Erasmus started in 1987 with 3,200 students and today more than 16 million people have participated.

Omissions

• The most recent official figure is over 18 million cumulative participants since 1987 (European Commission Erasmus+ statistics overview and Council of the EU), so the 'more than 16 million' figure understates participation by roughly 2 million; 16 million corresponds to the cumulative total reached around 2023/2024.
• The 3,200 figure refers specifically to higher-education student exchanges in the programme's first year (1987) in 11 countries, not to all Erasmus+ activity types.
• The speaker presents the figure as a current total ('today') without noting that it is a rounded floor and that the programme has since surpassed it.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Erasmus+ programme level overview of project data"Erasmus was established in 1987 as an exchange programme for higher education students. Ever since the first year, when 3,200 students from..." / "Today, it is one of the European Union's most visible success stories with 18 million people participating since 1987."
• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Erasmus+ 'Erasmus to Erasmus+: history, funding and future'"Since the start of the programme in 1987, over 16 million people have taken part in Erasmus+, thanks to enthusiastic take-up of opportunities by..."
• PrimaryCouncil of the European Union — Erasmus+ programme"Erasmus+ and its predecessors have had a positive impact on over 18 million people by: helping them develop professionally and personally; strengthening..."
• SecondaryEuropean Parliament Research Service (IUST) study — 'Erasmus+: Evolution, Structural Challenges and Future Design'"Over nearly four decades, Erasmus and the programmes that later evolved into Erasmus+ have given more than 18 million Europeans the opportunity to study, train,..."