International Youth Day
12 August, International Youth Day
At the beginning of 2024, there were 29.3% fewer young people (15–29 years) in Slovenia than at independence. Last year, almost half of people aged 20–24 years participated in tertiary education. The employment and unemployment rates of young people (15–24 years) were lower than the EU average.
In 1999, the United Nations declared 12 August the International Youth Day, a day dedicated to discussing various issues affecting young people and drawing attention to their important role in society in general. This year, the theme is youth digital pathways for sustainable development.
Fewer young people
The number of young people (15–29 years) in Slovenia has been declining. At the beginning of this year, there were 318,652, i.e. 132,125 or 29.3% fewer than when Slovenia won independence in 1991. Young people represented the largest share of total population in 1991 (22.5%) and the lowest in 2022 (14.6%). On 1 January 2024, the share was 15.0%.
As regards statistical regions, at the beginning of this year the share of young people was the largest in the Osrednjeslovenska statistical region (17.2%) and the lowest in the Pomurska statistical region (12.5%). Among EU Member States, the largest share was recorded in Cyprus (19.8%) and the lowest in Bulgaria (13.2%). Slovenia ranks among the countries with the lowest shares of young people. Last year, only Bulgaria and Latvia (14.5%) had lower shares, while the EU average was 16.2%.
Almost half of young people enrolled in tertiary education
In 2022, 47.4% of young residents of Slovenia aged 20–24 years were enrolled in tertiary education. In the EU, only Greece had a larger share (52.1%). Slovenia also did well as regards other education indicators. Last year, 7.8% of young people (15–29 years) were not working nor were they in education or training. The shares were lower only in Malta (7.5%), Sweden (5.7%) and the Netherlands (4.7%). The EU average was 11.2%.
As regards the “early leavers from education and training” indicator, which shows the share of young people (18–24 years) who have completed basic education or less and are not enrolled in further education, Slovenia ranks among the EU-27 Member States with the lowest shares. Last year, it was fifth (5.4%). The lowest share was recorded in Croatia (2.0%) and the highest in Romania (16.6%).
More female than male graduates
Last year, 16,629 persons in Slovenia graduated from tertiary education, 59.7% of them women, and 40.3% of them men. The largest share of men (32.8%) graduated from the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction, and the largest share of women (21.2%) from the field of business, administration and law.
Employment and unemployment rates lower than the EU average
Last year, the employment rate of young people (15–24 years) in Slovenia was 32.6%, which was slightly below the EU average (35.2%). The rate was the highest in the Netherlands (76.5%) and the lowest in Greece (18.3%). The unemployment rate of young people in Slovenia (9.9%) was also lower than the EU average (14.5%). It was the lowest in Germany (5.9%) and the highest in Spain (28.7%).
According to register data, in December last year there were 941,292 persons in employment in Slovenia, among them 135,533 young people (15–29 years), 61.6% of them men and 38.4% women. As regards occupations, the largest share of young men (32.2%) were craft and related trades workers and of young women (29.9%) professionals.
In October last year, average net earnings of young people (15–24 years) were 27.9% lower than average net earnings for all persons in employment. The difference was the largest (33.6%) in tertiary educated and the smallest (11.3%) in persons with basic education or less.
Leaving parents at almost 30 years of age
According to data for 2023, young people in Slovenia moved from their parental homes at the average age of 29.1 years. Young people leaving their parental homes were on average older only in six EU Member States. They were the oldest in Croatia (31.8 years) and the youngest in Finland (21.4 years). The EU average was 26.3 years.
Last year, 60.4% of young people (18–34 years) in Slovenia were still living with their parents, which was 44.1 percentage points more than in Finland (16.3%). On the other hand, Slovenia’s share was 16.5 percentage points lower than in Croatia (76.9%). The EU average was 49.6% of young people aged 18–34 years.
Most young people live in user dwellings
In 2021, 82.8% of residents of Slovenia lived in owner-occupied, 7.7% in rented and 9.5% in user dwellings, i.e. dwellings in which none of the persons using the dwelling is the owner and the dwelling is not rented. Such dwellings can be owned by relatives, friends, etc. The share of residents living in owner-occupied dwellings was the largest (89.5%) among older persons (aged 70+) and the smallest among young people aged 20–29 years (74.6%), since a larger share of young people than of other population groups lived in user dwellings (14.7%) and in rented dwellings (10.7%).
Fewer young people
The number of young people (15–29 years) in Slovenia has been declining. At the beginning of this year, there were 318,652, i.e. 132,125 or 29.3% fewer than when Slovenia won independence in 1991. Young people represented the largest share of total population in 1991 (22.5%) and the lowest in 2022 (14.6%). On 1 January 2024, the share was 15.0%.
As regards statistical regions, at the beginning of this year the share of young people was the largest in the Osrednjeslovenska statistical region (17.2%) and the lowest in the Pomurska statistical region (12.5%). Among EU Member States, the largest share was recorded in Cyprus (19.8%) and the lowest in Bulgaria (13.2%). Slovenia ranks among the countries with the lowest shares of young people. Last year, only Bulgaria and Latvia (14.5%) had lower shares, while the EU average was 16.2%.
Almost half of young people enrolled in tertiary education
In 2022, 47.4% of young residents of Slovenia aged 20–24 years were enrolled in tertiary education. In the EU, only Greece had a larger share (52.1%). Slovenia also did well as regards other education indicators. Last year, 7.8% of young people (15–29 years) were not working nor were they in education or training. The shares were lower only in Malta (7.5%), Sweden (5.7%) and the Netherlands (4.7%). The EU average was 11.2%.
As regards the “early leavers from education and training” indicator, which shows the share of young people (18–24 years) who have completed basic education or less and are not enrolled in further education, Slovenia ranks among the EU-27 Member States with the lowest shares. Last year, it was fifth (5.4%). The lowest share was recorded in Croatia (2.0%) and the highest in Romania (16.6%).
More female than male graduates
Last year, 16,629 persons in Slovenia graduated from tertiary education, 59.7% of them women, and 40.3% of them men. The largest share of men (32.8%) graduated from the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction, and the largest share of women (21.2%) from the field of business, administration and law.
Employment and unemployment rates lower than the EU average
Last year, the employment rate of young people (15–24 years) in Slovenia was 32.6%, which was slightly below the EU average (35.2%). The rate was the highest in the Netherlands (76.5%) and the lowest in Greece (18.3%). The unemployment rate of young people in Slovenia (9.9%) was also lower than the EU average (14.5%). It was the lowest in Germany (5.9%) and the highest in Spain (28.7%).
According to register data, in December last year there were 941,292 persons in employment in Slovenia, among them 135,533 young people (15–29 years), 61.6% of them men and 38.4% women. As regards occupations, the largest share of young men (32.2%) were craft and related trades workers and of young women (29.9%) professionals.
In October last year, average net earnings of young people (15–24 years) were 27.9% lower than average net earnings for all persons in employment. The difference was the largest (33.6%) in tertiary educated and the smallest (11.3%) in persons with basic education or less.
Leaving parents at almost 30 years of age
According to data for 2023, young people in Slovenia moved from their parental homes at the average age of 29.1 years. Young people leaving their parental homes were on average older only in six EU Member States. They were the oldest in Croatia (31.8 years) and the youngest in Finland (21.4 years). The EU average was 26.3 years.
Last year, 60.4% of young people (18–34 years) in Slovenia were still living with their parents, which was 44.1 percentage points more than in Finland (16.3%). On the other hand, Slovenia’s share was 16.5 percentage points lower than in Croatia (76.9%). The EU average was 49.6% of young people aged 18–34 years.
Most young people live in user dwellings
In 2021, 82.8% of residents of Slovenia lived in owner-occupied, 7.7% in rented and 9.5% in user dwellings, i.e. dwellings in which none of the persons using the dwelling is the owner and the dwelling is not rented. Such dwellings can be owned by relatives, friends, etc. The share of residents living in owner-occupied dwellings was the largest (89.5%) among older persons (aged 70+) and the smallest among young people aged 20–29 years (74.6%), since a larger share of young people than of other population groups lived in user dwellings (14.7%) and in rented dwellings (10.7%).
When making use of the data and information of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, always add: "Source: SURS". More: Copyright.
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