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Italy
Overview of the education system (EAG 2022)
  • Between 2000 and 2021, the share of 25-34 year-olds with tertiary attainment in Italy increased albeit at a slower pace than on average across OECD countries, by 18 percentage points (from 10% in 2000 to 28% in 2021).
  • In Italy, 28% of 25-34 year-olds had a tertiary qualification in 2021 compared to 47% on average across OECD countries.
  • In 2020, 92% of 3-5 year-olds in Italy were enrolled in early childhood education programmes education in Italy, compared to 83% on average across OECD countries. The share of children enrolled in private institutions at pre-primary level was 28%. In 2019, Italy spent USD 10 458 on pre-primary educational institutions, slightly above the OECD average (USD 9 598%), 15% was funded by private sources.
  • In Italy, the share of women among general upper secondary graduates is 61% (OECD average 55%). Men make up 61% of all vocational upper secondary graduates, above the OECD average (55%).
  • In 2019, Italy spent 3.8% of its GDP or a total of USD 10 902 per full-time equivalent student on primary to tertiary educational institutions compared to USD 11 990 on average across OECD countries. Education funding reached USD 12 177 per student at the tertiary level, 33% of which corresponds to expenditure for research and development (R&D).
  • Pre-primary and primary teachers in Italy earn 32.2% less than other tertiary-educated workers, lower secondary (general programme) teachers earn 27.4% less and upper secondary (general programme) teachers 22.3% less.
  • Based on official regulations or agreements,annual teaching hours in Italy are 945 hours per year at pre-primary level, 744 hours at primary level, 608 hours at lower secondary level (general programmes) and 608 hours at upper secondary level (general programmes).
    • | Education at a Glance 2022 | Country Note | Country Note (in Italian) | Annexes from Education at a Glance 2022 | OECD Handbook for Internationally Comparative Education Statistics 2018 | Ministero dell'Istruzione, dell'Università e della Ricerca (Ministries of Education, Universities and Research, in Italian) | OECD Education Policy Outlook: Italy |
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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 25-64 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (20 %, rank 40/44 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The level of tertiary attainment among 55-64 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (12.7 %, rank 40/43 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Italy has one of the lowest percentages of 25-64 year-olds whose highest education level is a short-cycle tertiary education degree. (0.1 %, rank 36/38 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the percentage of 25-64 year-olds who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (5.2 %, rank 41/44 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The level of short-cycle tertiary attainment among 25-34 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.1 %, rank 32/33 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of 25-34 year-olds who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (11.7 %, rank 40/43 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Attainment by gender

    The proportion of 25-34 year-old men who have attained tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (22.3 %, rank 39/43 , 2021) 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. (4.4 %, rank 30/31 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The percentage of 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education who studied in the field of humanities (except languages), social sciences, journalism and information is one of the highest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (20.3 %, rank 2/29 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The percentage of 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education who studied in the field of natural sciences, mathematics and statistics is one of the highest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (7.6 %, rank 2/31 , 2021) 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. (1.6 %, rank 30/31 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Participation in education

    The percentage of students in government-dependent private tertiary educational institutions is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 19/22 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of part-time students in master's programmes is relatively small. (0 %, rank 30/34 , 2018) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the average age of new entrants in master's programmes is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (23.9 Years, rank 34/37 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate of students aged 20 in post-secondary non-tertiary programmes in Italy is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.1 %, rank 26/29 , 2020) Download Indicator

    Graduation

    The percentage of first-time master's graduates is relatively high in Italy. (15.9 %, rank 5/24 , 2020) Download Indicator

    Graduation by gender

    In Italy, the proportion of male tertiary graduates in the field of arts and humanities is relatively large. (11.3 %, rank 4/41 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the proportion of female graduates from upper secondary vocational programmes in the field of business, administration and law is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries. (46.6 %, rank 36/36 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the proportion of female graduates from upper secondary vocational programmes in the field health and welfare is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries. (74.1 %, rank 30/33 , 2020) Download Indicator

    Graduation by age

    In Italy, the average age of post-secondary non-tertiary graduates from vocational programmes is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data (24.3 Years, rank 21/23 , 2020) Download Indicator

    Graduation by field of education

    The proportion of female tertiary graduates in social sciences, business and law is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries. (15.3 %, rank 39/40 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The percentage of tertiary graduates in the field of arts and humanities is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (15.9 %, rank 3/40 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The percentage of tertiary graduates in the field of business, administration and law is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (17.3 %, rank 37/40 , 2020) Download Indicator

    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. (1.4 %, rank 40/40 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The share of doctoral graduates in the field of education in Italy is relatively small. (1.2 %, rank 40/42 , 2020) Download Indicator

    Fields of education

    In Italy, the percentage of new entrants to tertiary education in the field of business, administration and law is relatively low. (15.7 %, rank 35/36 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the percentage of new entrants to tertiary education in the field of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is relatively low. (2.2 %, rank 35/35 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the percentage of new entrants to tertiary education in the field of health and welfare is relatively low. (8.1 %, rank 33/36 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The share of female who enter tertiary education in the field of social sciences, journalism and information is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (61.7 %, rank 34/36 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The share of female who enter tertiary education in the field of health and welfare is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (69.5 %, rank 32/36 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The percentage of students enrolled in the field of business, administration and law among all national tertiary students in Italy is relatively low. (17.7 %, rank 30/34 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The percentage of students enrolled in the field of information and communication technologies among all national tertiary students in Italy is relatively low. (2 %, rank 33/34 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of women among new entrants in bachelor's programmes in the field of education is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (92.9 %, rank 2/36 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering master's or equivalent programmes in education in Italy is one of the largest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (92.4 %, rank 2/36 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering master's or equivalent programmes in health and welfare in Italy is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (63.4 %, rank 32/36 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering short cycle tertiary programmes in engineering, manufacturing and construction in Italy is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (5.6 %, rank 29/30 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering short cycle tertiaryprogrammes in natural sciences, mathematics and statistics in Italy is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (24.5 %, rank 19/22 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering short cycle tertiary programmes in Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Italy is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (11 %, rank 26/30 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of men among new entrants in bachelor's programmes in the field of education is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (7.1 %, rank 35/36 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The share of male students entering master's or equivalent programmes in education in Italy is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (7.6 %, rank 35/36 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The share of male students entering master's or equivalent programmes in health and welfare in Italy is one of the largest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (36.6 %, rank 5/36 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the percentage of new entrants to doctoral programmes in the field of education is relatively low, compared to other countries with available data. (1.3 %, rank 33/34 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the percentage of new entrants to doctoral programmes in the field of engineering, manufacturing and construction is relatively high, compared to other countries with available data. (24.5 %, rank 2/34 , 2020) Download Indicator

    Student mobility

    Italy has a small share of international students graduate from tertiary programmes compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (1.2 %, rank 27/29 , 2020) 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 28/31 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the proportion of international graduates among first-time short-cycle tertiary first-time graduates is relatively low. (0 %, rank 22/26 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the proportion of international graduates among bachelor's first-time graduates is relatively low. (1.3 %, rank 28/30 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the proportion of international graduates among first-time master's graduates is relatively low. (3.7 %, rank 28/30 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The proportion of international students among the new entrants in master's programmes in Italy is relatively low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (5.8 %, rank 31/35 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, 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 31/34 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of international or foreign students enrolled in bachelor's programmes among men is relatively low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (2.1 %, rank 33/37 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of international or foreign students enrolled in master's programmes among men is relatively low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (4.3 %, rank 33/37 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of international or foreign students enrolled in master's programmes among women is relatively low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (3.4 %, rank 33/37 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, 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 29/33 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, 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 29/33 , 2020) Download Indicator

    Student mobility by field of education

    The percentage of students enrolled in the field of education among all international or foreign tertiary students in Italy is relatively low. (1 %, rank 30/33 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The percentage of students enrolled in the field of arts and humanities among all international or foreign tertiary students in Italy is relatively high. (31.5 %, rank 2/33 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The percentage of students enrolled in the field of information and communication technologies among all international or foreign tertiary students in Italy is relatively low. (1.5 %, rank 33/33 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The percentage of students enrolled in the field of engineering, manunfacturing and construction among all international or foreign tertiary students in Italy is relatively high. (21.1 %, rank 5/33 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of international and foreign students among all students in the field of education is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with avaialble data. (0.4 %, rank 34/36 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of international and foreign students among all students in the field of social sciences, journalism and information is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with avaialble data. (2.6 %, rank 33/36 , 2020) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of international and foreign students among all students in the field of Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with avaialble data. (2.1 %, rank 33/36 , 2020) Download Indicator

    Expenditure per student

    Annual expenditure per tertiary student is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (8101 USD Equivalent, rank 29/33 , 2019) Download Indicator

    Expenditure per student for core educational services on tertiary education in Italy is comparatively low. (7654 USD Equivalent, rank 25/27 , 2019) Download Indicator

    Expenditure in education and national wealth

    Compared to 2011, GDP is comparatively low. (104 Index, rank 38/42 , 2019) Download Indicator

    The public expenditure as a percentage of GDP from initial source of funds at primary to tertiary education is relatively low in Italy. (3.4 %, rank 23/27 , 2019) Download Indicator

    From 2012 to 2018, the average annual growth in total expenditure per full-time equivalent student on primary to tertiary education in Italy is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.3 %, rank 27/31 , 2019) Download Indicator

    Public and private expenditure in education

    In Italy, total public expenditure on primary through tertiary educational institutions as a percentage of total public expenditure is comparatively low. (7.4 %, rank 40/42 , 2019) Download Indicator

    In Italy, total public expenditure on primary educational institutions as a percentage of total public expenditure is comparatively low. (2.1 %, rank 38/42 , 2019) Download Indicator

    Total public expenditure on education as a percentage of total government expenditure, for primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in Italy compared to OECD and partner countries with available data. (5.8 %, rank 40/42 , 2019) Download Indicator

    Nature of expenditure

    In Italy, the share of capital expenditure on primary education is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (2.6 %, rank 32/33 , 2019) Download Indicator

    The percentage of capital expenditure on primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively in Italy. (3 %, rank 31/33 , 2019) Download Indicator

    The share of capital expenditure for primary to tertiary education in Italy is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (4.4 %, rank 31/31 , 2019) Download Indicator

    The share of current expenditure for primary to tertiary education in Italy is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (95.6 %, rank 1/31 , 2019) Download Indicator

    The percentage of capital expenditure on secondary education is relatively in Italy. (3.2 %, rank 29/33 , 2019) Download Indicator

    The percentage of current expenditure on secondary education is relatively in Italy. (96.8 %, rank 5/33 , 2019) Download Indicator

    Teachers

    The number of days of instruction in a school year in primary school is especially low. (169 Days, rank 31/33 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The number of days of instruction in a school year in lower secondary school is especially low. (169 Days, rank 30/31 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The number of days of instruction in a school year in upper secondary school is especially low. (169 Days, rank 30/31 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Who the teachers are

    The share of women among teaching staff in primary education is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (95.6 %, rank 2/43 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The percentage of primary teachers younger than 30 is especially low. (1.7 %, rank 37/38 , 2019) Download Indicator

    The percentage of lower secondary teachers younger than 30 is especially low. (2 %, rank 33/35 , 2019) Download Indicator

    The percentage of upper secondary teachers younger than 30 is especially low. (2.4 %, rank 35/37 , 2019) Download Indicator

    The percentage of primary to upper secondary teachers younger than 30 is especially low. (2.1 %, rank 36/37 , 2019) Download Indicator

    The percentage of primary teachers aged between 30 and 49 is especially low. (40 %, rank 38/38 , 2019) Download Indicator

    The percentage of upper secondary teachers aged between 30 and 49 is especially low. (37.7 %, rank 36/37 , 2019) Download Indicator

    The percentage of primary to upper secondary teachers aged between 30 and 49 is especially low. (40.6 %, rank 35/37 , 2019) Download Indicator

    The percentage of primary to upper secondary teachers older than 50 is especially high. (57.3 %, rank 1/37 , 2019) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of bachelor's, master's and doctoral level teachers aged between 30 and 49 is relatively low, compared to other countries with data available. (43.1 %, rank 29/29 , 2019) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of tertiary teachers aged between 30 and 49 is relatively low, compared to other countries with data available. (43.1 %, rank 32/32 , 2019) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of bachelor's, master's and doctoral level teachers older than 50 is relatively high, compared to other countries with data available. (56.2 %, rank 1/29 , 2019) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of tertiary teachers older than 50 is relatively high, compared to other countries with data available. (56.2 %, rank 1/32 , 2019) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of bachelor's, master's and doctoral level teachers younger than 30 is relatively low, compared to other countries with data available. (0.8 %, rank 27/29 , 2019) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of tertiary teachers younger than 30 is relatively low, compared to other countries with data available. (0.8 %, rank 31/32 , 2019) Download Indicator

    Teachers' salaries

    The ratio of primary teachers' salaries to earnings of full-time, full-year workers with tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.68 Ratio, rank 21/23 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The ratio of lower secondary teachers' salaries to earnings of full-time, full-year workers with tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.73 Ratio, rank 21/23 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The ratio of upper secondary teachers' salaries to earnings of full-time, full-year workers with tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.78 Ratio, rank 19/23 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The ratio of lower secondary male teachers' salaries to earnings of full-time, full-year men workers with tertiary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.62 Ratio, rank 17/19 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The average actual salary of 25-64 year-old lower secondary teachers is one of the lowest per hour of net teaching time among OECD and partner countries with available data. (42858 USD Equivalent, rank 17/21 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The average actual salary 25-64 year-old lower secondary teachers is one of the lowest per hour of net teaching time among OECD and partner countries with available data. (42700 USD Equivalent, rank 17/21 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The salaries of 35-44 year-old general lower-secondary teachers relative to earnings for full-time, full-year similarly educated workers with tertiary education is low in Italy. (0.7 Ratio, rank 15/19 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The salaries of 45-54 year-old general lower-secondary teachers relative to earnings for full-time, full-year similarly educated workers with tertiary education is low in Italy. (0.68 Ratio, rank 17/19 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The salaries of 55-64 year-old general lower-secondary teachers relative to earnings for full-time, full-year similarly educated workers with tertiary education is low in Italy. (0.6 Ratio, rank 19/19 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The average actual salaries of 45-54 year-old lower-secondary teachers is one of the lowest in Italy. (42238 USD Equivalent, rank 17/21 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Principals' salaries

    Lower-secondary school heads' salaries relative to earnings for full-time, full-year similarly educated workers with tertiary education is high in Italy. (1.73 Ratio, rank 5/20 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The average lower secondary school heads' actual salary is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (101937 USD Equivalent, rank 5/22 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the average actual salaries of 25-34 year-old lower-secondary school heads is relatively high compared to OECD and partner countries with available data. (95533 USD Equivalent, rank 2/15 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Ratio of student to teaching staff

    In Italy, the number of students per teacher in private upper secondary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (8.3 Ratio, rank 35/39 , 2020) Download Indicator

    The ratio of students to teaching staff at the upper secondary level in independent private institutions is especially low in Italy. (8.3 Ratio, rank 19/22 , 2019) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the number of students per teacher in public bachelor's, master's, doctoral or equivalent programmes is one of the highest among countries with available data. (21 Ratio, rank 3/27 , 2020) Download Indicator

    Employment and educational attainment

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a short-cycle tertiary education degree is low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (69.6 %, rank 34/36 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (74.9 %, rank 40/43 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with tertiary education is compartively low in Italy. (70.2 %, rank 40/43 , 2021) 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 low in Italy. (64.6 %, rank 41/43 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-olds with a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest among countries with available data. (28.3 %, rank 3/43 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the inactivity rate of 25-64 year-olds with a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest among countries with available data. (19.6 %, rank 4/43 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Italy, 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. (9.8 %, rank 3/12 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Compared to other countries with available data, the employment rate of 25-34 year-old with a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree is relatively low in Italy. (73.9 %, rank 38/38 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-olds with a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest among countries with available data. (17.6 %, rank 2/38 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Employment by gender and educational attainment

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-old men with tertiary education is compartively low in Italy. (71 %, rank 42/43 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Employment by field of education

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education who studied in the field of arts is low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (72 %, rank 17/17 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education who studied in the field of humanities (except languages), social sciences, journalism and information is low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (77.6 %, rank 26/29 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education who studied in the field of arts and humanities, social sciences, journalism and information is low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (76.6 %, rank 27/31 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education who studied in the field of law is low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (80.2 %, rank 15/15 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education who studied in the field of natural sciences, mathematics and statistics is low compared to other OECD and partner countries. (77.9 %, rank 28/31 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Unemployment and educational attainment

    The inactivity rate of 25-34 years-old adults with tertiary education is high in Italy. (21.9 %, rank 2/43 , 2021) 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 Italy. (7.1 %, rank 3/11 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Compared to other countries with available data, the unemployment rate of 25-34 year-old with a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree is relatively high in Italy. (10.3 %, rank 5/37 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the proportion of adults who have been unemployed for at least a year among all unemployed adults with below upper secondary education is relatively high. (65.3 %, rank 3/37 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the proportion of adults who have been unemployed for at least 3 months but less than a year among all unemployed adults with below upper secondary education is relatively low. (19.6 %, rank 28/30 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the proportion of adults who have been unemployed for less than 3 months among all unemployed adults with below upper secondary education is relatively low. (15.1 %, rank 26/30 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the proportion of adults who have been unemployed for at least a year among all unemployed adults with tertiary education is relatively high. (46.6 %, rank 5/38 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the proportion of adults who have been unemployed for at least 3 months but less than a year among all unemployed adults with tertiary education is relatively low. (28.3 %, rank 28/31 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the proportion of adults who have been unemployed for at least a year among all unemployed adults with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high. (58.5 %, rank 3/37 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the proportion of adults who have been unemployed for at least 3 months but less than a year among all unemployed adults with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (22.8 %, rank 30/30 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the proportion of adults who have been unemployed for less than 3 months among all unemployed adults with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (18.7 %, rank 27/30 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Neither in education nor employed

    The share of youth who have been unemployed for at least 3 months but less than a year and not in formal education or training among 18-24 year-olds in Italy is one of the highest among countries with available data. (3.4 %, rank 5/26 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The share of youth neither employed nor in education or training among 25-29 year-olds in Italy is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (34.6 %, rank 4/38 , 2021) Download Indicator

    The proportion of youth neither employed nor in education or training among 15-29 year-olds in Italy is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (26 %, rank 5/39 , 2021) Download Indicator

    In Italy, the share of men neither employed nor in education among 15-29 year-olds is relatively high. (24.4 %, rank 2/38 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Among 20-24 year-olds men in Italy, a large share of them are neither employed nor in education or training. (29.7 %, rank 2/37 , 2021) Download Indicator

    Participation in education by gender

    The share of female students entering short-cycle tertiary programmes in Italy is comparatively small. (25.6 %, rank 33/34 , 2020) Download Indicator


    The data table will display up to six selected countries.
    General findings
    
                        
    
                            
    
                                
    • Tertiary attainment has increased strongly in most OECD countries among 25-34 year olds. The average share of younger adults with a tertiary degree has increased from 27% in 2000 to 48% in 2021.
    • Higher educational attainment leads to better labour-market outcomes including higher wages and higher employment rates.
    • Expenditure on tertiary education accounts for 1.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on average across OECD countries or 30% of all education funding allocated to educational institutions.
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                | Education policies: Access and Participation - Tertiary | Education policies: Finance and Funding - Tertiary | Education policies: Labour market outcomes - Tertiary | 
    
                            
    
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    • Tertiary attainment has increased strongly in most OECD countries among 25-34 year-olds. The average share of younger adults with a tertiary degree has increased from 27% in 2000 to 48% in 2021. In this age group, the share of individuals with tertiary attainment is 7 percentage points higher than the share of individuals with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary attainment on average across OECD countries. If current trends continue, a tertiary education will be the most common attainment among working-age adults on average across OECD countries within a few years.
    • Higher educational attainment leads to better labour-market outcomes. In 2021, on average, employment rates for tertiary-educated young adults (25-34 year-olds) are 8 percentage points higher than those who have attained upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education and 26 percentage points higher than those who have attained below upper secondary education across OECD countries. 
    • Greater educational attainment yields better earnings and this holds true for higher levels of tertiary attainment in most countries. On average across the OECD, full-time full-year workers who attained short-cycle tertiary education earned 20% more than those with upper secondary attainment in 2020. This earnings advantage increases to 44% among those who attained a bachelor's or equivalent qualification and to 88% among those with a master's or doctoral or equivalent degree.
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                | Education policies: Attainment | Education policies: Labour market outcomes | 
    
                            
    
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    • On average, the vast majority (88%) of children between the age of 3 and 5 are enrolled in early childhood education (ECE) across the OECD. In a few countries, it is also common for younger children between the age of 0 and 2 to participate in ECE and over 50% of children in this age group are enrolled. However, only 27% of under-threes are enrolled in ECE on average across the OECD.
    • In almost all countries with available data, the majority of upper secondary graduates from general programmes are women. Men dominate graduation from vocational programmes in almost three-quarters of the countries.
    • While the average age of first-time graduates from general upper secondary education does not differ much across countries, the difference widens in vocational education, ranging from 16 to 34 years.
    • Around one-fifth of tertiary students are enrolled on a part-time basis, but large differences exist across OECD countries. Studying part-time is especially common in many Nordic countries, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, where more than 30% of students study part-time. However, in some countries like the Czech Republic, and Greece, less than 5% of students study part-time.
    • Students are more likely to cross borders to pursue their studies as they reach more advanced levels of education. Internationally mobile students account for only 7% of bachelor's students, but 17% of master's students and 26% of doctoral students on average in OECD countries.
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                | Education policies: Access and Participation  | 
    
                            
    
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    • Total public spending on education (from primary to tertiary level) averages 10.6% of total government expenditure across OECD countries, from around 7% to 17%. The largest share of government funding is devoted to primary and secondary levels, explained by near-universal enrolment rates at those levels of education and the greater contribution of private sources at tertiary level.
    • On average across OECD countries, expenditure on primary education amounts to 30% of the funding for educational institutions, while secondary education accounts for 39%.
    • In 2019, OECD countries spent an average of USD 17 559 per student per year at the tertiary level. However, this average is driven up by high values in a few countries, reaching over USD 25 000 in Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.
    • On average across OECD countries, 63% of total expenditure on tertiary educational institutions goes to core services (e.g. teachers' salaries, school buildings, teaching materials and administration), 33% on research and development activities, and 4% on ancillary services (e.g. meals and transport).
    • Expenditure on tertiary education accounts for 1.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on average across OECD countries or 30% of all education funding allocated to educational institutions.
    • On average across OECD countries, public funds account for 83% of total spending on educational institutions. Private sources are more important at the tertiary level, where they make up 31% of all expenditure compared to just 10% at the non-tertiary levels (primary, secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary).
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                | Education policies: Finance and Funding | 
    
                            
    
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    • Teachers' actual salaries at pre-primary, primary and general secondary level are 4-14% lower than the earnings of tertiary-educated workers on average across OECD countries and other participants. School heads' actual salaries are substantially higher than those of teachers across primary and secondary education.
    • Teachers in public schools in OECD and partner countries are required to teach on average 987 hours per year at pre-primary level, 784 hours at primary level, 711 hours at lower secondary level (general programmes) and 684 hours at upper secondary level (general and vocational programmes).
    • Typically, the duration of initial teacher education programmes varies from 3 years to 6.5 years, for prospective lower secondary teachers of general subjects. A tertiary qualification is awarded upon completion of the programme in most countries, regardless of the level of education at which the teacher will teach.
    • Continuing professional development is compulsory to some extent for teachers of general subjects at least at one level of education in most countries with data, except Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands and New Zealand. It can be either generally compulsory for all teachers as a regular part of their work, or for some teachers for specific purposes such as promotion or salary increases, or in some cases, both.
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                | Education policies: Teachers | OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS)  | 
    
                            
    
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            Diagram of funding flows - Italy
            
    
            
    
        
    


        
		
    
            
    
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            Country Reviews for Italy
            
    
            
    
			
    
        
    
		
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
        
    
            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: http://www.oecd.org/about/membersandpartners/
            

    
	    *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 2021 for more details about the data collections.
            

    
			B-S-J-Z (China) refers to the four PISA-participating provinces/municipalities of the People's Republic of China:
Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang.
			

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