(ANSA) - Brussels, April 26 - Italy had the second worst percentage of university graduates at 26.2% in 2016, only beaten by Romania with 25.6%, Eurostat said Wednesday. The percentage of graduates aged 30-34 rose in all EU members compared to 2002. The number of people with a higher-education certificate doubled compared to 2002 when it was 13.1%, Eurostat said. Lithuania topped the rankings with 58.7%, followed by Luxembourg with 54.6% and Cyprus with 53.4%.

In line with all the other countries, more Italian women than men got degrees, 32.5% against 19.9%.

Italy is fifth worst for people dropping out of school, with only Portugal, Romania, Spain and Malta doing worse.

With 14% of 18-24-year-olds not getting a secondary-school diploma, Italy reached its national objective but is still off the EU drop-out target of 10%.

The Europe 2020 strategy aims to raise the percentage of graduates to 40% in all EU members by that date. The previous Italian government of ex-premier Matteo Renzi introduced reforms aimed at boosting graduate numbers.

