
15
2002
-2
Jamaica
14
12
2003
0
Mexico
15
2014
0
Paraguay
14
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
Peru
16
18
2009
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
16
1997
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
?
14?
2001
Suriname
10?
14
2005
0
Trinidad and Tobago
16
2004
0
United States
18
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.[8] 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
Compulsory education in Brunei from primary education to secondary education. Tertiary education is encouraged.
Myanmar
?
13
2011
De facto none
Cambodia
?
15
2010
1
People's Republic of China
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 and graduate high school at age 18.
2
Georgia
14
16
2007
0
India
14
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
15
15
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.[9]
-2
Indonesia
15
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
15
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.[10][11][12][13]
Iraq
?
15
1996
-4
Israel
16
14
2011?
The age of employment has been lowered, the school leaving age raised.
0
Japan
15
2009
The vast majority (>90%) of Japanese students complete senior secondary education due to social pressures, despite the leaving age.
0
Jordan
16
2006
1
Lebanon
12
13
2005
-3
Mongolia
17
14
2009
Nepal
?
14
2004
0
North Korea
16
2008
0
South Korea
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
Kuwait
15
14
2012
-3
Malaysia
17
14
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
?
14
2006
4
Pakistan
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
Philippines
18
15
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
15
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
16
15
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.
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
16
14
2009
0
Thailand
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.
Turkey
14-16?
16?
????
3
United Arab Emirates
18
21
2001
-2
Uzbekistan
18
16
2012
-3
Vietnam
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.
-1
Yemen
15
14
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.[14]
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
?
15
2011
0
Bulgaria
16
2007
0
Croatia
15
2003
0
Cyprus
15
2011
-1
Czech Republic
16
15
2012
-3
Denmark
16
13
2010
0
Estonia
15
2002
-1
Finland
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
France
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.[15]
-3
Germany
16-18
(15)
2003
In Germany, the age at which students finish school depends on the type of school they attend. With the school-leaving age being set at 16 in most schools, bar Gymnasium where students graduate instead at age 18.
The federal Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz (Youth Employment Protection Act) regulates the minimum employment age, which is set at 15.[16]
0
Greece
15
2011
0
Hungary
16
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
16
2010
-2
Ireland
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.[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.[18][20] 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.[20][21]
-2-0
Italy
16-18
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
Latvia
15
2005
0
Liechtenstein
15
2005
0
Lithuania
16
2011
0
Luxembourg
18
1997
-3
Republic of Macedonia
18
15
2009?
Compulsory secondary education starts the year 2008 (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 49 from 18 April 2007).
0
Malta
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
Moldova
16
15
2008
0
Monaco
16
2012
0
Montenegro
15
2010
-5
Netherlands
16
13
2014
In the Netherlands, school attendance is compulsory for all children aged from 5 to 16.
Young people aged from 16 to 18 have to get a basic qualification before leaving school.
-3
Netherlands Antilles
15
12
2010?
-1
Norway
16
15
2009
-3-1
Poland
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
Portugal
18
16
2009
-1
Romania
16
15
2008
0
Russia
15
2004
0
San Marino
16
2003
1
Serbia
14
15
2007
-2
Slovakia
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).
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.
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.
11 for supervised work, 13 for easy work, 15 for most jobs
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
?
18
1996
4
Marshall Islands
14
18
2005
Federated States of Micronesia
14
?
1996
0
New Zealand
16
2010
Those at least 15 may leave school with permission from the Ministry of Education.
^"Ley N° 26.390 de Prohibición del Trabajo Infantil y Protección del Trabajo Adolescente". Ministerio Público de la Defensa (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2019-09-20. Retrieved 2024-04-01. Se eleva la edad mínima de admisión al empleo a dieciséis (16) años en los términos de la presente. Rough translation: The minimum age for employment admission is raised to sixteen (16) years under the terms of this document.
^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
