School - leaving age - wikipedia School - leaving age Part of the Politics series on Youth rights Activities Bailey v. Drexel Furniture Co. Child Labor Deterrence Act Children 's Online Privacy Protection Act Convention on the Rights of the Child Fair Labor Standards Act Hammer v. Dagenhart History of youth rights in the United States Morse v. 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Hanson David Joseph Henry John Caldwell Holt Alex Koroknay - Palicz Lyn Duff Mike A. Males Neil Postman Sonia Yaco Related Animal rights Anti-racism Direct democracy Egalitarianism Feminism Libertarianism Socialism Students rights Youth rights Social movements portal 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 of 5 years old but ( mostly developing countries ), risk giving children the opportunity to leave their education early to earn money for their families. Contents 1 Leaving age by country 1.1 Africa 1.2 Americas 1.3 Asia 1.4 Europe 1.5 Oceania 2 School retention by country 3 See also 4 Notes 5 External links 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 synchronised these ages. All information is taken from the Right to Education Project 's table unless otherwise indicated. Legend Color legend Ages legend Both ages unsynchronised : School leaving age higher / Employment age lower 0 denotes education is not compulsory. ( 13 ) denotes part - time employment available from 13 Both ages unsynchronised : Employment age higher / School leaving age lower 0 denotes no minimum employment age as children could be, in theory, employed from birth Both ages synchronised ― denotes no information available No information / No age set / Age varies by jurisdiction ? denotes the age set is unknown Africa # Country De jure Education / Employment gap Year Notes School leaving age Employment age Algeria 16 0 2011 Angola 12 14 Benin ? 14 2005 Botswana ? 15 Burkina Faso 16 15 - 1 2009. Burundi 12 16 Cameroon 14 0 2001 Cape Verde 16 14 - 2 2001 Chad 15 ? 2007 Comoros 14 ? 1998 Congo 16 0 2006 Egypt 14 0 Eritrea 13 14 2007 Ethiopia ? 2005 Gabon 16 0 2001 Gambia ? 2000 Ghana 15 12 - 3 2005 Guinea 16 0 2012 Kenya ? 2006 Libya 15 0 2002 Madagascar ? 14 Malawi ? 14 2008 Mozambique ? 15 2009 Morocco 13 ? 2003 Namibia 16 14 - 2 2011 Niger 16 14 - 2 2008 Nigeria 15 ? 2009 Rwanda 16 0 2012 Senegal 16 15 - 1 2006 Seychelles 15 0 2011 Sierra Leone 15 ? ? 2006 South Africa 15 0 2011 A child between the ages of 15 and 18 may only be employed if he or she has completed grade 9. Sudan ? 14 Includes South Sudan Tanzania 13 ? 14 2005 Togo 15 14 - 1 Tunisia 16 0 2008 Uganda ? Zambia ? 2002 Zimbabwe ? 1995 Americas # Country De jure Education / Employment gap Year Notes School leaving age Employment age Argentina 18 14 - 4 2009 Barbados 16 16 ? 1997 Belize 14 0 Bolivia 16 14 - 2 2009 Brazil 17 15 - 2 Schooling is mandatory for children 6 - 16 ( years 1 - 9 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 17 or 18, depending on one 's birthday date. The minimum age for legal work is 17 ; at 15, one is allowed to have an apprenticeship contract. Canada 16 or 18 depending on province 16 2014 Chile 18 15 - 3 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, Colombia 15 14 - 1 2005 Costa Rica ? 15 Cuba 16 0 Dominica 16 12 - 4 2004 ? Dominican Republic 18 21 2007 ? Grenada 14 0 2009 Guyana 15 0 2003 Haiti ? 15 2002 Jamaica 14 12 - 2 2003 Mexico 15 0 2014 Paraguay 14 0 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. Peru 16 18 2009 ( Work is legal at 15, 16 if is authorised by legal guardian or parents ) Saint Kitts and Nevis 16 0 1997 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ? 14 ? 2001 Suriname 10 ? 14 2005 Trinidad and Tobago 12 0 United States 16 - 21 * 14 - 18 * The school leaving age varies from state to state with most having a leaving age of 16 or 17, but a handful having a leaving age of above that number. 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 but, in practice, most employers seek someone slightly older. However, it is common for those aged 14 ( and even younger ) to gain employment in agriculture. * Varies by State or Territory Uruguay 14 15 2006 Venezuela 14 0 2007 Asia # Country De jure Education / Employment gap Year Notes School leaving age Employment age Afghanistan ? 15 Armenia ? 14 2011 Azerbaijan ? 15 2005 Bahrain 15 14 - 1 Bangladesh 10 14 2008 Brunei 17 14 - 3 2003 Compulsory Education in Brunei from Primary Education to Secondary Education. Tertiary Education is encouraged. Burma ? 13 2011 De facto none Cambodia ? 15 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 or graduate high school at age 18. Georgia 14 16 2007 India 14 14 ? 2003 The Government is making a law of compulsory education up to 14 years. Any person who wishes to continue his education can continue to work. Hong Kong, China 15 16 2012 Indonesia 15 13 - 2 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. Iran 16 15 - 1 2003 ? Iraq ? 15 Israel 18 14 - 4 2011 ? The age of employment has been lowered, the school leaving age raised. Japan 15 0 2009 The vast majority ( > 90 % ) of Japanese students complete senior secondary education due to social pressures, despite the leaving age. Jordan 16 0 2006 Lebanon 12 13 2005 Mongolia 17 14 - 3 2009 Nepal ? 14 North Korea 16 0 2008 South Korea 15 0 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. Kuwait 15 14 - 1 2012 Malaysia 17 14 - 3 2006 ? Primary school is compulsory, followed by secondary school. 17 is the school leaving age ; one may leave only after the release of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia results for admission to the 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 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. Philippines 18 15 - 3 2015 The implementation of the K - 12 program ( see Education in the Philippines ) also signaled the raise of the school leaving age to 18. Saudi Arabia 15 0 2010 ? A student may leave school after the age of 15 if permission of his / her 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. Singapore 16 15 - 1 2010 ? Primary school is compulsory, followed by 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. Sri Lanka 16 0 2014 For further information http://www.moe.gov.lk/sinhala/images/publications/Education_First_SL/Education_First_SL.pdf Syria 15 0 Taiwan 18 0 2010 ? Tajikistan 16 14 - 2 2009 Thailand 15 0 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. United Arab Emirates 18 21 2001 Uzbekistan 18 16 - 2 2012 Vietnam 18 15 - 3 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. Yemen ? 14 Europe # Country De jure Education / Employment gap Year Notes School leaving age Employment age Andorra 16 0 2001 Austria 15 0 2011 Belarus 15 14 - 1 Belgium 18 15 - 3 2009 ? Full - time education is compulsory from the age of 6 to 15. From the person 's 16th to their 18th birthday, they are obliged to pursue at least part - time education so they have a choice between full - time or part - time education. Bosnia and Herzegovina ? 15 2011 Bulgaria 16 0 2007 Croatia 15 0 2003 Cyprus 15 0 2011 Czech Republic 15 0 Denmark 16 13 - 3 England 16 / 18 13 - 15 ( part time light work ) 16 + ( full time ) 2015 Full - time employment is illegal before the last Friday in June of Year Eleven even if the child is already 16. Part - time employment may be undertaken from 14 and in certain cases, for example delivering newspapers, at 13. Rules coming into application in 2011 require all young people to continue with some kind of education or training until 18. Young people aged 16 or 17 may leave school if they enter training or an apprenticeship. Estonia 15 0 2002 Finland 16 15 - 1 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. France 16 0 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. Germany 18 ( 15 ) - 3 2003 The statutory minimum school leaving age is essentially set at 18. The federal Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz ( Youth Employment Protection Act ) regulates the minimum employment age, which is set at 15. However, from the person 's 15th to their 18th birthday, they are obliged by state law to pursue at least part - time vocational secondary education, usually within the German dual education system. Some germans students leaving school at 17 and 6 months Greece 15 0 2011 Hungary 16 0 2005 Iceland 16 0 Ireland 16 ( 14 ) - 2 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. 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. Employees under 18 must be registered. Exemptions may be specified by the Minister for Jobs ; this has been done for close relatives. Italy 16 0 Latvia 15 0 2005 Liechtenstein 15 0 2005 Lithuania 16 0 2011 Luxembourg 18 0 1997 Macedonia 18 15 - 3 2009 ? Compulsory secondary education starts year 2008 ( Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 49 from 18 April 2007 ). Malta 16 0 2012 Although the compulsory education ends at 16, an increasing number of children opt to further their studies while taking up part - time employment. Moldova 16 15 - 1 2008 Monaco 16 0 2012 Montenegro 15 0 Netherlands 18 13 - 5 2014 Education is compulsory from the age of 5 to 18. Secondary education is divided in several levels, with vmbo students typically graduating at age 16, havo students at 17 and vwo students at 18. After obtaining a havo or vwo diploma, the student is no longer obligated to go to school regardless of their age. Except those students which have done vmbo, they must have a mbo level 2 or higher diploma before quitting school. Also, all children between those ages, even if they 're refugees or new, have to attend school. Not attending school with - out proper reason for example ; sickness or a doctors visit, is illegal and is seen as wagging which is seen as fraud and punishable by law. Until the age of 12 children can not be punished by law, but as soon as your child or you turn 12 years of age or older, you can be held responsible for wagging. Punishments can be done as a fine, temporary jail time or a community service job done under supervision. Fines can be up to € 3 900 00. These punishments can be given to the student and / or his or her legal parent or guardian. Netherlands Antilles 15 12 - 3 2010 ? Norway 16 15 - 1 2009 Northern Ireland 16 ( 15 ) - 1 2014 Poland 18 16 - 2 2002 After graduating from Gimnazjum ( usually at the age of 15 or 16 ) one can leave school but is legally required to continue education up to the age of 18. However, this requirement can be satisfied through `` education during employment '' without attending a school. This can be done as a part of employment, so technically the person leaves school and works full - time. Portugal 18 16 - 2 2009 Romania 16 15 - 1 2008 ? Russia 15 0 San Marino 16 0 2003 Scotland 16 ( 13 ) - 3 2013 Compulsory education ends usually after the age of 16 which is generally after fourth year though for some is halfway through fifth year usually. 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 13 to 16 year ( i.e. maximum hours, work permits, type of work ) to ensure that employment fits round requirements of full - time education. Serbia 14 15 2007 Slovakia 16 ( 14 ) - 2 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 18 at that time ). Slovenia 15 0 2012 Spain 16 0 2009 Sweden 16 0 Switzerland 15 0 2001 Ukraine 17 16 - 1 Wales 16 ( 14 ) - 2 2013 Full - time work starts at 16. Oceania # Country De jure Education / Employment gap Year Notes School leaving age Employment age Australia 15 or 17 14.5 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, which ever 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 Marshall Islands 14 18 2005 F.S. Micronesia 14 ? New Zealand 16 0 Those at least 15 may leave school with permission from the Ministry of Education. Papua New Guinea ? 2003 Palau 17 ? 2000 Solomon Islands ? 12 2002 School retention by country Country 2009 OECD 1986 Michael Hill % - age in full - time education ( aged 15 - 19 ) % - age in full - time education ( aged 17 ) Minimum leaving age required Australia 78 50 15 Austria 84 ⁄ ⁄ Belgium 91 86 16 Brazil 70 ⁄ ⁄ Canada 80 79 15 / 16 Czech Republic 93 ⁄ ⁄ Denmark 89 75 16 / 17 Estonia 89 ⁄ ⁄ Finland 90 91 17 France 90 80 16 Germany 93 100 16 Greece 88 55 14.5 Hungary 93 ⁄ ⁄ Iceland 88 41 15 Ireland 83 ⁄ ⁄ Israel 69 ⁄ ⁄ Italy 84 46 14 Japan 91 15 Luxembourg 95 ⁄ ⁄ Mexico 61 ⁄ ⁄ Netherlands 90 87 16 New Zealand 73 54 15 Norway 81 76 16 OECD average 84 ⁄ ⁄ Poland 94 ⁄ ⁄ Portugal 85 ⁄ ⁄ Slovak Republic 91 ⁄ ⁄ Slovenia 94 ⁄ ⁄ Spain 80 53 14 Sweden 88 86 16 Switzerland 85 83 15 / 16 Turkey 56 ⁄ ⁄ United Kingdom 78 49 16 United States 85 89 17 See also Compulsory education Education Index Legal working age Raising of school leaving age Notes Jump up ^ `` Country Table - At What Age ?... are school - children employed, married and taken to court ''. The Right to Education Project. Retrieved 2014 - 01 - 02. Jump up ^ Mahery, Prinslean ; Proudlock, Paula ( April 2011 ). `` Legal guide to age thresholds for children and young people '' ( PDF ) ( 5 ed. ). Children 's Institute, University of Cape Town. p. 12. Retrieved 8 October 2011. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2014 - 02 - 15. Retrieved 2014 - 02 - 12. Jump up ^ Mikulecky, Marga ( April 2013 ). `` Compulsory School Age Requirements '' ( PDF ). Education Commission of the States. Retrieved January 8, 2015. Jump up ^ `` School leaving age - GOV.UK ''. GOV.UK. Government Digital Service. 2014 - 01 - 09. Retrieved 2014 - 04 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Getting a full - time Job at 16 ''. Connexions Direct. Retrieved 2009 - 01 - 11. Jump up ^ Contribution to EIRO thematic feature on Youth and work - case of France Archived 2012 - 08 - 02 at Archive.is Jump up ^ `` School : leaving it too early '' - by Andrew Leigh Archived 2014 - 01 - 03 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Text of the German Youth Employment Protection Act in German, provided by the German Federal Ministry of Justice. ^ Jump up to : `` Children and rights in Ireland ''. Citizens Information. Ireland : Citizens Information Board. 3 April 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014. Jump up ^ `` School attendance ''. Citizens Information. Ireland : Citizens Information Board. 2 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014. `` Education ( Welfare ) Act, 2000 ''. Irish Statute Book. § § 2, 17. Retrieved 6 January 2014. ^ Jump up to : `` Hours of work for young people ''. Citizens Information. Ireland : Citizens Information Board. Retrieved 6 January 2014. `` Protection of Young Persons ( Employment ) Act, 1996 ''. Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 6 January 2014. Jump up ^ `` S.I. No. 2 / 1997 - Protection of Young Persons ( Employment of Close Relatives ) Regulations, 1997. '' Irish Statute Book. Retrieved 6 January 2014. Jump up ^ `` School leaving age - GOV.UK ''. GOV.UK. Government Digital Service. 2014 - 01 - 09. Retrieved 2014 - 04 - 02. Jump up ^ `` School leaving age - GOV.UK ''. GOV.UK. Government Digital Service. 2014 - 01 - 09. Retrieved 2014 - 04 - 02. Jump up ^ `` School leaving age - GOV.UK ''. GOV.UK. Government Digital Service. 2014 - 01 - 09. Retrieved 2014 - 04 - 02. Jump up ^ Skills beyond school. p. 343. OECD. 2011 Jump up ^ 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 External links Right to Education Lists of countries by laws and law enforcement rankings Age of Consent Legal candidacy for political office Criminal responsibility Legal drinking Legal driving Majority Legal marriage Retirement age Mandatory retirement School - leaving age Legal smoking Voting Suffrage Youth suffrage Working age Drugs Alcohol Alcohol consumption Alcohol law Bath salts Legal status of Mephedrone Legal status of MPDV Legal status of Methylone Cannabis Legality annual use lifetime use Cocaine use Legality Methamphetamine Legality LSD Legality Opiate use Salvia divinorum Legality Death Legality of euthanasia Homicide by decade Law enforcement killings Legality of suicide Legality of assisted suicide Guns Deaths Ownership Punishment Corporal punishment At home At school In court Death penalty Incarceration Obscenity Incest Laws Pornography Child pornography Simulated child pornography Drawn pornography depicting minors Internet pornography Prostitution Sexual assault Child sexual abuse Rape Sodomy law Sex trafficking Zoophilia Censorship Censorship by country Book censorship by country Film censorship by country Internet censorship by country Cartographic censorship Political censorship Video gaming censorship by country Human rights Children 's rights Children in the military Intersex rights LGBT Rights Slavery Human trafficking Freedom of movement by country In the air Abode Property and Environmental Air Estate Land Minerals Mining Mortgage Water Riparian water Business Corporate Corporate liability Competition Mergers and acquisitions Monopoly Legality of bitcoin by country or territory International ownership International waters Sea law Maritime law Antarctic Treaty System Other Abortion law Minors and abortion Animal rights Immigration law Human cloning National legal systems Police brutality Prisoner abuse Religious law Separation of church and state Sharia Size of police forces World Justice Project List of international rankings List of top international rankings by country Lists by country Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=School-leaving_age&oldid=841924498 '' Categories : Education policy Education law Juvenile law Law - related lists Lists by country Minimum ages Students High schools and secondary schools Compulsory education Education by country Law by country Labour law Employment by country Hidden categories : Webarchive template archiveis links Webarchive template wayback links Talk Contents About Wikipedia اردو Edit links This page was last edited on 19 May 2018, at 00 : 22. 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Question: at what age can you leave school in the uk
Answer: 16