Education at a Glance is the definitive guide to the state of education around the world. More than 100 charts and tables in the publication and country notes – as well as many more in the data explorer – describe the output of educational institutions; the impact of learning across countries; access, participation and progression in education; the financial resources invested in education; and teachers, the learning environment and the organisation of schools. The 2024 edition focuses on equity in education, providing indicators on gaps in educational outcomes and discussing the effect of educational attainment on labour market outcomes.
Education at a Glance 2024
OECD Indicators
Education at a Glance
Secondary attainment improved across most OECD countries. Educational and labour-market outcomes have improved for the young adults most at risk of falling behind. Girls and women continue to earn lower than their male counterparts, despite outperforming boys and men by most available measures, though the earnings gap is shrinking. Although many countries now recognise the importance of early childhood education in contributing to positive outcomes later in life, accessing early childhood education often still requires substantial private financial contributions that remain unaffordable for the poorest households.
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The number of 25-34 year-olds without secondary attainment fell across most OECD countries between 2016 and 2023
Costa Rica, Mexico, Portugal and Türkiye saw the biggest declines, with at least 10 percentage points more 25-34 year-olds attaining secondary education during that period. The share of 18-24 year-olds not in employment, education or training fell from 16% to 14% between 2016 and 2023 on average across the OECD, with substantial declines in Italy, Mexico, Croatia and Poland.
Girls and women outperform boys in education, but remain disadvantaged in the labour market
Significantly more young women than men obtain advanced qualifications. However, the employment rate of women aged 25-34 remains below the employment rate of men. The employment rate of young women without an upper secondary qualification is 25 percentage points lower than the employment rate of their male counterparts. Among young adults with tertiary qualifications, the gender gap in employment rates is smaller but still significant at 6 percentage points. Young women also earn less than young men, with average earnings 15% lower for those lacking an upper secondary qualification and 17% lower for those with a tertiary qualification.
Educational outcomes are strongly influenced by family background
Children from low-income families are on average 18 percentage points less likely to be enrolled in early childhood education and care before the age of three. Primary and secondary students from less advantaged socio-economic backgrounds perform worse in standardised assessments such as the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) and PISA.
Country notes
- A - C
- D - I
- J - M
- N - R
- S - T
- U - Z
