Since 1987, 18 million participants have benefited from the Erasmus+ programme.

Omissions

• The 18 million figure is cumulative and covers Erasmus and all predecessor/successor programmes (Erasmus, Comenius, Leonardo da Vinci, Grundtvig, Youth in Action, Erasmus Mundus) as well as Erasmus+ itself, not only the Erasmus+ programme created in 2014.
• Some European Commission pages are less up to date and still use lower cumulative figures: the 'Erasmus to Erasmus+: history, funding and future' page says 'over 16 million people', and the Erasmus+ annual report 2023 (published 2025) speaks of 'approaching the milestone of 15 million programme beneficiaries' by the end of 2023. The 18 million figure is therefore the most recent estimate and is consistent with roughly 1.5 million participants per year (nearly 1.5 million people went on an Erasmus+ mobility in 2024 alone).
• The figure is a cumulative aggregate estimate rather than a single audited statistic, and it mixes 'participants' with 'beneficiaries' terminology.
• Some European Commission pages cited do not display a clear publication/reference date, so the exact cut-off of the 18 million count cannot be pinned down beyond 'as of the 2025/2026 programme cycle', i.e. before the session date of 21 October 2026.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Erasmus+ programme level overview of project data (statistics)"Today, it is one of the European Union's most visible success stories with 18 million people participating since 1987."
• 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..."
• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Marking 37 years of Erasmus+: Key numbers and achievements"From 1987 to 2013, around 7.1 million people took part in the programme. Between 2014 to 2023 alone, another 8.5 million benefitted from an..."
• PrimaryEuropean Commission — Almost 1.5 million people went on an Erasmus+ mobility in 2024, according to latest report"Almost 1.5 million people went on an Erasmus+ mobility in 2024, according to latest report ... With an annual budget of €4.7 billion in 2024, the ..."
• SecondaryEuropean Parliament — Erasmus+: Evolution, Structural Challenges and Future Design (IUST study)"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, ..."