As of 2021, English was by far the most studied foreign language at the upper secondary level in European Union countries, with **** percent of all students studying the language. The number of English-learning students was greater than all other languages combined in 2021, with German, French, and Spanish being the next most studied languages in European secondary schools. Russian was the most-learned non-EU language in that year, with *** percent of students learning the eastern Slavic language.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
Eurostat. (June 6, 2023). Share of students in upper secondary education in European Union member states learning a foreign language in 2021, by language [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 12, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1425925/share-upper-secondary-school-language-learning/
Eurostat. "Share of students in upper secondary education in European Union member states learning a foreign language in 2021, by language." Chart. June 6, 2023. Statista. Accessed July 12, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1425925/share-upper-secondary-school-language-learning/
Eurostat. (2023). Share of students in upper secondary education in European Union member states learning a foreign language in 2021, by language. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 12, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1425925/share-upper-secondary-school-language-learning/
Eurostat. "Share of Students in Upper Secondary Education in European Union Member States Learning a Foreign Language in 2021, by Language." Statista, Statista Inc., 6 Jun 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1425925/share-upper-secondary-school-language-learning/
Eurostat, Share of students in upper secondary education in European Union member states learning a foreign language in 2021, by language Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1425925/share-upper-secondary-school-language-learning/ (last visited July 12, 2025)
Share of students in upper secondary education in European Union member states learning a foreign language in 2021, by language [Graph], Eurostat, June 6, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1425925/share-upper-secondary-school-language-learning/
