While a large share of US adults have a university-level education, slow growth rates have let the US slip behind many other nations in college completion.

1. 1
Education at a Glance
2014
Presentation - press conference in
the United States
(September 9, 2014)

2. While a large share of US adults have a university-level education…
…slow growth rates have let the US slip behind many other nations
in college completion
2

3. Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
A world of change – higher education
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
1995
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Expenditure per student at tertiary level (USD)
Tertiary-type A graduation rate (%)
Cost per student
Graduate supply

4. Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
A world of change – higher education
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
1995
United States
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Expenditure per student at tertiary level (USD)
Tertiary-type A graduation rate (%)
Cost per student
Graduate supply

5. Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
A world of change – higher education
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Expenditure per student at tertiary level (USD)
Tertiary-type A graduation rate
United Kingdom

6. Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
A world of change – higher education
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2001
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Expenditure per student at tertiary level (USD)
Tertiary-type A graduation rate

7. Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
A world of change – higher education
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2002
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Expenditure per student at tertiary level (USD)
Tertiary-type A graduation rate

8. Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
A world of change – higher education
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2003
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Expenditure per student at tertiary level (USD)
Tertiary-type A graduation rate

9. Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
A world of change – higher education
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2004
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Expenditure per student at tertiary level (USD)
Tertiary-type A graduation rate

10. Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
A world of change – higher education
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2005
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Expenditure per student at tertiary level (USD)
Tertiary-type A graduation rate

11. Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
A world of change – higher education
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2006
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Expenditure per student at tertiary level (USD)
Tertiary-type A graduation rate

12. Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
A world of change – higher education
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2007
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Expenditure per student at tertiary level (USD)
Tertiary-type A graduation rate

13. Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
A world of change – higher education
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2008
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Expenditure per student at tertiary level (USD)
Tertiary-type A graduation rate

14. Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
A world of change – higher education
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2009
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Expenditure per student at tertiary level (USD)
Tertiary-type A graduation rate

15. Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
A world of change – higher education
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2010
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Expenditure per student at tertiary level (USD)
Tertiary-type A graduation rate

16. Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
A world of change – higher education
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2011
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Expenditure per student at tertiary level (USD)
Tertiary-type A graduation rate

17. Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
A world of change – higher education
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2011
Australia
Poland
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Expenditure per student at tertiary level (USD)
Tertiary-type A graduation rate
Iceland
UK
New Zealand

18. Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
A world of change – higher education
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2011
US
P
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Expenditure per student at tertiary level (USD)
Tertiary-type A graduation rate

19. More people benefit from education than ever before
25-34 and 55-64 year-olds, and percentage-point difference between these two groups
Difference between the 25-34 and 55-64 year-old population with tertiary education (right axis)
Proportion of the 25-34 year-old population with tertiary education (left axis)
Proportion of the 55-64 year-old population with tertiary education (left axis)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
-10
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
- 10
Israel
United States
Germany
Brazil
Estonia
Austria
Russian Federation
Finland
Chile
Turkey
Italy
Denmark
Mexico
Switzerland
New Zealand
Canada
Slovak Republic
Iceland
Australia
Greece
Sweden
EU 21 Average
OECD average
Norway
Hungary
Netherlands
Czech Republic
United Kingdom
Latvia
Portugal
Belgium
Slovenia
Spain
France
Luxembourg
Ireland
Japan
Poland
Korea
%
Chart A1.3
Percentage
points

20. Many more people are expected to graduate from
academically-oriented tertiary education
First-time graduation rates in tertiary-type A education (1995 and 2012)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Iceland
New Zealand
Poland
Australia
Denmark
Finland
Ireland
Netherlands
Japan
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Norway
Portugal
Latvia
Israel
Czech Republic
Austria
Sweden
United States
EU21 average
OECD average
Canada
Germany
Switzerland
Spain
Turkey
Italy
Chile
Hungary
Mexico
Tertiary-type A (2012) Tertiary-type A (1995)
%
Chart A3.2
- A

21. Women and men are differently represented
in some fields of education
Percentage of tertiary degrees awarded to women, by field of education (2012)
Chart A.3 -
Field
Education Health and welfare Science Engineering, manufacturing and construction All fields
100
80
60
40
20
0
Poland
Estonia
Iceland
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Brazil
Sweden
Hungary
Italy
New Zealand
Argentina
Czech Republic
Finland
Norway
Luxembourg
Portugal
Canada
Denmark
Israel
OECD average
United States
Australia
Spain
Ireland
Netherlands
Chile
France
United Kingdom
Austria
Belgium
Germany
Mexico
Switzerland
Turkey
Korea
Japan

22. China has almost caught up with the US in terms of
high-school completion
Upper secondary graduation rates (2012)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Slovenia
Iceland
Germany
Netherlands
Hungary
United Kingdom
Ireland
Japan
Spain
Finland
Denmark
Korea
Norway
Canada
Israel
Slovak Republic
EU 21 average
New Zealand
Poland
Chile
Italy
OECD average
Czech Republic
United States
Sweden
China
Greece
Luxembourg
Austria
Turkey
Mexico
Total <25 years old ≧25 years old
Chart A2.1
%

23. Qualification don’t always translate into
strong foundation skills
23

24. Literacy proficiency is determined by educational attainment
but not in the same way across countries
Mean literacy score, by educational attainment (2012)
320
300
280
260
240
220
200
Japan
Netherlands
Finland
Sweden
Australia
Czech Republic
Flanders (Belgium)
Norway
United States
Average
Poland
Austria
England/N. Ireland (UK)
Slovak Republic
France
Germany
Denmark
Ireland
Korea
Canada
Estonia
Spain
Italy
Russian Federation
Below upper secondary education
Upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education
Tertiary education
Chart A1.4

25. The shares of highly literate tertiary graduates are
very different across countries
Percentage of adults scoring at literacy proficiency Level 4/5, by educational attainment (2012)
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Japan
Finland
Netherlands
Sweden
Australia
Norway
Flanders (Belgium)
England/N. Ireland (UK)
United States
Czech Republic
Average
Poland
Canada
Austria
Germany
Ireland
France
Denmark
Estonia
Slovak Republic
Korea
Russian Federation
Spain
Italy
Below upper secondary education
Upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education
Tertiary education
%
Chart A1.5

26. The rising tide has not lifted all boats…
…and in some countries educational mobility is slowing down
26

27. Between 20% and 60% of adults are more educated
than their parents
Percentage of 25-64 year-old non-students whose educational attainment is higher than (upward mobility) or lower than (downward mobility)
that of their parents
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Czech
Republic
Germany
Austria
United States
Slovak
Republic
Italy
Norway
Denmark
England/N.
Ireland (UK)
Spain
Average
Australia
Japan
Sweden
Estonia
Canada
Netherlands
Poland
Ireland
France
Flanders
(Belgium)
Finland
Korea
Russian
Federation
Downward mobility Upward mobility
%
Chart A4.3
- Mob

28. In most countries, upward educational mobility tends to
be lower in the younger generations
Proportion of upward mobility across age groups
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
Average France Germany Italy Spain Sweden United States England/N. Ireland (UK)
55-64 45-54 35-44 25-34
Upward Mobility
Age groups
Graph
Mobility A4

29. Equitable access to tertiary education and
educational mobility are not the same thing
Mobility
Odds A4
Relationship between the share of upward mobility among 25-34 year-olds and the likelihood of participating in tertiary education (values in
reverse order)
less equitable access
high educational mobility
Italy Ireland
France Finland
Australia
England/N. Ireland Flanders
Average
Austria
Denmark Canada
Estonia
Japan
Germany
Korea
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Spain
US Sweden
Upward mobility
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Odds ratio
less equitable access
low educational mobility
more equitable access
high educational mobility
more equitable access
low educational mobility

30. Those who need lifelong learning most get the least of it
Adult participation in formal and/or non-formal education, by employment status (2012)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Finland
Denmark
Netherlands
Sweden
Norway
United States
Canada
England/N. Ireland (UK)
Australia
Ireland
Estonia
Czech Republic
Average
Germany
Korea
Flanders (Belgium)
Austria
Spain
Japan
Poland
Slovak Republic
France
Italy
Russian Federation
% Employed Unemployed Inactive
Chart C6.3

31. Education is internationalising rapidly…
…the US accommodates a large but declining share of the market.
31

32. In 2012, more than 4.5 million students were enrolled in
tertiary education outside their country of citizenship Chart C4.1
Evolution in the number of students enrolled outside their country of citizenship, by region of destination (2000 to 2012)
Million students
5
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Worldwide OECD G20 countries
Europe North America Oceania
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

33. In 2012, more than one in two foreign students were enrolled in Australia,
Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom or the United States
Distribution of foreign students in tertiary education, by country of destination (2012)
United States¹ 16%
United Kingdom¹ 13%
Germany 6%
Other OECD countries
8%
Belgium 1%
Korea 1%
Netherlands 1%
Switzerland 1%
South Africa 2%
New Zealand 2%
Austria 2%
Italy 2%
China 2%
Spain 2%
Japan 3%
Canada² 5%
Australia¹,³ 6% France 6%
Russian Federation 4%
Other non-OECD
countries 17%
Chart C4.2

34. New players are emerging in the international
education market
Trends in international education market shares (2000, 2012). Percentage of all foreign tertiary students enrolled, by destination
25
20
15
10
5
0
United State
United Kingdom
Germany
France
Australia
Canada
Russian Federation
Japan
Spain
China
Italy
Austria
New Zealand
South Africa
Switzerland
Netherlands
Korea
Belgium
Other OECD
Other G0 and non-OECD
2000
2012
Market share (%)
OECD countries Other G20 and
non-OECD countries
2000
2012
Chart C4.3

35. More than half of foreign students in tertiary
education come from Asia
Distribution of foreign students in tertiary education, by region of origin (2012)
Asia 53%
Europe 23%
Not specified 3%
Oceania 1%
North America 3%
Latin America and the
Caribbean 6%
Africa 12%
Chart C4.5

36. Different from the majority of countries, spending per
student in the US has suffered during the crisis…
…but is still higher than anywhere else except Switzerland.
36

37. Between 2008 and 2011, only six countries cut
public expenditure on educational institutions
Impact of the economic crisis on public expenditure on education
130
125
120
115
110
105
100
95
90
85
80
United Kingdom
Czech Republic
New Zealand
Change in public expenditure on educational institutions
Change in Gross Domestic Product
Change in expenditure on education institutions as a percentage of GDP
Denmark
Slovak Republic
Brazil
Finland
Australia
Ireland
Netherlands
Japan
Switzerland
Germany
Slovenia
Chile
Canada
Portugal
Mexico
Korea
OECD average
Austria
Spain
EU21 average
Norway
Belgium
France
Sweden
Israel
Iceland
United States
Russian Federation
Poland
Estonia
Italy
Hungary
Index of change (2008=100)
Chart B2.3
- T

38. OECD countries spend USD 9 252 per student per
year from primary through tertiary education
Annual expenditure per student by educational institutions, by type of service (2011)
18 000
16 000
14 000
12 000
10 000
8 000
6 000
4 000
2 000
0
Core services Ancillary services (transport, meals, housing provided by institutions) and R&D Total
United States
Austria
Netherlands
Belgium
Ireland
Sweden
Germany
Australia
United Kingdom
Finland
France
Slovenia
Spain
EU21 average
OECD average
Italy
Korea
Portugal
Israel
Poland
Czech Republic
Chile
Slovak Republic
Hungary
Mexico
Brazil
Switzerland
Norway
Denmark
Japan
Iceland
New Zealand
Estonia
Latvia
Russian Federation
Turkey
Indonesia
In equivalent USD
converted using PPPs
Chart B1.1

39. In 2011, OECD countries spent an average of 1.6% of
their GDP on tertiary education
Chart B2.2
- T
Expenditure on educational institutions as a percentage of GDP (2011). From public and private sources, by level of education and
source of funds
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Finland
Denmark
Norway
Canada
Sweden
Estonia
Austria
Switzerland
Belgium
Netherlands
France
EU21 average
Argentina
Ireland
Czech Republic
Slovenia
Germany
Iceland
Spain
Poland
New Zealand
Latvia
Portugal
Hungary
United States
Brazil
Israel
Mexico
United Kingdom
Russian Federation
Colombia
Slovak Republic
Chile
Italy
Korea
Australia
Japan
% of GDP
Tertiary education
Public expenditure on education institutions Private expenditure on education institutions
OECD average (total expenditure)

40. About 31% of spending on tertiary education comes from
private sources, on average
Share of private expenditure on educational institutions (2011)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Chile
Korea
United Kingdom
Japan
United States
Colombia
Australia
Israel
Canada
Latvia
Russian Federation
New Zealand
Italy
Mexico
Portugal
OECD average
Indonesia
Netherlands
Poland
Slovak Republic
Argentina
Spain
EU21 average
Estonia
Ireland
France
Czech Republic
Germany
Slovenia
Austria
Sweden
Belgium
Iceland
Denmark
Finland
Norway
Turkey
Switzerland
Luxembourg
%
Primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education Tertiary education
Chart B3.1

41. Nearly 22% of public spending on tertiary education is devoted to
supporting students, households and other private entities
Public support for tertiary education (2011)
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
United Kingdom
United States
Chart B5.3. Public subsidies for education in tertiary
Slovenia
Denmark
Italy
Chile
Slovak Republic
Austria
Germany
Portugal
New Zealand
Belgium
Latvia
Finland
Australia
OECD average
Netherlands
Ireland
Hungary
Poland
Norway
Israel
Sweden
Spain
France
Switzerland
Canada
Mexico
Brazil
Turkey
Korea
Estonia
Indonesia
Czech Republic
Argentina
Japan
Iceland
% of total public expenditure
on tertiary education
Student loans
Transfers and payments to other private entities
Scholarships/ other grants to households
Chart B5.3

42. The net public return on investment for a man in tertiary education is over
USD 100 000, while the net private return is over USD 180 000
Net private and public returns associated with a man attaining tertiary education (2010)
500 000
450 000
400 000
350 000
300 000
250 000
200 000
150 000
100 000
50 000
0
Turkey
Denmark
Spain
Estonia
Sweden
New Zealand
Greece
Korea
Japan
Canada
Slovak Republic
Poland
Norway
Israel
Czech Republic
France
Australia
Finland
OECD average
Portugal
EU21 average
Austria
United Kingdom
Netherlands
Italy
Belgium
Slovenia
Germany
United States
Hungary
Ireland
Equivalent USD
Private net returns Public net returns
Chart A7.1

43. National income invested in
early childhood education is low…
…but since participation is low also, the US can afford favourable
child/staff ratios
43

44. Expenditure on early childhood education accounts
for 0.6% of GDP, on average
Expenditure on early childhood educational institutions (2011) as a percentage of GDP, by funding source
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
Denmark
Iceland
Spain
Latvia
Russian Federation
Slovenia
Luxembourg
Chile
Sweden
Poland
France
Israel
Argentina
Belgium
Mexico
New Zealand
Austria
Germany
EU21 average
OECD average
Norway
Czech Republic
Colombia
Italy
Slovak Republic
United States
Finland
Netherlands
Estonia
United Kingdom
Korea
Japan
Australia
Hungary
Brazil
Portugal
Switzerland
Private expenditure on educational institutions in percentage of GDP
Public expenditure on educational institutions in percentage of GDP
% of GDP
Chart C2.3

45. Some 70% of 3-year-olds are enrolled in early
childhood education
Enrolment rates at age 3 in early childhood education (2005 and 2012)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Belgium
France
Denmark
Iceland
Spain
Norway
United Kingdom
Sweden
Italy
Germany
Estonia
New Zealand
Israel
Korea
Slovenia
Netherlands
Latvia
EU21 average
Portugal
Japan
Hungary
Luxembourg
OECD average
Russian Federation
Austria
Slovak Republic
Czech Republic
Poland
Finland
Chile
Ireland
Mexico
United States
Argentina
Brazil
Australia
Colombia
Indonesia
Turkey
Switzerland
%
2012 2005
Chart C2.1

46. The ratio of pupils to teaching staff also indicates the level
of resources devoted to pre-primary education
Ratio of pupils to teaching staff in early childhood education (2012). Public and private institutions, calculation
based on full-time equivalents
28
26
24
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Israel
Indonesia
Mexico
Chile
France
Turkey
United Kingdom
Brazil
Poland
Belgium
Portugal
Korea
Netherlands
Japan
OECD average
Austria
Czech Republic
EU21 average
Spain
Slovak Republic
Germany
United States
Italy
Luxembourg
Hungary
Finland
Slovenia
Estonia
New Zealand
Sweden
Iceland
Student to teaching staff ratio
Chart C2.4

47. Countries spend their money differently on schools…
…and many high-performing school systems prioritise the quality of
teachers over the size of classes.
47

48. The salary cost of teachers per student varies widely across
countries and depends on salary, class size, and teaching time
Chart B7.4
Contribution of various factors to salary cost of teachers per student, in upper secondary education (2012) in USD
3 200
2 200
1 200
200
- 800
-1 800
-2 800
-3 800
Belgium (Fl.)
Germany
Austria
Spain
Portugal
Australia
Norway
Canada
France
Ireland
Netherlands
United States
Korea
Italy
Finland
England
Slovenia
Israel
Poland
Czech Republic
Turkey
Hungary
Chile
Slovak Republic
Estonia
USD
Contribution of teachers' salary Contribution of instruction time
Contribution of teaching time Contribution of estimated class size
difference with OECD average

49. Students in OECD countries receive an average of 7 475 compulsory hours
of instruction during their primary and lower secondary education
Compulsory instruction time in general education (2014)
0 2 000 4 000 6 000 8 000 10 000 12 000
Hungary 8
Latvia 9
China1 9
Poland 9
Turkey 8
Slovenia 9
Finland 9
Korea 9
Austria 8
Estonia 9
Belgium (Fl.) 8
Sweden 9
Slovak Republic 9
Czech Republic 9
Belgium (Fr.) 8
Greece 9
Germany 9
EU21 average 9
Japan 9
Italy 8
OECD average 9
Portugal 9
Iceland 10
Norway 10
England 9
Denmark 10
Luxembourg 9
Canada 9
France 9
Ireland 9
Mexico 9
Chile 8
Netherlands7 9
Israel 9
United States 9
Spain 10
Colombia1 9
Australia 10
Primary education Lower secondary education
Duration of primary and lower
secondary education, in years
Chart D1.1
Total number of compulsory instruction hours

50. Only in 7 countries were relative salaries for teachers
higher than those of comparably educated workers
Teachers' salaries relative to earnings for tertiary-educated workers aged 25-64 (2012 or latest available year). Lower secondary teachers'
salaries, in public institutions
1.5
1
0.5
0
Korea
Spain
Luxembourg
Portugal
Turkey
New Zealand
Canada
Finland
Germany
England
Australia
Greece
Denmark
OECD average
Belgium (Fl.)
France
EU21 average
Israel
Estonia
Poland
Scotland
Sweden
Belgium (Fr.)
Netherlands
Ireland
Slovenia
Chile
Norway
United States
Italy
Austria
Czech Republic
Hungary
Slovak Republic
Ratio
Chart D3.1

51. Between 2009 and 2012, teachers’ salaries fell, for the first
time since 2000, by around 5% at all levels of education
OECD average, for countries with available data for all reference years, of the index of change between 2005 and 2012 (2005 = 100, constant p
rices), for teachers with 15 years of experience and minimum training.
107
106
105
104
103
102
101
100
99
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Primary education Lower secondary education Upper secondary education
Chart Box
D.3.2
Equivalent USD converted
using PPPs

52. Rising benefits for those who are well educated…
…growing costs for those who are not.
52

53. The employment benefit of tertiary education is
significant, but varies across countries
Employment rates among 25-64 year-olds, by educational attainment (2012)
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
Iceland
Norway
Switzerland
Sweden
Germany
Netherlands
Austria
Denmark
Latvia
Brazil
Slovenia
Israel
Luxembourg
Poland
Belgium
Australia
France
Finland
Chile
United Kingdom
New Zealand
Czech Republic
OECD average
EU 21 average
Russian Federation
Estonia
Portugal
Canada
Mexico
United States
Slovak Republic
Chart A5.1
Ireland
Japan
Hungary
Italy
Spain
Korea
Turkey
Greece
%
Below upper secondary education Upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education Tertiary education

54. Adults with a tertiary degree will earn 75% more than
those with only upper secondary education
Relative earnings of workers, by educational attainment and gender (2012); upper secondary education = 100
240
220
200
180
160
140
120
100
Hungary
Greece
Slovenia
Turkey
Ireland
Czech Republic
Austria
Poland
United States
France
Slovak Republic
Germany
EU 21 average
Luxembourg
OECD average
Portugal
Israel
Finland
Canada
Italy
Switzerland
Netherlands
United Kingdom
Spain
Korea
Australia
Japan
Sweden
Denmark
Belgium
Estonia
Norway
New Zealand
Men Women
Tertiary-type A or advanced research
programmes
Index
Chart A6.1
- T

55. Adults with below upper secondary education will earn around
22% less than those with upper secondary education
Relative earnings of workers, by educational attainment and gender (2012); upper secondary education = 100
0
- 10
- 20
- 30
- 40
- 50
- 60
Belgium
Finland
Estonia
France
Germany
Canada
Poland
Australia
Netherlands
Sweden
Greece
Hungary
EU21 average
Switzerland
Ireland
Spain
Slovenia
Denmark
New Zealand
Norway
OECD average
Italy
Korea
Czech Republic
Japan
Austria
Luxembourg
Slovak Republic
United Kingdom
Portugal
Turkey
Israel
Chile
United States
Brazil
Men Women
Below upper secondary
education
Index
Chart A6.1
- B

56. …and its about more than money.
56

57. Education and skills both contribute to better social
outcomes
Proportion of adults reporting that they are in good health
100
90
80
70
60
50
Level 1 or below Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 or 5
Below upper
secondary
education
Upper
secondary or
post-secondary
non-tertiary
education
Tertiary
education
All
Chart A8.1
- H
%
Proportion of adults reporting that they believe they have a
say in government
Level 1 % or below Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 or 5
60
50
40
30
20
10
Below upper
secondary
education
Upper
secondary or
post-secondary
non-tertiary
education
Tertiary
education
All
30
25
20
15
10
5
Level 1 or below Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 or 5
Below upper
secondary
education
Upper
secondary or
post-secondary
non-tertiary
education
Tertiary
education
All
%
30
25
20
15
10
5
Level 1 or below Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 or 5
Below upper
secondary
education
Upper
secondary or
post-secondary
non-tertiary
education
Tertiary
education
All
%
Proportion of adults reporting that they volunteer at least
once a month
Proportion of adults reporting that they can trust others

58. 58
58 Thank you
Find out more about our work at
www.oecd.org/eag/eag2014
– The publication
– The methodologies
– The complete database
Email: Andreas.Schleicher@OECD.org
Twitter: SchleicherEDU
and remember:
Without data, you are just another person with an opinion