16 million people have taken part in the Erasmus programme.

Omissions

• The claim understates the programme's reach: several 2026 official sources put cumulative participation at 'over 18 million', i.e. about 12% above the 16 million quoted by the MEP.
• Some European Commission Erasmus+ webpages still carry the older wording 'over 16 million people' (e.g. the 'History, funding and future' and 'Annual reports, factsheets and statistics' pages), so the MEP's figure mirrors an official but not fully updated page rather than the latest statistics overview.
• The figure is cumulative since 1987 and includes all Erasmus+ and predecessor-programme mobility participants (students, learners, staff, volunteers), not a single-year or single-action count.
• No source gives an exact figure for October 2026; the 18 million figure is a rounded 'more than' figure, and the exact cut-off date of the underlying data is not stated.
• Publication dates of the European Commission and Council webpages consulted could not be established; the underlying statistics likely refer to data available up to 2025/2026.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission – Erasmus+ programme level overview of project dataToday, it is one of the European Union's most visible success stories with 18 million people participating since 1987.
• PrimaryCouncil of the EU – Erasmus+ programmeErasmus+ and its predecessors have had a positive impact on over 18 million people by: helping them develop professionally and personally; strengthening ...
• PrimaryEuropean Commission – Erasmus+ history, funding and futureSince the start of the programme in 1987, over 16 million people have taken part in Erasmus+, thanks to enthusiastic take-up of opportunities by ...
• SecondaryEuropean Parliament research study – Erasmus+: Evolution, Structural Challenges and Future DesignOver nearly four decades, Erasmus and the programmes that later evolved into Erasmus+ have given more than 18 million Europeans the opportunity to study, train, ...