Slovak Republic
Explore the OECD's reports or draw from a wide variety of education indicators and data to construct your own, customised country reports, highlighting the facts, developments and outcomes of your choice.



Slovak Republic
Overview of the education system (EAG 2025)
  • Salary competitiveness remains a challenge, as primary teachers earn 26% less than tertiary-educated workers, compared with an OECD average gap of 17% less.
  • Pre-primary finance expanded substantially, with government expenditure up 55.1% (2015–2022) and enrolment up 13.9%, lifting per-child spending by 36.2% versus a 24% OECD rise.
  • Internationalisation accelerated strongly, with the share of international tertiary students rising from 8% in 2018 to 15.2% in 2023, outpacing the OECD-wide increase.
  • Labour-market outcomes diverge sharply with level of education, with 39.9% of young adults without upper secondary unemployed compared to 6.1% with upper/post-secondary and 2.8% with tertiary.
  • The share of 25–34 year-olds without upper secondary fell from 9% to 7% (2019–2024), compared to 13% across the OECD, showing steady improvement in attainment.
  • Women accounted for 53% of first-time tertiary entrants in 2023, down from 57% in 2013 and slightly below the OECD average of 54%.
    • | Education at a Glance 2025 | Country note | Annexes from Education at a Glance 2025 | OECD Handbook for Internationally Comparative Education Statistics 2018 | OECD Education Policy Outlook: Slovak Republic | Ministerstvo skolstva, vedy, výskumu a sportu Slovenskej republiky (Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic) | Statistický úrad Slovenskej republiky (Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic) |

    Select first some countries to compare, choose the charts you wish to display and customise them.

    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.

    Show indicators for which your country ranks among the top or bottom: Sort by:

    Attainment

    The level of upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary attainment among 25-34 year-olds is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (55.7 %, rank 3/38 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The level of below upper secondary attainment among 25-64 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (6.3 %, rank 37/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The level of upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary attainment among 25-64 year-olds is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (64.7 %, rank 2/38 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The proportion of 25-64 year-olds who have attained a vocational upper secondary or post-secondary qualification is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (60.7 %, rank 2/35 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The proportion of 25-64 year-olds who have attained a general upper secondary or post-secondary qualification is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (4 %, rank 35/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Slovak Republic 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 30/32 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, 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. (3.8 %, rank 37/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The level of below upper secondary attainment among 55-64 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (7.1 %, rank 36/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The level of upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education attainment among 55-64 year-olds is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (74.2 %, rank 2/38 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The proportion of 25-34 year-olds who have attained a vocational degree at the upper secondary or post-secondary level is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (50.7 %, rank 3/35 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The proportion of 25-34 year-olds who have attained a general degree at the upper secondary or post-secondary level is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (5.1 %, rank 35/37 , 2024) 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. (0.4 %, rank 25/28 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The level of short-cycle tertiary attainment among 55-64 year-olds is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 32/32 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, 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. (6.9 %, rank 37/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the share of 25-34 year-olds who attained a master's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the highest among countries with available data. (29.2 %, rank 3/36 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Attainment by gender

    The proportion of 25-64 year-old men who have attained a general degree at the upper secondary or post-secondary level is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (3.2 %, rank 35/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The proportion of 25-64 year-old women who have attained a general degree at the upper secondary or post-secondary level is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (4.7 %, rank 33/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Slovak Republic has one of the smallest shares of 25-64 year-old men whose highest education level is a short-cycle tertiary education degree. (0 %, rank 31/31 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Slovak Republic has one of the smallest shares of 25-64 year-old women whose highest education level is a short-cycle tertiary education degree. (0.3 %, rank 28/32 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the share of 25-64 year-old men who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the smallest among countries with available data. (2.6 %, rank 37/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-64 year-old women who attained a bachelor's or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the smallest among countries with available data. (5.1 %, rank 37/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-64 year-old men who attained below upper secondary education in Slovak Republic is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (6 %, rank 36/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of 55-64 year-old men who attained below upper secondary education in Slovak Republic is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (5.1 %, rank 37/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Attainment by field of education

    The percentage of 25-64 year-olds with tertiary education who studied in the field of business, administration and law is one of the lowest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (13.5 %, rank 27/28 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Entrance

    In Slovak Republic, 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. (2.9 %, rank 24/28 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Entrance by field of education and gender

    Female new entrants in services bachelor’s programmes were among the smallest across countries with available data. (35 %, rank 33/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Female new entrants in tertiary services programmes were among the smallest across countries. (36.5 %, rank 32/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In STEM fields, the share of female new entrants to tertiary education ranked Slovak Republic among the smallest internationally. (26.8 %, rank 32/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female who enter tertiary education in the field of natural sciences, mathematics and statistics is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (60.9 %, rank 4/37 , 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. (14.3 %, rank 35/36 , 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. (22.2 %, rank 34/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the share of female among new entrants in doctoral programmes enrolled in the field of information and communication technologies is relatively small. (16.4 %, rank 33/35 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the share of female among new entrants in doctoral programmes enrolled in the field of health and welfare is relatively small. (52.4 %, rank 32/35 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic,the share of male among new entrants in doctoral programmes enrolled in the field of natural sciences, mathematics ans statistics is relatively small. (41.3 %, rank 35/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, 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. (14 %, rank 36/38 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering master's or equivalent programmes in engineering, manufacturing and construction in Slovak Republic is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (22.4 %, rank 37/38 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering master's or equivalent programmes in information and communication technologies in Slovak Republic is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (15.5 %, rank 34/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering master's or equivalent programmes in Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Slovak Republic is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (28.6 %, rank 36/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female students entering short cycle tertiary programmes in health and welfare in Slovak Republic is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (66.1 %, rank 26/28 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of male students entering master's or equivalent programmes in natural sciences, mathematics and statistics in Slovak Republic is one of the smallest compared to other OECD countries and partner economies. (33.6 %, rank 36/38 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Participation in education

    The enrolment rate of children under age 3 in pre-primary education (ISCED 02) placed Slovak Republic among the highest across countries. (4.8 %, rank 4/45 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Among 6–14-year-olds, enrolment in lower secondary programmes in Slovak Republic ranked among the highest internationally. (46.9 %, rank 3/46 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of female students in upper secondary general programmes placed Slovak Republic among the largest across countries. (59 %, rank 5/47 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the share of upper secondary students enrolled in programmes giving partial completion or insufficient for completion is relatively low compared to the other countries. (2.4 %, rank 14/17 , 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 Slovak Republic 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 enrolment rate among students aged 15-19 in upper secondary general programmes in Slovak Republic is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (21.7 %, rank 43/47 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The enrolment rate among students aged 15-19 in upper secondary vocational programmes in Slovak Republic is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (44.3 %, rank 5/41 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Graduation

    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. (67.8 %, rank 3/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the share of first-time graduates in general programmes at upper secondary level is comparatively low. (32.2 %, rank 35/37 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Graduation by gender

    Among OECD and partner countries with available data, Slovak Republic has one of the largest shares of women graduates from tertiary programmes. (62.9 %, rank 3/33 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, 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. (68.3 %, rank 3/27 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the share of female first-time bachelor's graduates is one of the largest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (62.3 %, rank 5/33 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Graduation by field of education

    In Slovak Republic, 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. (5 %, rank 2/37 , 2022) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, 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 Slovak Republic, 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

    The share of male tertiary graduates in the field of health and welfare is relatively high in Slovak Republic. (11.5 %, rank 5/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the share of female post-secondary non-tertiary graduates in the field of services is one of the smallest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (34.4 %, rank 26/27 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the share of female graduates in tertiary education in the fields of natural sciences, mathematics and statistics is one of the largest among OECD countries and partner economies with available data. (67.2 %, rank 5/43 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Fields of education

    In Slovak Republic, the share of new entrants in short-cycle tertiary programmes in the field of information and communication technologies is relatively small. (0 %, rank 31/33 , 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 Slovak Republic, compared to OECD and partner countries with available data. (10 %, rank 31/33 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Student mobility

    In Slovak Republic, international or foreign students from North America are least represented among all international or foreign students, compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.2 %, rank 40/41 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, 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. (90.9 %, rank 1/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, international or foreign students from Oceania are least represented among all international or foreign students, compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (0 %, rank 37/41 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, international or foreign students from Africa are lowest represented among all international or foreign students, compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (0.9 %, rank 37/41 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the proportion of international or foreign students enrolled in bachelor's programmes is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (16.2 %, rank 4/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Expenditure per student

    Expenditure per student for ancillary services on tertiary education in Slovak Republic is comparatively high. (2398 USD Equivalent, rank 2/28 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Expenditure in education and national wealth

    In Slovak Republic, 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

    In Slovak Republic, international expenditure as a percentage of GDP from initial source of funds on tertiary education is relatively large. (0.1 %, rank 5/35 , 2022) Download Indicator

    Who the teachers are

    The share of women among teaching staff in pre-primary education is one of the largest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (99.6 %, rank 2/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The percentage of female teachers under 30 in lower secondary education is especially high in Slovak Republic. (77.1 %, rank 3/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The percentage of male teachers in pre-primary education is especially low in Slovak Republic. (0.4 %, rank 39/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The share of teachers aged 50 or more in post secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high in Slovak Republic, compared to the other countries with available data. (49.2 %, rank 5/20 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the share of post secondary non-tertiary education teachers under 30 is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data (4.9 %, rank 16/20 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Teachers' salaries

    After 15 years of experience, a lower secondary teacher with minimum qualification can expect to have one of the lowest salaries among OECD and partner countries with available data. (26913 USD Equivalent, rank 40/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    After 15 years of experience, an upper secondary teacher with minimum qualification can expect to have one of the lowest salaries among OECD and partner countries with available data. (26913 USD Equivalent, rank 40/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    After 15 years of experience, a pre-primary teacher with minimum qualification can expect to have one of the lowest salaries among OECD and partner countries with available data. (22053 USD Equivalent, rank 33/33 , 2023) Download Indicator

    After 15 years of experience, a primary teacher with minimum qualification can expect to have one of the lowest salaries among OECD and partner countries with available data. (26913 USD Equivalent, rank 40/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The average actual pre-primary teacher's salary among teachers aged between 25-64 is one of the lowest per hour of net teaching time among OECD and partner countries with available data. (28791 USD Equivalent, rank 27/28 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The average actual primary teacher's salary among teachers aged between 25-64 is one of the lowest per hour of net teaching time among OECD and partner countries with available data. (36992 USD Equivalent, rank 29/32 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The average actual lower secondary teacher's salary among teachers aged between 25-64 is one of the lowest per hour of net teaching time among OECD and partner countries with available data. (36992 USD Equivalent, rank 30/32 , 2023) Download Indicator

    The average actual upper secondary teacher's salary among teachers aged between 25-64 is one of the lowest per hour of net teaching time among OECD and partner countries with available data. (39222 USD Equivalent, rank 29/32 , 2023) Download Indicator

    After 15 years of experience, a lower secondary teacher with typical qualification can expect to have one of the lowest salaries among OECD and partner countries with available data. (26913 USD Equivalent, rank 40/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    After 15 years of experience, an upper secondary teacher with typical qualification can expect to have one of the lowest salaries among OECD and partner countries with available data. (26913 USD Equivalent, rank 40/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    After 15 years of experience, a pre-primary teacher with typical qualification can expect to have one of the lowest salaries among OECD and partner countries with available data. (22053 USD Equivalent, rank 33/33 , 2023) Download Indicator

    After 15 years of experience, a primary teacher with typical qualification can expect to have one of the lowest salaries among OECD and partner countries with available data. (26913 USD Equivalent, rank 40/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Slovak Republic had some of the lowest actual salaries for junior academic staff in bachelor's, master's and doctoral or equivalent programmes, in public institutions. (34590 USD Equivalent, rank 17/17 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the actual salaries of intermediate academic staff in public tertiary programmes were among the lowest. (46332 USD Equivalent, rank 16/16 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, actual salaries of senior academic staff in bachelor's, master's and doctoral or equivalent programmes were among the lowest across countries. (67538 USD Equivalent, rank 16/17 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Actual salaries for all academic staff in public institutions placed Slovak Republic among the countries with the lowest values. (48413 USD Equivalent, rank 16/16 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Teachers' salaries progression

    Starting salaries for lower secondary teachers with minimum training are especially low. (23371 USD Equivalent, rank 42/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Salaries of lower secondary teachers with minimum training after 10 years of experience are especially low. (26279 USD Equivalent, rank 40/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Salaries of lower secondary teachers with minimum training at the top of scale are especially low. (30102 USD Equivalent, rank 41/41 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Starting salaries for upper secondary teachers with minimum training are especially low. (23371 USD Equivalent, rank 42/44 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Salaries of upper secondary teachers with minimum training after 10 years of experience are especially low. (26279 USD Equivalent, rank 40/40 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Salaries of upper secondary teachers with minimum training at the top of scale are especially low. (30102 USD Equivalent, rank 41/41 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Starting salaries for pre-primary teachers with minimum training are especially low. (18874 USD Equivalent, rank 36/36 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Salaries of pre-primary teachers with minimum training after 10 years of experience are especially low. (21530 USD Equivalent, rank 33/33 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Salaries of pre-primary teachers with minimum training at the top of scale are especially low. (24659 USD Equivalent, rank 34/34 , 2023) Download Indicator

    It takes lower secondary teachers longer to progress through the salary scale in Slovak Republic compared to other OECD and partner countries. (40 Years, rank 1/35 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Ratio of student to teaching staff

    The ratio of students to teaching staff in short-cycle tertiary programmes is comparatively low in Slovak Republic. (8 Ratio, rank 19/20 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the number of students per teacher in public lower secondary education is one of the highest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (16.2 Ratio, rank 5/38 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the number of students per teacher in government-dependent private institutions tertiary education is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (8 Ratio, rank 16/16 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the number of students per teacher in public institutions short-cycle tertiary education is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (8 Ratio, rank 19/20 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the number of students per teacher in private institutions short-cycle tertiary education is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (8 Ratio, rank 18/18 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the number of students per teacher in government-dependent private short-cycle tertiary education is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (8 Ratio, rank 11/11 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the share of teachers' aides among contact staff in pre-primary education is one of the lowest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (4.6 Ratio, rank 18/18 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Organisation of the education system

    The total compulsory instruction time for lower secondary students in Slovak Republic is one of the longest among OECD and partner countries with available data. (4139 Hours, rank 5/42 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Employment and educational attainment

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is high compared to other OECD and partner countries. (96.7 %, rank 4/29 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with below upper secondary education is compartively low in Slovak Republic. (38 %, rank 39/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 55-64 year-olds with below upper secondary education is compartively low in Slovak Republic. (31.2 %, rank 37/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 35-44 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively low. (35.9 %, rank 39/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 45-54 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively low. (42 %, rank 38/39 , 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 low in Slovak Republic. (67.5 %, rank 35/36 , 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 Slovak Republic. (98.6 %, rank 2/21 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Employment by gender and educational attainment

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively low. (36.6 %, rank 38/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-old men without upper secondary education is comparatively low. (46.6 %, rank 39/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-64 year-old women without upper secondary education is comparatively low. (27.5 %, rank 38/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-old men with below upper secondary education is compartively low in Slovak Republic. (50.9 %, rank 35/38 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 25-34 year-old women with below upper secondary education is compartively low in Slovak Republic. (20.8 %, rank 36/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The employment rate among 55-64 year-old men with below upper secondary education is compartively low in Slovak Republic. (34.5 %, rank 39/39 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the share of employed 25-64 year-old men with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high, compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (88.7 %, rank 4/36 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Compared to other countries with available data, the employment rate of 25-34 year-old men with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively high in Slovak Republic. (89.1 %, rank 4/35 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Unemployment and educational attainment

    The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-olds with below upper secondary education is comparatively high. (39.9 %, rank 1/36 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The unemployment rate among 55-64 year-olds with tertiary education is comparatively low. (1.1 %, rank 31/34 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The unemployment rate among 25-64 year-olds without upper secondary education is comparatively high. (36.3 %, rank 2/38 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The unemployment rate among 25-64 year-olds with a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the lowest of all OECD countries and partner economies for which data are available. (0.4 %, rank 14/14 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Among the unemployed population aged between 25 and 64, with below upper secondary education, the share of those who have been unemployed for less than 3 months is one of the smallest in Slovak Republic, compared to other OECD countries. (2.6 %, rank 28/28 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Among the unemployed population aged between 25 and 64 with below upper secondary education, the share of those who have been unemployed for at least 3 months to less than 12 months is one of the smallest in Slovak Republic, compared to other OECD countries. (12.5 %, rank 26/27 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Among the unemployed population aged between 25 and 64 with below upper secondary education, the share of those who have been unemployed for at least 12 months is one of the largest in Slovak Republic, compared to other OECD countries. (84.9 %, rank 1/33 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Among the unemployed population aged between 25 and 64 with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education, the share of those who have been unemployed for less than 3 months is one of the smallest in Slovak Republic, compared to other OECD countries. (8.3 %, rank 29/29 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Among the unemployed population aged between 25 and 64 with tertiary education, the share of those who have been unemployed for less than 3 months is one of the smallest in Slovak Republic, compared to other OECD countries. (17.5 %, rank 27/29 , 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 Slovak Republic, compared to OECD countries. (49 %, rank 5/35 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-olds with a general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is one of the lowest of all OECD countries and partner economies for which data are available. (2.8 %, rank 32/33 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Unemployment by gender and educational attainment

    The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-old men with below upper secondary education is compartively high in Slovak Republic. (32.8 %, rank 2/35 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-old men with tertiary education is compartively low in Slovak Republic. (2 %, rank 34/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The unemployment rate among 25-34 year-old women with below upper secondary education is compartively high in Slovak Republic. (55.2 %, rank 1/35 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The unemployment rate among 55-64 year-old men with tertiary education is compartively low in Slovak Republic. (1.5 %, rank 30/34 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The unemployment rate among 55-64 year-old women with tertiary education is compartively low in Slovak Republic. (0.7 %, rank 33/33 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the share of unemployed 25-64 year-old men with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low, compared to other OECD and partner countries with available data. (2.2 %, rank 32/33 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Compared to other countries with available data, the unemployment rate of 25-34 year-old men with general upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low in Slovak Republic. (1.8 %, rank 33/33 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Inactivity and educational attainment

    In Slovak Republic, 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. (30.5 %, rank 1/36 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, 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. (15.6 %, rank 5/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the inactivity rate of 25-64 year-olds with a doctoral or equivalent tertiary education degree is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (3 %, rank 19/23 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Inactivity by gender and educational attainment

    In Slovak Republic, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-old men with vocational upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (3.5 %, rank 29/33 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the inactivity rate of 25-34 year-old men with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary education is relatively low. (4 %, rank 34/36 , 2024) Download Indicator

    Earnings and educational attainment

    Earnings of 25-64 year-old full- and part-time workers with a bachelor's or equivalent education are comparatively low. (123.4 %, rank 21/25 , 2023) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the relative earnings of 25-34 year-olds with a bachelor’s or equivalent attainment ranked among the weakest internationally. (115 Index, rank 19/23 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Compared to other countries with available data, earnings of 25-34 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 Slovak Republic. (108 Index, rank 17/21 , 2023) Download Indicator

    Neither in education nor employed

    The share of youth who have been unemployed for at least one year and not in formal education or training among 18-24 year-olds in Slovak Republic is one of the highest among countries with available data. (3.7 %, rank 2/31 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of youth who have been unemployed for less than 3 months and not in formal education or training among 18-24 year-olds in Slovak Republic is one of the lowest among countries with available data. (0.6 %, rank 28/29 , 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 Slovak Republic is relatively high (84.2 %, rank 3/32 , 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 Slovak Republic is relatively high (52.4 %, rank 2/32 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of 25-29 year-olds neither in employment nor in education and training without an upper secondary in Slovak Republic is relatively high. (66 %, rank 1/33 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of men with tertiary education neither in employment nor in education and training (25-29 year-olds) in Slovak Republic is relatively low. (2.7 %, rank 29/31 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of men who are inactive NEET (15-29 year-olds) in Slovak Republic is relatively low. (3.3 %, rank 35/37 , 2024) Download Indicator

    The share of men who are inactive NEET (18-24 year-olds) in Slovak Republic is relatively low. (3.7 %, rank 35/36 , 2024) Download Indicator

    In Slovak Republic, the share of women neither employed nor in education among 15-29 year-olds is relatively low. (4 %, rank 29/32 , 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 | 
    
                            
    
                                Visualisations
    
                            

                            
    
                                Click the arrow sign next to the title:
                                    arrows
                                    to display other variables
                                    
                                
    
                                
                                    
                                
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                Click the arrow sign next to the title:
                                    arrows
                                    to display other variables
                                
    
                                
                                    
                                
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                Click the arrow sign next to the title:
                                    arrows
                                    to display other variables
                                
    
                                
                                    
                                
    
                            
    
                    
            

    
                        
    
                            
    
                                
    • 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 | 
    
                            
    
                                Visualisations
    
                            

                            
    
                                Click the arrow sign next to the title:
                                    arrows
                                    to display other variables
                                    
                                
    
                                
                                    
                                
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                Click the arrow sign next to the title:
                                    arrows
                                    to display other variables
                                
    
                                
                                    
                                
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                Click the arrow sign next to the title:
                                    arrows
                                    to display other variables
                                
    
                                
                                    
                                
    
                            
    
                    
            

    
                        
    
                            
    
                                
    • 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  | 
    
                            
    
                                Visualisations
    
                            

                            
    
                                Click the arrow sign next to the title:
                                    arrows
                                    to display other variables
                                    
                                
    
                                
                                    
                                
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                Click the arrow sign next to the title:
                                    arrows
                                    to display other variables
                                
    
                                
                                    
                                
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                Click the arrow sign next to the title:
                                    arrows
                                    to display other variables
                                
    
                                
                                    
                                
    
                            
    
                    
            

    
                        
    
                            
    
                                
    • 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 | 
    
                            
    
                                Visualisations
    
                            

                            
    
                                Click the arrow sign next to the title:
                                    arrows
                                    to display other variables
                                    
                                
    
                                
                                    
                                
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                Click the arrow sign next to the title:
                                    arrows
                                    to display other variables
                                
    
                                
                                    
                                
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                Click the arrow sign next to the title:
                                    arrows
                                    to display other variables
                                
    
                                
                                    
                                
    
                            
    
                    
            

    
                        
    
                            
    
                                
    • 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)  | 
    
                            
    
                                Visualisations
    
                            

                            
    
                                Click the arrow sign next to the title:
                                    arrows
                                    to display other variables
                                    
                                
    
                                
                                    
                                
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                Click the arrow sign next to the title:
                                    arrows
                                    to display other variables
                                
    
                                
                                    
                                
    
                            
    
                            
    
                                Click the arrow sign next to the title:
                                    arrows
                                    to display other variables
                                
    
                                
                                    
                                
    
                            
    
                    
            
                
    
            
    
        
    
        
    
            
        
    
        
    
            
        
    

        
        
		
        
		
    
			
    
				Key
            
    
            Diagram of funding flows - Slovak Republic
            
    
            
    
        
    


        
		
    
            
    
			Click on the coverpage to see the full OECD iLibrary version
			
    
				Key
            
    
            Country Reviews for Slovak Republic
            
    
            
    
			
    
        
    
		
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
        
    
            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.