Switzerland
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Switzerland
Overview of the education system (EAG 2025)
  • Unemployment among 25-34 year-olds without upper secondary education is 11.5%, compared to 4.9% with upper secondary and 4% with tertiary attainment. These rates in Switzerland are lower than OECD averages.
  • In 2024, 19% of young adults held a master’s or equivalent degree in Switzerland, above the OECD average of 16%.
  • Almost all first-time tertiary entrants (98%) enrol in bachelor’s or equivalent programmes, far higher than the OECD average of 78%.
  • Women made up 50% of first-time tertiary entrants in 2023, up from 48% in 2013, though still below the OECD average of 54%.
  • A gap year before bachelor’s studies is common, with 53% of new entrants taking one, compared to 44% across the OECD.
  • Completion rates for bachelor’s programmes are relatively high: 39% finish on time, 66% within one year, and 82% within three years. OECD averages are 43%, 59%, and 70%.
  • Gender gaps in completion are narrower, with 84% of women vs 79% of men finishing within three years, a 6-point gap compared to the OECD average of 12 points.
    • | Education at a Glance 2025 | Country note | Annexes from Education at a Glance 2025 | OECD Handbook for Internationally Comparative Education Statistics 2018 | Schweizerische Konferenz der kantonalen Erziehungsdirektoren/Conférence suisse des directeurs cantonaux de l'instruction publique/Conferenza svizzera dei direttori cantonali della pubblica educazione (Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education) | Staatssekretariat für Bildung, Forschung und Innovation/Secrétariat d'Etat à la formation, à la recherche et à l'innovation/Segreteria di Stato per la formazione, la ricerca e l'innovazione (State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation) | Statistik Schweiz/Statistique suisse/Statistica svizzera (Swiss Statistics) |

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    The following list displays indicators for which your selected country shows the highest and lowest values among countries. The list can be sorted by level of education or by age group. All rankings are calculated including available data from OECD and partner countries. Find out more about the methodology here.

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    Attainment

    The level of tertiary attainment among 55-64 year-olds is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (37 %, rank 9/40 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the percentage of 25-64 year-olds who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest among countries with available data. (25.2 %, rank 9/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The proportion of 25-64 year-olds who attained a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest among countries with available data. (3.4 %, rank 1/32 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of 25-34 year-olds who attained a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest among countries with available data. (2.4 %, rank 1/28 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Attainment by gender

    The proportion of 25-64 year-old men who have attained a general degree at the tertiary level is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (48.7 %, rank 6/40 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of 25-64 year-old men who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the largest among countries with available data. (26.1 %, rank 8/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Switzerland has one of the largest share of women among 25-34 year-olds with a vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education. (47.1 %, rank 8/35 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Switzerland has one of the largest share of women among 55-64 year-olds with a vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education. (53 %, rank 4/34 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-34 year-old men with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education in Switzerland is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (52.9 %, rank 28/35 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Attainment by field of education

    The percentage of 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education who studied in the field of educaton is one of the lowest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (7.4 %, rank 23/28 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The percentage of 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education who studied in the field of arts is one of the lowest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (3.1 %, rank 12/17 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The percentage of 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education who studied in the field of arts and humanities, social sciences, journalism and information is one of the lowest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (11.9 %, rank 26/28 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The percentage of 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education who studied in the field of law is one of the lowest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (3.5 %, rank 12/17 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The percentage of 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education who studied in the field of information and communication technologies is one of the lowest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (4.1 %, rank 23/28 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The percentage of 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education who studied in the field of health (medical and dental) is one of the highest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (3.3 %, rank 9/12 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Entrance

    The share of new entrants younger than 25 in bachelor's or equivalent programmes is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (72 %, rank 36/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of women among tertiary education new entrants is one of the smallest compared to OECD and partner countries with available data. (50.5 %, rank 34/34 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering bachelor's programmes in Switzerland is relatively small. (50.2 %, rank 39/41 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the average age of new entrants in doctoral programmes is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (28.4 Years, rank 37/41 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the percentage of new entrants in short-cycle tertiary programmes younger than 25 is relatively low. (23.7 %, rank 33/35 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the percentage of first-time entrants into tertiary education younger than 25 is relatively low. (72.1 %, rank 29/34 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The average age of new entrants in tertiary education in Switzerland is comparatively old. (24.2 Years, rank 5/34 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The proportion of women among the new entrants in master's programmes in Switzerland is relatively low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (52 %, rank 39/41 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of first-time entrants in short-cycle tertiary programmes is one of the lowest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (2.4 %, rank 25/28 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Entrance by field of education and gender

    In agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary, the share of female new entrants to bachelor’s programmes in Switzerland was among the smallest internationally. (28.1 %, rank 38/38 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female new entrants to bachelor’s programmes in business, administration and law was among the smallest in Switzerland compared to other countries. (47 %, rank 36/39 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Female new entrants to master’s programmes in arts and humanities ranked among the smallest internationally. (58.7 %, rank 33/38 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of female new entrants to master’s programmes in business, administration and law was among the smallest across countries. (47.5 %, rank 34/38 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female new entrants in tertiary education in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary placed Switzerland among the smallest internationally. (39.2 %, rank 37/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female who enter tertiary education in the field of education is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (71.7 %, rank 30/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female who enter tertiary education in the field of arts and humanities is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (60 %, rank 32/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female who enter tertiary education in the field of business, administration and law is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (47.5 %, rank 35/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female who enter tertiary education in the field of natural sciences, mathematics and statistics is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (48.5 %, rank 29/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female who enter tertiary education in the field of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (16.1 %, rank 30/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female who enter tertiary education in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (21.1 %, rank 35/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of women among new entrants in bachelor's programmes in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (18.1 %, rank 37/39 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of women among new entrants in bachelor's programmes in the field of information and communication technologies is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (15.1 %, rank 33/38 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering master's or equivalent programmes in education in Switzerland is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (66.8 %, rank 33/38 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering master's or equivalent programmes in engineering, manufacturing and construction in Switzerland is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (26.7 %, rank 35/38 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering master's or equivalent programmes in information and communication technologies in Switzerland is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (17.1 %, rank 33/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering master's or equivalent programmes in natural sciences, mathematics and statistics in Switzerland is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (47.5 %, rank 33/38 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering master's or equivalent programmes in Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Switzerland is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (33 %, rank 33/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering short cycle tertiary programmes in engineering, manufacturing and construction in Switzerland is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (10 %, rank 29/32 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering short cycle tertiary programmes in information and communication technologies in Switzerland is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (6.3 %, rank 29/30 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering short cycle tertiary programmes in Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Switzerland is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (9.7 %, rank 31/32 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of male students entering short-cycle tertiary programmes in education in Switzerland is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (7.5 %, rank 18/23 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female in short-cycle tertiary programmes in the field of arts and humanities is one of the lowest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (39.1 %, rank 28/30 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female in short-cycle tertiary programmes in the field of social sciences, journalism and information is one of the smallest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (57.8 %, rank 18/22 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Participation in education

    Enrolment in early childhood education (ISCED 0) among 3- to 5-year-olds placed Switzerland among the lowest across countries. (50.3 %, rank 41/42 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The proportion of upper secondary students enrolled in vocational programmes is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (61 %, rank 8/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The percentage of three-year-olds in early childhood education in Switzerland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (2.2 %, rank 42/42 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The percentage of four-year-olds in early childhood and primary education in Switzerland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (49.1 %, rank 41/42 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The percentage of students in independent private tertiary educational institutions is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (7.5 %, rank 27/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Enrolment in pre-primary education (ISCED 02) among 3- to 5-year-olds in Switzerland was among the lowest internationally. (50.3 %, rank 44/46 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Among 6–14-year-olds, enrolment in lower secondary programmes in Switzerland ranked among the lowest internationally. (25.8 %, rank 37/46 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Enrolment of 6–14-year-olds in primary education placed Switzerland among the highest across countries. (67.8 %, rank 10/47 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female students in upper secondary general programmes placed Switzerland among the largest across countries. (57 %, rank 8/47 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the enrolment rate of children under 3 is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 39/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the percentage of students enrolled in private institutions at all early childhood education level is comparatively low. (5.1 %, rank 35/38 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the percentage of students enrolled in private institutions at pre-primary level is comparatively low. (5.1 %, rank 42/45 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Students enrolled in programmes providing full completion and access to tertiary education among all students enrolled in post-secondary non-tertiary vocational programmes are proportionally more in Switzerland than in the other countries. (100 %, rank 1/22 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The average age of short-cycle tertiary students enrolled in vocational programmes is comparativele high. (3 %, rank 3/36 , 2022) Download Indicator

    The percentage of below-two year-olds in early childhood education in Switzerland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 32/39 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate among students aged 15-19 in upper secondary vocational programmes in Switzerland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (37.5 %, rank 9/41 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate among students aged 15-19 in short-cycle tertiary programmes in Switzerland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 30/38 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The percentage of two-year-olds in early childhood education in Switzerland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 39/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The percentage of four-year-olds in primary education in Switzerland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 7/46 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The percentage of five-year-olds in ECEC in Switzerland is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (98.6 %, rank 7/42 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female students enrolled in post-secondary non-tertiary programmes is one of the largest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (61.4 %, rank 9/30 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Graduation

    The average age of graduates from general programmes at the upper secondary level in Switzerland is comparatively high. (19.9 Years, rank 4/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of tertiary graduates younger than 30-years-old is one of the smallest among countries with available data. (75 %, rank 29/32 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The percentage of first-time graduates in vocational programmes at upper secondary level is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (64.2 %, rank 6/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the percentage of first-time short-cycle tertiary graduates younger than 30 is relatively low. (33.6 %, rank 27/28 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the percentage of first-time bachelor's graduates younger than 30 is relatively low. (75.2 %, rank 31/35 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of first-time short-cycle graduates is relatively low in Switzerland. (0.6 %, rank 26/28 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The percentage of first-time master's graduates is relatively low in Switzerland. (0 %, rank 24/24 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of first-time graduates in general programmes at upper secondary level is comparatively low. (35.8 %, rank 32/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The average age of short-cycle tertiary graduates in Switzerland is among the oldest. (35.8 Years, rank 3/25 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The average age of bachelor's or equivalent graduates in Switzerland is among the oldest. (27.9 Years, rank 3/31 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Graduation by gender

    Among OECD and partner countries with available data, Switzerland has one of the smallest shares of women graduates from tertiary programmes. (51.3 %, rank 33/33 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of female first-time graduates in short-cycle tertiary programmes is one of the largest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (60.5 %, rank 8/27 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of female first-time bachelor's graduates is one of the smallest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (51.2 %, rank 31/33 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Graduation by field of education

    The percentage of tertiary graduates in the field of information and communication technologies is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (3.5 %, rank 37/42 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of doctoral graduates in the field of education in Switzerland is relatively small. (1.6 %, rank 39/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of doctoral graduates in the field of arts and humaties in Switzerland is relatively small. (8 %, rank 36/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of doctoral graduates in the field of Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics in Switzerland is relatively large. (27.9 %, rank 6/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of doctoral graduates in the field of health and welfare in Switzerland is relatively large. (27 %, rank 8/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the proportion of upper secondary vocational graduates in the field of business, aministration and law is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (28 %, rank 3/34 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the proportion of upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary vocational graduates in the field of business, administration and law is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (3 %, rank 2/36 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the proportion of upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary vocational graduates in the field of health and welfare is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (2 %, rank 7/36 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of short-cycle tertiary vocational graduates in the field of arts and humanities is relatively high compared to other OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (2 %, rank 5/37 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of short-cycle tertiary vocational graduates in the field of business, administration and law is relatively low compared to other OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (0 %, rank 30/37 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of short-cycle tertiary vocational graduates in the field of health and welfare is relatively high compared to other OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (5 %, rank 1/37 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of short-cycle tertiary vocational graduates in the field of services is relatively low compared to other OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (0 %, rank 28/37 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the proportion of bachelor's, master's and doctoral or equivalent graduates in the field of arts and humanities is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (1 %, rank 6/45 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the proportion of bachelor's, master's and doctoral or equivalent graduates in the field of business, administration and law is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (3 %, rank 5/44 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the proportion of bachelor's, master's and doctoral or equivalent graduates in the field of STEM is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (3 %, rank 2/44 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the proportion of bachelor's, master's and doctoral or equivalent graduates in the field of health and welfare is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (2 %, rank 2/45 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the proportion of bachelor's, master's and doctoral or equivalent graduates in the field of services is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (1 %, rank 1/44 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Graduation by field of education and gender

    In Switzerland, the proportion of male tertiary graduates in the field of social sciences, journalism and information is relatively small. (4.6 %, rank 37/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the proportion of female graduates from upper secondary vocational programmes in the field health and welfare is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries. (85.8 %, rank 9/34 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the proportion of female graduates from upper secondary vocational programmes in the field of services is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries. (37.9 %, rank 36/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of female graduates in tertiary education in all fields is one of the smallest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (50.7 %, rank 43/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of female graduates in tertiary education in the field of education is one of the smallest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (68.8 %, rank 38/43 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of female graduates in tertiary education in the fields of arts and humanities is one of the smallest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (60.9 %, rank 34/43 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of female graduates in tertiary education in the fields of business, administration and law is one of the smallest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (47.5 %, rank 42/43 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of female graduates in tertiary education in the fields of natural sciences, mathematics and statistics is one of the smallest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (46.7 %, rank 40/43 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of female graduates in tertiary education in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics is one of the smallest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (26.3 %, rank 39/41 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of female graduates in tertiary education in the fields of information and communication technologies is one of the smallest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (15.8 %, rank 38/41 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of female graduates in tertiary education in the fields of engineering, manufacturing and construction is one of the smallest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (19.2 %, rank 42/43 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of female graduates in tertiary education in the fields of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary is one of the smallest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (36.9 %, rank 42/43 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Completion rates

    The completion rate of female new entrants to bachelor's programmes by the end of the theoretical duration of the programme was among the lowest across countries with available data. (41.4 %, rank 24/33 , 2020) Download Indicator

    Male completion rates to bachelor's programmes by the end of the theoretical duration plus one year were among the highest in Switzerland compared to other countries. (62 %, rank 7/32 , 2021) Download Indicator

    By the end of the theoretical duration plus one year, completion rates of all new entrants to bachelor's programmes placed Switzerland among the highest across countries with available data. (65.8 %, rank 8/32 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Female completion rates to bachelor's programmes, measured three years beyond the theoretical duration, were among the highest across countries with available data. (84.4 %, rank 3/31 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Male completion rates to bachelor's programmes three years after the theoretical duration placed Switzerland among the highest values internationally. (78.6 %, rank 3/31 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The completion rate of all new entrants to bachelor's programmes, measured three years beyond the theoretical end of the programme, ranked Switzerland among the highest across countries. (81.8 %, rank 3/31 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the completion rate of female new entrants to bachelor's programmes in Education, measured three years after the theoretical end of the programme, was among the highest internationally. (89.1 %, rank 5/29 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Dropout rates

    The drop out rate of female new entrants to bachelor's programmes by the end of the theoretical duration was among the lowest across countries with available data. (9.2 %, rank 26/30 , 2020) Download Indicator

    For male new entrants, the drop out rate by the end of the theoretical duration of the programme placed Switzerland among the lowest across countries. (11.9 %, rank 29/30 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The overall drop out rate of new entrants to bachelor's programmes by the end of the theoretical duration ranked Switzerland among the lowest internationally. (10.4 %, rank 29/30 , 2020) Download Indicator

    Female drop out rates by the end of the theoretical duration plus one year were among the lowest across participating countries. (9.6 %, rank 29/30 , 2021) Download Indicator

    For male new entrants, drop out rates one year beyond the theoretical duration placed Switzerland among the lowest internationally. (12.8 %, rank 29/30 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Drop out rates of all new entrants to bachelor's programmes one year beyond the theoretical duration ranked Switzerland among the lowest across countries with available data. (11 %, rank 29/30 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Female drop out rates by the end of the theoretical duration plus three years placed Switzerland among the lowest across countries. (10.2 %, rank 29/30 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Male drop out rates to bachelor's programmes, measured three years beyond the theoretical duration, were among the lowest internationally. (13.8 %, rank 29/30 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The overall drop out rate of new entrants by the end of the theoretical duration plus three years was among the lowest across countries with available data. (11.9 %, rank 29/30 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Fields of education

    In Switzerland, the percentage of new entrants to tertiary education in the field of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is relatively low. (4.6 %, rank 32/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of new entrants in short-cycle tertiary programmes in the field of information and communication technologies is relatively small. (0.9 %, rank 28/33 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the percentage of new entrants to doctoral programmes in the field of education is relatively low, compared to other countries with available data. (1.4 %, rank 32/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the percentage of new entrants to doctoral programmes in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction is relatively low, compared to other countries with available data. (13.5 %, rank 29/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the percentage of new entrants to doctoral programmes in the field of health and welfare is relatively high, compared to other countries with available data. (29.1 %, rank 7/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the percentage of new entrants to doctoral programmes in the field of natural sciences, mathematics and statistics is relatively high. (26.2 %, rank 7/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the percentage of new entrants to doctoral programmes in the field of social sciences, journalism and information is relatively low, compared to other countries with available data. (6.5 %, rank 33/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of new entrants in arts and humanities bachelor's programmes is especially low, compared to OECD and partner countries with available data. (6.4 %, rank 35/39 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the proportion of new entrants in social sciences, journalism and information bachelor's programmes is slightly low, compared to OECD and partner countries with available data. (5.5 %, rank 38/39 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of new entrants in short-cycle tertiary programmes in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics is comparatively low in Switzerland, compared to OECD and partner countries with available data. (10.3 %, rank 30/33 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of new entrants in short-cycle tertiary programmes in the field of services is one of the low among countries with available data. (0 %, rank 29/34 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Student mobility

    Switzerland has one of the largest proportion of international or foreign students enrolled in tertiary education among OECD and partner countries with available data. (19.7 %, rank 6/45 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of international students entering short-cycle tertiary programmes is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 29/31 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of international and foreign students enrolled in doctoral or equivalent programmes is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (58.3 %, rank 2/43 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, international or foreign students from Europe are most represented among all international or foreign students, compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (68.8 %, rank 10/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the proportion of new international entrants in master's long first degree (LFD) programmes is relatively low. (0 %, rank 22/22 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the proportion of international graduates among first-time doctorate graduates is relatively high. (59.3 %, rank 2/30 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The proportion of international students among the new entrants in master's programmes in Switzerland is relatively high compared to other OECD and partner countries. (33.9 %, rank 7/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the proportion of international or foreign students enrolled in master's programmes is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (32.1 %, rank 6/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the proportion of international or foreign students enrolled in short-cycle tertiary programmes is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 33/38 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of international or foreign students enrolled in short-cycle tertiary programmes among men is relatively low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (0 %, rank 30/35 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of international or foreign students enrolled in short-cycle tertiary programmes among women is relatively low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (0 %, rank 30/35 , 2023) Download Indicator

    (2 %, rank 3/46 , 2020) Download Indicator

    Student mobility by field of education

    The percentage of students enrolled in the field of arts and humanities among all international or foreign tertiary students in Switzerland is relatively high. (12.9 %, rank 10/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The percentage of students enrolled in the field of natural sciences, mathematics and statistics among all international or foreign tertiary students in Switzerland is relatively high. (16.7 %, rank 2/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The percentage of students enrolled in the field of engineering, manunfacturing and construction among all international or foreign tertiary students in Switzerland is relatively high. (17.8 %, rank 9/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of students enrolled in the field of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary among all international or foreign tertiary students is relatively low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (0.4 %, rank 37/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Expenditure per student

    Annual expenditure per student on research and development in tertiary education is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (21598 USD Equivalent, rank 2/36 , 2022) Download Indicator

    From 2012 to 2018, the average annual growth in total expenditure on primary to tertiary education in Switzerland is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (34900 USD Equivalent, rank 2/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Expenditure in education and national wealth

    In Switzerland, expenditure on secondary educational institutions as a percentage of GDP is comparatively low. (1.1 %, rank 38/39 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, international expenditure on educational institutions as a percentage of GDP on primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education from final source of funds is relatively high. (0 %, rank 4/32 , 2022) Download Indicator

    From 2012 to 2018, the average annual growth in total expenditure per full-time equivalent student on primary to tertiary education in Switzerland is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (1.2 %, rank 6/29 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Government and private expenditure in education

    The share of public expenditure on tertiary educational institutions is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (3.8 %, rank 6/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, total public expenditure on primary through tertiary educational institutions as a percentage of total public expenditure is comparatively high. (13.3 %, rank 5/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, total public expenditure on primary educational institutions as a percentage of total public expenditure is comparatively high. (4.5 %, rank 8/42 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, total public expenditure on secondary educational institutions as a percentage of total public expenditure is comparatively high. (5 %, rank 5/40 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Who the teachers are

    The share of women among teaching staff in lower secondary education is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (57.1 %, rank 35/39 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of women among teaching staff in upper secondary education is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (46.9 %, rank 39/41 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of women among teaching staff in tertiary education (bachelor's, master's, doctorate or equivalent education) is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (38.4 %, rank 32/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of women among teaching staff in tertiary education is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (38.4 %, rank 38/43 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of women among teaching staff is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (62.7 %, rank 33/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of women among teaching staff in general upper secondary education in Switzerland is relatively small. (49.3 %, rank 34/34 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of women among teaching staff in vocational upper secondary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (45.8 %, rank 31/31 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The percentage of female teachers aged 50 or more in lower secondary education is especially low in Switzerland. (53.5 %, rank 33/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The percentage of female teachers aged 50 or more in upper secondary education is especially low in Switzerland. (42.1 %, rank 36/38 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The percentage of female teachers aged 50 or more in tertiary education is especially low in Switzerland. (32.2 %, rank 33/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of tertiary teachers older than 50 is relatively high, compared to other countries with data available. (48 %, rank 6/34 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of bachelor's, master's and doctoral level teachers younger than 30 is relatively low, compared to other countries with data available. (2.7 %, rank 28/33 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of tertiary teachers younger than 30 is relatively low, compared to other countries with data available. (2.7 %, rank 29/34 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of bachelor's, master's and doctoral level female teachers older than 50 is relatively low, compared to other countries with data available. (32.2 %, rank 32/35 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of teachers under 30 in upper secondary vocational education is especially low in Switzerland. (5.1 %, rank 22/31 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Teachers' salaries progression

    Starting salaries for lower secondary teachers with minimum training are especially high. (79711 USD Equivalent, rank 3/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Salaries of lower secondary teachers with minimum training after 10 years of experience are especially high. (102284 USD Equivalent, rank 2/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Organisation of the education system

    Classes in lower secondary public institutions are comparatively small in Switzerland. (19 Students, rank 30/35 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Employment and educational attainment

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is high compared to other OECD and partner countries. (88.9 %, rank 9/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with below upper secondary education is compartively high in Switzerland. (67.1 %, rank 9/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with tertiary education is compartively high in Switzerland. (90.5 %, rank 8/40 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is compartively high in Switzerland. (86.4 %, rank 4/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 55-64 year-olds with tertiary education is compartively high in Switzerland. (83.5 %, rank 10/40 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 55-64 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is compartively high in Switzerland. (74.9 %, rank 8/38 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with a vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high compared to other OECD and partner countries. (88.8 %, rank 3/34 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with a general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high compared to other OECD and partner countries. (78.9 %, rank 9/36 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Compared to other countries with available data, the employment rate of 25-34 year-olds with a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is relatively high in Switzerland. (89.9 %, rank 8/36 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Compared to other countries with available data, the employment rate of 25-34 year-olds with a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is relatively high in Switzerland. (93.9 %, rank 5/21 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Employment by gender and educational attainment

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively high. (68.2 %, rank 6/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively high. (83.7 %, rank 7/38 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-old men without upper secondary education is comparatively high. (75.6 %, rank 9/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-old women without upper secondary education is comparatively high. (61.5 %, rank 4/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-old men with below upper secondary education is compartively high in Switzerland. (78.7 %, rank 7/38 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-old women with below upper secondary education is compartively high in Switzerland. (53.4 %, rank 10/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-old women with tertiary education is compartively high in Switzerland. (88.8 %, rank 6/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 55-64 year-old men with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is compartively high in Switzerland. (79.6 %, rank 9/38 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 55-64 year-old women with below upper secondary education is compartively high in Switzerland. (53.7 %, rank 7/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the employment rate among 25-34 year-old women with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively high (85.5 %, rank 4/34 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of employed 25-64 year-old women with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high, compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (78.4 %, rank 5/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of employed 25-64 year-old women with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high, compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (81.4 %, rank 6/35 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Compared to other countries with available data, the employment rate of 25-34 year-old women with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high in Switzerland compared to other countries with available data. (77.4 %, rank 6/35 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Employment by field of education

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education who studied in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction is high compared to other OECD and partner countries. (92.7 %, rank 5/28 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education who studied in the field of health (medical and dental) is high compared to other OECD and partner countries. (89.7 %, rank 8/11 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Unemployment and educational attainment

    The unemployment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest of all OECD countries and partner economies for which data are available. (4.2 %, rank 9/34 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The unemployment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (2.9 %, rank 24/33 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Among the unemployed population aged between 25 and 64 with tertiary education, the share of those who have been unemployed for at least 12 months is one of the largest in Switzerland, compared to OECD countries. (34.1 %, rank 9/35 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Compared to other countries with available data, the unemployment rate of 25-34 year-olds with a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is relatively high in Switzerland. (3.1 %, rank 10/10 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Unemployment by gender and educational attainment

    The unemployment rate among 55-64 year-old women with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is compartively low in Switzerland. (2.1 %, rank 28/33 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-old women with vocational upper secondary or a post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low. (4.1 %, rank 25/31 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of unemployed 25-64 year-old women with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low, compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (2.8 %, rank 26/33 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Inactivity and educational attainment

    The inactivity rate of 25-34 years-old adults with below upper secondary education is low in Switzerland. (24.2 %, rank 33/38 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The inactivity rate of 25-34 years-old adults with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is low in Switzerland. (9.2 %, rank 34/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The inactivity rate of 25-34 years-old adults with tertiary education is low in Switzerland. (5.8 %, rank 35/40 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-olds with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (7.3 %, rank 28/33 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-olds with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (15.1 %, rank 28/35 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-olds with a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (6.5 %, rank 33/36 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-64 year-olds with a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (8.2 %, rank 29/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-64 year-olds with below upper secondary education is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (25.9 %, rank 34/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-olds with a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest among countries with available data. (3.1 %, rank 7/9 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-64 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (13.4 %, rank 32/38 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-64 year-olds with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (15.8 %, rank 29/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-64 year-olds with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (12.9 %, rank 27/35 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The inactivity rate of 55-64 years-old adults with below upper secondary education is low in Switzerland. (36 %, rank 34/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Inactivity by gender and educational attainment

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-old women without an upper secondary education is relatively low. (38.8 %, rank 28/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate 25-64 year-old women without an upper secondary education is relatively low compared to other countries with available data. (33.3 %, rank 34/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-old men without an upper secondary education is relatively low compared to other countries with available data. (11.8 %, rank 32/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-64 year-old men without an upper secondary education is relatively low compared to other countries with available data. (17.7 %, rank 32/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-old women with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (17.2 %, rank 31/34 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-64 year-old women with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (18 %, rank 31/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-old women with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (10.8 %, rank 31/33 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-64 year-old women with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (16.2 %, rank 30/35 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-old men with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (4.1 %, rank 25/33 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-old women with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (12.4 %, rank 34/36 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-64 year-old women with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (16.6 %, rank 34/38 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-old women with tertiary education is relatively low. (6.7 %, rank 35/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Earnings and educational attainment

    In Switzerland, the share of worker earning more than twice the median among those with a tertiary education degree is comparatively . (15 Index, rank 22/30 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of 25-64 year-olds working full-time and full-year with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education compared to those of adults without an upper secondary education are relatively low in Switzerland. (122 Index, rank 16/21 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-64 year-old workers with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education earning more than twice the overall median in Switzerland is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (2 Index, rank 27/28 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-64 year-old workers with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education earning at or below half the overall median in Switzerland is one of the highest among countries with available data. (21 Index, rank 7/29 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the distribution of worker earning more than 1.5 times the median but at or below twice the median among those with below upper secondary education is comparatively low . (1 Index, rank 27/27 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the distribution of worker earning more than 1.5 times the median but at or below twice the median among those with with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is comparatively low. (5 Index, rank 29/29 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Earnings, gender and educational attainment

    Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (among 25-64 year-olds with upper secondary education or post-secondary non-tertiary education and income from employment) are one of the highest among countries with available data. (84.6 %, rank 7/29 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education and income from employment) are one of the highest among countries with available data. (82 %, rank 5/29 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women (as a percentage of men's earnings) among full- and part-time 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education are one of the lowest among countries with available data. (67.9 %, rank 25/30 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women (as a percentage of men's earnings) among full- and part-time 25-64 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education are one of the lowest among countries with available data. (65.1 %, rank 27/30 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (among 25-34 year-olds with upper secondary education or post-secondary non-tertiary education and income from employment) are one of the high among countries with available data. (91.6 %, rank 1/29 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the proportion of young women's earnings as a percentage of men's earnings (25-34 year-olds with tertiary education working full-time full-year), is relatively high compared to OECD and other members with available data (91.7 %, rank 1/28 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (25-34 year-olds without an upper secondary education working full-time full-year) are one of the highest among countries with available data. (91.2 %, rank 5/24 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (45-54 year-olds without an upper secondary education working full-time full-year) are one of the highest among countries with available data. (84 %, rank 6/27 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (25-34 year-olds with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education working full-time full-year) are one of the highest among countries with available data. (93 %, rank 1/20 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (25-64 year-olds with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education working full-time full-year) are one of the highest among countries with available data. (88.5 %, rank 2/21 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (45-54 year-olds with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education working full-time full-year) are one of the highest among countries with available data. (90.4 %, rank 2/20 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (25-34 year-olds with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education working full-time full-year) are one of the highest among countries with available data. (91.5 %, rank 1/21 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (25-64 year-olds with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education working full-time full-year) are one of the highest among countries with available data. (83.7 %, rank 5/21 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (45-54 year-olds with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education working full-time full-year) are one of the highest among countries with available data. (83.1 %, rank 8/29 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Earnings of women as a percentage of men's earnings (45-54 year-olds with tertiary education working full-time full-year) are one of the highest among countries with available data. (83.9 %, rank 5/28 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Earnings by field of education

    Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of tertiary-educated adults in Switzerland who studied in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction, are low, when compared to earnings of adults with an upper secondary education. (97.8 %, rank 12/14 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Neither in education nor employed

    The share of unemployed youth neither in formal education nor training among 18-24 year-olds in Switzerland is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (10.1 %, rank 30/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of women without an upper secondary education neither in employment nor in education and training (25-29 year-olds) in Switzerland is relatively low (31.7 %, rank 32/32 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of men without an upper secondary education neither in employment nor in education and training (25-29 year-olds) in Switzerland is relatively low (21.7 %, rank 25/32 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-29 year-olds neither in employment nor in education and training without an upper secondary in Switzerland is relatively low. (25.4 %, rank 33/33 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of women with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education neither in employment nor in education and training (25-29 year-olds) in Switzerland is relatively low (6.5 %, rank 25/25 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-29 year-olds neither in employment nor in education and training with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education in Switzerland is relatively low (6.3 %, rank 28/28 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of women with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education neither in employment nor in education and training (25-29 year-olds) in Switzerland is relatively low (10.5 %, rank 25/28 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-29 year-olds neither in employment nor in education and training with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education in Switzerland is relatively low. (10 %, rank 25/30 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of women with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education neither in employment nor in education and training (25-29 year-olds) in Switzerland is relatively low. (9.5 %, rank 33/34 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-29 year-olds neither in employment nor in education and training with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary in Switzerland is relatively low. (9.2 %, rank 31/36 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of women who are inactive NEET (15-29 year-olds) in Switzerland is relatively low. (6.7 %, rank 29/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of women who are inactive NEET (18-24 year-olds) in Switzerland is relatively low. (6.4 %, rank 27/36 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of women who are unemployed NEET (18-24 year-olds) in Switzerland is relatively low. (2.5 %, rank 27/34 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of men who are unemployed NEET (18-24 year-olds) in Switzerland is relatively low. (4.1 %, rank 28/36 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of unemployed NEET (15-29 year-olds) in Switzerland is relatively low. (3.3 %, rank 29/38 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of youth neither employed nor in education or training among 25-29 year-olds in Switzerland is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (9.9 %, rank 34/38 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of men neither employed nor in education among 15-29 year-olds is relatively high. (10.6 %, rank 8/34 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the share of women neither employed nor in education among 15-29 year-olds is relatively high. (9.3 %, rank 10/32 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Switzerland, the percentage of women neither employed nor in education or training among 20-24 year-olds is relatively low. (8 %, rank 34/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of young women neither employed nor in education or training (25-29 year-olds) in Switzerland is comparatively low . (11.2 %, rank 34/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The proportion of 18-24 year-olds who are neither employed nor in education or training is comparatively small in Switzerland. (10.1 %, rank 30/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The percentage of 18-24 year-old women neither employed nor in education or training is one of the lowest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (8.9 %, rank 30/37 , 2024) Download Indicator


    The data table will display up to six selected countries.
    General findings
    
                        
    
                            
    
                                
    • Tertiary attainment among young adults has reached 48% on average across the OECD, the highest level ever, but progress has slowed since 2021. Attainment remains unequal, with women generally outpacing men, and older generations showing lower rates.
    • Employment outcomes for tertiary-educated adults remain strong overall: 87% of them are employed compared to 60% of those without upper seconday. Tertiary education offers good protection against unemployment, but women and disadvantaged groups still face labour market gaps, and inactivity persists among some adults. Moreover, adults with tertiary education earn on average 54% more than those with only upper secondary education.
    • Gender pay gaps remain significant. Despite higher attainment, women with tertiary education consistently earn less than men, even when working full-time, and this gap persists across age groups (73% on average for women aged 25 to 64).
    • Fields of study strongly influence labour market outcomes. Graduates in engineering and in health and welfare fare particularly well, while women’s participation in STEM remains below parity (14% of graduates at tertiary level) despite being 58% of all tertiary graduates.
    • Internationalisation continues to expand in tertiary education. The share of international students has grown steadily, and OECD countries host a large proportion of the world’s mobile students, reinforcing their global role in higher education.
    • Sustaining tertiary education requires adequate investment. Spending per student is already at 21 021 USD and rising, and tertiary expenditure represents a notable share of GDP (1.4% on average in OECD), making efficiency and equity crucial for long-term sustainability.
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                | Education policies: Attainment | Education policies: Access and Participation  | Education policies: Finance and Funding | Education policies: Labour market outcomes | 
    
                            
    
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    • Although many countries have near universal upper secondary attainment among 25–34 year-olds, on average across the OECD 13% of younger adults still lack an upper secondary qualification.
    • NEET shares are now below pre-pandemic levels in about half of OECD and partner countries with trend data; in 8 of these 16 countries the decline exceeds 1 percentage point, while 17 countries exceed pre-pandemic benchmarks and 6 saw increases of more than 2 percentage points.
    • Employment rates rise steadily with higher tertiary attainment: short-cycle 83%, bachelor’s 86%, master’s 90%, and doctoral or equivalent 93% among 25–64 year-olds.
    • Earnings premiums also increase with qualification level: on average across the OECD, short-cycle graduates earn 17% more than those with upper secondary; the advantage is 39% for bachelor’s and 83% for master’s/doctoral graduates.
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                | Education policies: Attainment | Education policies: Labour market outcomes | 
    
                            
    
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    • Most children aged 3 to 5 are enrolled in early childhood education, with an average participation rate of 85% across the OECD. By contrast, only 29% of children under the age of 3 are enrolled.
    • Participation in early childhood education has grown over the past decade, with enrolment for children under age 3 increasing by 9 percentage points to 29%, and enrolment for ages 3 and above rising by 5 points to 85%.
    • The majority of students in vocational upper secondary education follow programmes that grant full access to tertiary education, with 76% of students enrolled in such programmes on average across the OECD.
    • Completion rates for bachelor’s programmes increase after the theoretical duration of programmes: on average, 44% of students graduate on time, compared to 69% three years after.
    • Students from Asia form the largest regional group of internationally mobile students in tertiary education, representing 58% of all foreign or international students across the OECD in 2023.
    • Only 43% of students complete a bachelor’s degree within the expected duration, though this rises to 59% with one additional year and 70% with three additional years on average across the OECD.
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                | Education policies: Access and Participation  | 
    
                            
    
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    • Governments spend on average USD 12 438 per student in primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education, and USD 15 102 per student in tertiary education including R&D.
    • Expenditure per student has risen in absolute terms since 2015, but its share in public budgets has declined, with government spending on education at almost 15% of total government expenditure on average in 2022.
    • Annual spending per student at primary and secondary levels varies widely across OECD countries, from under USD 3 000 in some systems to over USD 25 000 in the most highly funded ones.
    • Tertiary education continues to expand, placing pressure on public budgets. Private sources represent a larger share of total funding at the tertiary level than at any other level of education.
    • Spending per student differs markedly between public and private institutions, with expenditure in public tertiary institutions exceeding USD 33 000 in some countries, compared to less than USD 10 000 in others.
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                | Education policies: Finance and Funding | 
    
                            
    
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    • Students in OECD countries receive an average of 7 604 hours of compulsory instruction during primary and lower secondary education, with total hours ranging widely across education systems.
    • Compulsory instruction time averages 804 hours per year for primary students and 909 hours for lower secondary students, a difference of about 105 hours annually.
    • The ratio of children to teachers in pre-primary education has fallen across most OECD countries, decreasing from an average of 15 children per teacher in 2013 to 13 in 2023.
    • Teachers’ statutory salaries increase with the level of education taught. On average, teachers with 15 years of experience earn USD 55 725 at pre-primary level and USD 63 925 at upper secondary level.
    • Teachers’ actual salaries are 83–91% of the earnings of similarly educated tertiary-educated workers, while school heads usually earn more than tertiary-educated workers on average across OECD countries.
    • The ratio of students to academic staff is lower in public than in private institutions, averaging about 14 students per staff member in public tertiary institutions compared to 18 in private ones.
    • Nearly half of OECD and partner countries operate non-selective admission systems for first degrees, providing broad access to tertiary education, while entrance exams and centralised systems are also common.
    • The salaries of academic staff in tertiary education vary by seniority. On average, junior staff earn about 62 000 USD, while senior staff earn about 108 000 USD.
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                | Education policies: Teachers | Education policies: Teachers | OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS)  | 
    
                            
    
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            Diagram of funding flows - Switzerland
            
    
            
    
        
    


        
		
    
            
    
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            Country Reviews for Switzerland
            
    
            
    
			
    
        
    
		
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
        
    
            Note: These values should be interpreted with care since they are influenced by countries' specific contexts and trade-offs. In education, there is often no simple
            most- or least-efficient model. For instance, the share of private expenditure in education must be read against other measures designed to mitigate inequities, 
			such as loans and grants; longer learning time is an opportunity to convey more and better content to students, but may hinder investments in other important
            areas. If you want further information on the nature of different variables, please take the time to read the analysis and contextual information, available at the website
            for each publication.
    
            All rankings for individual variables are compiled on the basis of OECD and G20 countries for which data are available. The OECD average includes only OECD countries which are listed here: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/members-partners.html
            

    
			Reference years displayed in the Education GPS correspond to the most common year of reference among countries for which data is available on each variable. Data for the latest available year is preferred and some 
			countries may have provided data refering to a more recent or late year. To know more about possible exceptions on data please click on the "Download Indicator" link on each variable. When a year of reference corresponds to a school year encompassing two years, the reference reads as follows: 2026 for school year 2025/2026.
			

    
	    *TALIS averages are based on all countries participating in the TALIS survey, including partner countries and economies. 
		This explains the difference between the OECD average and the TALIS averages.
		Data from the TALIS survey and Education at a Glance (EAG) may differ. See Annex E of the TALIS technical report and 
		Annex 3 
		of EAG 2024 for more details about the data collections.
            

    
            For additional notes, please refer to annexes in the list of links below the introductory country profile text.