Italian public school teachers earned 33% less than colleagues with equivalent university degrees in 2024, and their real salaries dropped 4.4% between 2015 and 2024 — a period when other OECD countries averaged a 14.6% increase. This article breaks down how Italy’s state education system is structured, how students perform in international assessments, what the country spends per student, and what the data shows about university completion and labour market outcomes after graduation.
Education in Italy Statistics
- Italian public schools enrolled 7.1 million students in the 2023–2024 school year.
- Italy spends USD 8,992 per university student annually — roughly half the OECD average of USD 15,102.
- 40% of 15–19-year-olds in Italy are in vocational upper secondary education, against an OECD average of 23%.
- Only 37% of university students in Italy complete their degrees on time, compared to the OECD average of 43%.
- 23.4% of 25–29-year-olds in Italy are neither employed nor in education or training — the 7th highest rate among 38 OECD countries in 2024.
How Is the Education System in Italy Structured?
Italy’s education system runs across five formal stages, with compulsory schooling covering 10 years from age 6 through to the end of the first two years of upper secondary at age 16. The Ministero dell’Istruzione e del Merito (MIM) oversees the system, which is state-funded throughout the compulsory phase.
At upper secondary level, students select between academic lyceums (liceo), technical institutes (istituto tecnico), and vocational programs (istituto professionale). That decision at age 14 carries measurable consequences: 75% of general upper secondary graduates stay in formal education one year after graduation, against just 29% of vocational graduates. Students completing five years of upper secondary can sit the esame di maturità, the state final exam required to apply for university.
| Stage | Italian Name | Age Range | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-primary | Scuola dell’infanzia | 3–6 | 3 years |
| Primary | Scuola primaria | 6–11 | 5 years |
| Lower secondary | Scuola secondaria di primo grado | 11–14 | 3 years |
| Upper secondary | Scuola secondaria di secondo grado | 14–19 | 5 years |
| Tertiary | Università / ITS / AFAM | 19+ | Varies |
Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2024
How Do Italian Students Perform Internationally?
In PISA 2022, Italy scored above the OECD average in reading, with 79% of students reaching Level 2 or higher against an OECD rate of 74%. Mathematics and science results were near the OECD benchmarks — 70% versus 69% for mathematics, and 76% for science in both cases.
Top-end performance is where the picture changes. Only 7% of Italian students reached Level 5 or 6 in mathematics — the OECD average is 9%. In science, 4% were top performers against a 7% OECD average. A 21-point gender gap in mathematics (above the EU average of 17 points) and a persistent divide between northern and southern regions are two of the more structural patterns in the data. Education outcomes across Europe vary considerably by country, with some EU members showing more equitable regional distributions.
| PISA 2022 Subject | Italy — % at Level 2 or Above | OECD Average |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 70% | 69% |
| Reading | 79% | 74% |
| Science | 76% | 76% |
Source: OECD PISA 2022 Results, December 2023
How Much Does Italy Spend on Education?
Italy allocates 3.9% of GDP to education, below the OECD average of 4.7%. The spending gap is sharpest at university level: Italy invests USD 8,992 per student annually, compared to USD 15,102 across the OECD. Research into which countries spend most on education shows Luxembourg allocating more than USD 54,000 per tertiary student — six times Italy’s figure.
Teacher pay has declined in real terms over the past decade. From 2015 to 2024, real salaries for Italian teachers fell 4.4%, while the OECD average grew 14.6%. Italian teachers also earn 33% less than other degree-holders, a gap that affects both recruitment and the age profile of the workforce. 51.8% of secondary teachers in Italy are over 50 — the 6th highest share among 37 OECD countries with available 2023 data.
| Indicator | Italy | OECD Average |
|---|---|---|
| Education spending as % of GDP | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Annual spend per primary/secondary student (USD) | 12,760 | 14,209 |
| Annual spend per university student (USD) | 8,992 | 15,102 |
| Real change in teacher salaries (2015–2024) | −4.4% | +14.6% |
Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2025; Fondazione Mondo Digitale, September 2025
What Are Italy’s University Enrollment and Completion Rates?
Early childhood enrollment sits at 95% in Italy, close to the OECD’s 96% average. At the upper end of attainment, 17% of 25–34-year-olds hold a master’s degree — fractionally above the OECD average of 16%. The share without any upper secondary qualification, however, remains elevated: 19% in 2024, down from 24% in 2019, but still well above the OECD figure of 13%.
University completion rates are a structural weak point. Only 37% of Italian students finish their degrees on time, against the OECD average of 43%. Women perform markedly better: 61% complete bachelor’s degrees within three years of the expected end date, compared to 51% of men. The effect of family background is more pronounced still — only 15% of young people whose parents hold no diploma graduate from tertiary education, versus 63% of those with at least one degree-holding parent. The overlap between economic disadvantage and educational outcomes is a pattern repeated across OECD countries.
| Indicator | Italy | OECD Average / EU Target |
|---|---|---|
| ECE enrollment (one year before primary) | 95% | 96% (OECD) |
| Adults aged 25–34 without upper secondary (2024) | 19% | 13% (OECD) |
| Adults aged 25–34 with master’s degree (2024) | 17% | 16% (OECD) |
| University on-time completion rate | 37% | 43% (OECD) |
| Early school leaving rate (aged 18–24, 2023) | 10.5% | 9% (EU target) |
Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2024 & 2025; ISTAT 2023
What Makes Italy’s Education System Distinctive?
Italy has one of the highest vocational enrollment rates in the OECD. 40% of 15–19-year-olds are in vocational upper secondary programs — nearly double the 23% OECD average. Within Italy’s vocational track, 44.4% were studying STEM fields in 2023, above the EU average of 36.3%. As technology reshapes education systems, STEM-focused vocational training is attracting growing attention from policymakers across Europe.
Instruction time is above the OECD average at both primary (917 hours annually versus 804) and lower secondary levels (990 hours versus 909). Student-to-teacher ratios are also lower than average: 11 students per teacher in primary education, against the OECD’s 14.
Italy operates a full-inclusion model for students with disabilities, placing them in mainstream schools rather than separate institutions. In 2023–2024, 311,201 students with disabilities were enrolled in mainstream public schools. Foreign students in Italian public schools numbered 869,336 in the same year.
How Does Education Affect Employment Outcomes in Italy?
The employment gap by education level in Italy is wider than the OECD average at every tier. Among 25–34-year-olds without upper secondary qualifications, the 2024 unemployment rate was 14.8%, against an OECD average of 12.9% for the same group. Tertiary graduates fared better at 6.5%, though still above the OECD’s 4.9%.
Even with a degree, Italian graduates face an unusually tight labour market. 23.4% of 25–29-year-olds are NEET — neither employed, in education, nor in training — the 7th highest rate among 38 OECD countries tracked in 2024. The figure points to a mismatch between graduate supply and what Italy’s economy, particularly outside the major northern regions, can absorb. Trends in higher education costs and graduate employment show this is not solely an Italian problem, but Italy’s gap is notably wide by OECD standards.
| Educational Attainment (aged 25–34, 2024) | Italy Unemployment Rate | OECD Average |
|---|---|---|
| Below upper secondary | 14.8% | 12.9% |
| Upper secondary / post-secondary non-tertiary | 8.9% | 6.9% |
| Tertiary | 6.5% | 4.9% |
Source: OECD Education at a Glance 2025
FAQ
Is education free in Italy?
Yes. State-funded schooling in Italy is free and compulsory between ages 6 and 16. Public universities charge fees, but amounts vary by institution and are scaled to household income.
How long is compulsory education in Italy?
Compulsory education covers 10 years, from age 6 through to the completion of the first two years of upper secondary school at age 16.
How do Italian students perform compared to the OECD average?
In PISA 2022, Italy exceeded the OECD average in reading (79% at Level 2 or above versus 74%) and matched it in science. Mathematics was marginally above benchmark. Top-end performance in all three subjects remained below OECD averages.
What is Italy’s early school leaving rate?
Italy’s early school leaving rate among 18–24-year-olds was 10.5% in 2023 — above the EU’s target of 9% but an improvement from previous years.
How does education level affect employment in Italy?
In 2024, 14.8% of 25–34-year-olds without upper secondary qualifications were unemployed, compared to 6.5% of tertiary graduates. Despite this gap, 23.4% of 25–29-year-olds remain outside employment and education entirely.
