Brazil Sees Significant Drop in Youth 'Nem-Nem' Rate Amid Ongoing Educational Challenges
OECD data reveal Brazil’s youth 'nem-nem' rate has decreased notably, though educational challenges persist, highlighting a need for integrated policies.
- • Brazil's youth 'nem-nem' rate dropped from 26.8% in 2016 to 22.4% in 2024, nearly double the OECD average decline.
- • Over 25% of Brazilian young adults lack complete basic education; women outperform men in high school completion by 7 percentage points.
- • 20% of students entering high school drop out; only 79% graduate within two years versus 85% OECD average.
- • Higher education completion in Brazil is 22%, far below the OECD average of 43%, indicating scope for improvement.
Key details
A recent OECD report, "Panorama da Educação 2026," shows a positive decline in the proportion of Brazilian youth aged 18 to 24 who are not engaged in education, employment, or training — known as the 'nem-nem' group. This rate dropped from 26.8% in 2016 to 22.4% in 2024, nearly double the OECD average decline of 2.3 percentage points. Despite this progress, challenges within Brazil’s education system remain pressing.
The report highlights that over a quarter of young adults in Brazil still do not complete basic education. Notably, women are more likely to finish high school than men by a 7 percentage point margin. Yet, about 20% of students entering high school drop out early, and only 79% of students graduate within two years of the normative timeframe, compared to 85% average in OECD countries.
Higher education completion rates lag significantly, with only 22% of Brazilian adults aged 25 to 64 holding a degree, against the OECD average of 43%. Ricardo Henriques, executive superintendent of Instituto Unibanco, acknowledged the gains but stressed that integrated actions—such as flexible courses and financial support—are essential to further reduce dropout rates and improve educational outcomes.
The Brazilian Ministry of Education credits public programs like Pé-de-Meia and Bolsa Família for aiding this progress. The OECD report also emphasizes the need for close monitoring of school attendance and tailored support to prevent dropouts and facilitate effective school transitions.
While Brazil’s reduction in youth disengagement is notable, the data underscores the ongoing necessity of comprehensive policies that merge education, social protection, and labor strategies to build sustained improvements.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
