Over 40 years, more than 18 million Europeans have benefited from the Erasmus programme.

Omissions

• The programme was launched in 1987, so in October 2026 it was 39 years old, not 40; the Commission itself describes it as 'nearly 40 years of impact'. The 40th anniversary falls in 2027.
• 'Europeans' is an approximation: the Commission counts all Erasmus/Erasmus+ participants since 1987, which includes participants from non-EU partner countries.
• The official figure is a rounded communication figure; Commission statistics break it down as around 7.1 million participants in 1987-2013 and a further 8.5 million in 2014-2023, i.e. roughly 15.6 million before the 2024 cohort of about 1.5 million mobility participants.
• Some older Commission pages still cite 'over 16 million' participants, reflecting an earlier cut-off date.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Erasmus+ programme statistics (Programme level overview of project data)"Today, it is one of the European Union's most visible success stories with 18 million people participating since 1987."
• PrimaryCouncil of the EU — Erasmus+ programme policy page"Erasmus+ and its predecessors have had a positive impact on over 18 million people"
• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Erasmus+ 'Annual reports, factsheets and statistics' page"Erasmus+ is a lasting EU success story, with nearly 40 years of impact on the personal and professional growth of over 16 million people."
• SecondaryEuropean Parliament — IUST study 'Erasmus+: Evolution, Structural Challenges and Future Design' (2026)"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, ..."