In 2011, more than one in five young people abandoned school before completing their studies (23%), according to the data provided by the INE. That means that in seven years there was a reduction of more than 10 percentage points.

In a statement sent to Lusa, the Ministry of Education welcomed the news, noting the "historical minimum" but stressing that the work of the ministry will not be finished "while there are young people who abandon their compulsory schooling".

The school leaving age in Portugal is 18 but the country’s high dropout rate relative to other European Union member states has long been seen as a drag on opportunity and productivity.