School dropout rates fall five points in the Balearic Islands, which no longer lead the rankings.

PalmThe Balearic Islands have registered a significant decrease in early school leaving, according to the latest official data for 2025, and no longer top the list of autonomous communities with the lowest rates, breaking with the trend of recent years. The rate now stands at around 15.2%, still a high figure, but clearly lower than in recent years, when the archipelago consistently led this indicator (20.14% in 2024). This improvement marks the beginning of a downward trend following the increase recorded in previous years, as previous reports on the evolution of the Balearic education system had already indicated. Despite remaining above the national average, the Islands have been overtaken by regions such as Murcia, which has once again taken first place with a dropout rate of over 20%, placing them in an intermediate range among the autonomous communities.

The reduction in school dropout rates in the Balearic Islands is especially significant considering the context of recent years. The archipelago had once led the country in dropout increases, in a scenario marked by social inequalities, intense pressure from the labor market on young people, and a historically heavy reliance on seasonal economic activity. The current decline points to a change in trend, which several experts attribute to the expansion of Vocational Training, educational support programs, and increased student retention within the system, particularly among women.

Record low in Spain

Across Spain, early school leaving fell to 12.8%, the lowest figure in the entire historical series. This improvement is largely explained by the sharp decline in dropout rates among women, who now have a rate below 10%, while the rate for men remains significantly higher. This record low consolidates a sustained downward trend over the last decade, although Spain still remains above the European Union average, which stands at around 9%. Despite the improvement, the Balearic Islands continue to be one of the regions with the highest school dropout rates, far exceeding areas like the Basque Country or Navarre. Analysts agree that the challenge now lies in consolidating this decline, preventing further increases, and reducing internal inequalities that particularly affect certain groups and areas. However, this year's data marks a turning point: the Balearic Islands are improving, relinquishing their negative leadership position, and aligning themselves, albeit belatedly, with the general trend of reduced school dropout rates.