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.
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.
Color legend Age legend (13) denotes part-time employment available from 13 ? denotes the age set is unknown
Africa 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. Sudan 2010 Includes South Sudan Tanzania 2005 -1 Togo 2010 0 Tunisia 2008 Uganda 2004 Zambia 2002 Zimbabwe 1995
Americas Age gap Country De jure Year Notes School leaving age Employment age Argentina 2008 Barbados 1997 0 Belize 2004 -2 Bolivia 2009 -2 -4 Brazil 16 14 for apprentices 2009 Schooling is mandatory for children ged 4–17 (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 16, and 14 for apprentices. 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). Canada 12–18; varies by jurisdiction and industry 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. 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 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 United States 2010 The school-leaving age varies by state. Forty states have a school-leaving age of 16 or 18 and ten states have a school leaving age of 17. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the federal minimum employment age is 14; minors aged 14–15 have restricted hours, minors aged 16–17 have no restricted hours if working in non-hazardous occupations, and those aged 18 or older have no restrictions. Each state also sets a minimum employment age and range from 12–18 depending on age, graduation from high school, time of year, permission from parents or guardians, and occupation. Some occupations require one be aged 21 or older, including in some states serving alcohol. 1 Uruguay 2006 0 Venezuela 2007
Asia 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. -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. 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 2025 Preschool is mandatory and begins at age 5, lasting for one year. After that, children attend primary school from ages 6 to 11, followed by high school from ages 12 to 16. 16 is the school leaving age; one may leave only after the release of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia results for admission to tertiary education. 13 is the minimum employment age. Individuals under the age of 15 are only allowed to perform light work that matches their abilities and must not exceed 6 hours per day. Those under 18 may work up to 7 hours per day, but only under the supervision of a guardian or a job supervisor. 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.
Europe 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. 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.Contribution to EIRO thematic feature on Youth and work – case of France -3 Germany 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.