To download the data for the figures and tables in this chapter, click StatLink above.
To access further data and/or other education indicators, please visit the OECD Data Explorer: https://data-explorer.oecd.org/.
Data cut-off for the print publication 13 June 2025. Please note that the Data Explorer contains the most recent data.
Table X1.1. School year and financial year used for the calculation of indicators, OECD countries
No note.
Table X1.2. School year and financial year used for the calculation of indicators, partner and accession countries
No note.
Table X1.3. Starting and ending age of students in compulsory education, ages of entitlement to early childhood education and care, and theoretical starting age and duration of education levels (2023)
Note: The theoretical ages refer to the age of the students at the beginning of the school year except for the ending age of compulsory education which corresponds to the age at which compulsory schooling ends. For example, an ending age of 18 indicates that all students under 18 are legally obliged to participate in education. Since the theoretical ages indicated refer to the beginning of the school year, students may be older than the theoretical ending age at the end of the academic year. See Definitions and Methodology.
1. Theoretical starting and ending ages for early childhood development refer to the Flemish Community only.
2. The length of study at the secondary level differs in Quebec, with the final grade of secondary schools in the province being Grade 11. For the remaining provinces and territories, the final grade of secondary schools is Grade 12.
3. In 2015, the Basic Education Act was revised and the participation of 6-year-olds in pre-primary education became mandatory. However, this is not encompassed by the Compulsory Education Act, which stipulates that compulsory education usually begins in the year when children turn 7 years old.
4. As of September 2020, 16-18 year-old students are required to train by several means: schooling, apprenticeships, training courses, civic service, and support or social and professional integration measures.
5. In Berlin and Brandenburg, primary education lasts for 6 years. In addition, the duration of lower secondary education varies between 5 and 6 years depending on the qualification aspired and Federal Land. Most programmes leading to the first school leaving certificate last 9 school years, while programmes leading to the intermediate school leaving certificate last 10 school years. There are also differences in the length of schooling up to the Abitur (12 or 13 years). The starting age for upper secondary education also varies and can be 15. In Berlin, upper secondary education at the gymnasium lasts 2 years.
6. Early childhood education integrates early childhood educational development and pre-primary education. There is no lower age limit to enrol, but children are entitled to a place from the year they turn 1 if born January-November and parental leave is also around a year. The theoretical duration of upper secondary vocational programmes may vary from 3 to 4.5 years.
a – category not applicable; b – break in series; d – contains data from another column; m – missing data; x – contained in another column (indicated in brackets). For further control codes, see the Reader’s Guide.
For further methodological information, see Education at a Glance 2025: Sources, Methodologies and Technical Notes (https://doi.org/10.1787/fcfaf2d1-en)
Note: For notes on this table and a link to download the data, see Notes for Tables section above.
Note: For notes on this table and a link to download the data, see Notes for Tables section above.
Ages refer to the age of the students at the beginning of the school year
Note: For notes on this table and a link to download the data, see Notes for Tables section above.