Structured Lists Directory

INI

National Education Systems - INI

National education systems take diverse forms reflecting each country's history, culture, and socio-economic conditions. This dataset systematically organizes compulsory education duration (years, starting age, ending age) and types of higher education institutions (universities, junior colleges, vocational schools, colleges of technology, etc.) across countries worldwide. Focusing primarily on OECD countries, it compares education systems of developed and emerging nations, showing variations in compulsory education length and diversity of higher education institutions. This serves as foundational data useful for educational policy development, international comparative research, and study abroad destination selection.

education system compulsory education higher education international comparison OECD school system study abroad 
[item.japan]
code=JP
slug=japan
name=Japan
description=6-3-3-4 school system. 9 years of compulsory education.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=9
compulsoryEducation_endAge=15
compulsoryEducation_startAge=6
compulsoryEducation_structure=6-3
higherEducation_juniorCollege=true
higherEducation_polytechnic=true
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.united-states]
code=US
slug=united-states
name=United States
description=Varies by state. K-12 education is common.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=12
compulsoryEducation_endAge=18
compulsoryEducation_startAge=5
compulsoryEducation_structure=K-12
higherEducation_juniorCollege=true
higherEducation_polytechnic=false
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=州によって異なる
higherEducation_communityCollege=true
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=true
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.united-kingdom]
code=GB
slug=united-kingdom
name=United Kingdom
description=England: compulsory education from age 5 to 16. Education/training continues until age 18.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=13
compulsoryEducation_endAge=18
compulsoryEducation_startAge=5
compulsoryEducation_structure=6-5-2
higherEducation_juniorCollege=false
higherEducation_polytechnic=false
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=true
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.france]
code=FR
slug=france
name=France
description=One of the world's longest compulsory education at 13 years, starting at age 3.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=13
compulsoryEducation_endAge=16
compulsoryEducation_startAge=3
compulsoryEducation_structure=3-5-4-3
higherEducation_juniorCollege=false
higherEducation_polytechnic=true
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=true
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.germany]
code=DE
slug=germany
name=Germany
description=9 or 10 years of compulsory education by state. Vocational school attendance required.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=10
compulsoryEducation_endAge=16
compulsoryEducation_startAge=6
compulsoryEducation_structure=4-6
higherEducation_juniorCollege=false
higherEducation_polytechnic=true
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=州による。職業学校就学義務あり
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=true
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.netherlands]
code=NL
slug=netherlands
name=Netherlands
description=Up to 13 years of compulsory education until basic qualification is obtained.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=13
compulsoryEducation_endAge=18
compulsoryEducation_startAge=5
compulsoryEducation_structure=8-4-4
higherEducation_juniorCollege=false
higherEducation_polytechnic=true
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=基礎資格取得まで
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=true
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.finland]
code=FI
slug=finland
name=Finland
description=9 years of basic education. Free from pre-school through graduate school.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=9
compulsoryEducation_endAge=16
compulsoryEducation_startAge=7
compulsoryEducation_structure=6-3
higherEducation_juniorCollege=false
higherEducation_polytechnic=true
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=true
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.south-korea]
code=KR
slug=south-korea
name=South Korea
description=Similar to Japan's 6-3-3-4 system. 9 years of compulsory education.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=9
compulsoryEducation_endAge=15
compulsoryEducation_startAge=6
compulsoryEducation_structure=6-3-3
higherEducation_juniorCollege=true
higherEducation_polytechnic=true
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.china]
code=CN
slug=china
name=China
description=9 years of compulsory education. 6-3-3 system is common.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=9
compulsoryEducation_endAge=15
compulsoryEducation_startAge=6
compulsoryEducation_structure=6-3-3
higherEducation_juniorCollege=true
higherEducation_polytechnic=true
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.russia]
code=RU
slug=russia
name=Russia
description=11 years of compulsory education. Three stages: primary, basic, and secondary.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=11
compulsoryEducation_endAge=18
compulsoryEducation_startAge=7
compulsoryEducation_structure=4-5-2
higherEducation_juniorCollege=false
higherEducation_polytechnic=true
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.australia]
code=AU
slug=australia
name=Australia
description=Varies by state, but typically 11 years of compulsory education.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=11
compulsoryEducation_endAge=17
compulsoryEducation_startAge=5
compulsoryEducation_structure=7-4-2
higherEducation_juniorCollege=false
higherEducation_polytechnic=false
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=州による
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=
higherEducation_tafe=true
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.canada]
code=CA
slug=canada
name=Canada
description=Varies by province, but typically 12 years.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=12
compulsoryEducation_endAge=18
compulsoryEducation_startAge=6
compulsoryEducation_structure=6-3-3
higherEducation_juniorCollege=true
higherEducation_polytechnic=true
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=州による。ケベックは11年
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=true
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.sweden]
code=SE
slug=sweden
name=Sweden
description=9 years of compulsory education from age 7 to 16.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=9
compulsoryEducation_endAge=16
compulsoryEducation_startAge=7
compulsoryEducation_structure=9
higherEducation_juniorCollege=false
higherEducation_polytechnic=false
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=true
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.italy]
code=IT
slug=italy
name=Italy
description=10 years of compulsory education from age 6 to 16.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=10
compulsoryEducation_endAge=16
compulsoryEducation_startAge=6
compulsoryEducation_structure=5-3-2
higherEducation_juniorCollege=false
higherEducation_polytechnic=true
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.spain]
code=ES
slug=spain
name=Spain
description=10 years of compulsory education from age 6 to 16.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=10
compulsoryEducation_endAge=16
compulsoryEducation_startAge=6
compulsoryEducation_structure=6-4
higherEducation_juniorCollege=false
higherEducation_polytechnic=true
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.brazil]
code=BR
slug=brazil
name=Brazil
description=14 years of compulsory education from age 4 to 17.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=14
compulsoryEducation_endAge=17
compulsoryEducation_startAge=4
compulsoryEducation_structure=2-9-3
higherEducation_juniorCollege=false
higherEducation_polytechnic=true
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.india]
code=IN
slug=india
name=India
description=8 years of compulsory education from age 6 to 14.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=8
compulsoryEducation_endAge=14
compulsoryEducation_startAge=6
compulsoryEducation_structure=5-3
higherEducation_juniorCollege=true
higherEducation_polytechnic=true
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=true

[item.singapore]
code=SG
slug=singapore
name=Singapore
description=6 years of compulsory education covering only primary school.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=6
compulsoryEducation_endAge=12
compulsoryEducation_startAge=6
compulsoryEducation_structure=6
higherEducation_juniorCollege=true
higherEducation_polytechnic=true
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=
higherEducation_communityCollege=
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=

[item.indonesia]
code=ID
slug=indonesia
name=Indonesia
description=12 years of compulsory education from age 7 to 18.
compulsoryEducation_durationYears=12
compulsoryEducation_endAge=18
compulsoryEducation_startAge=7
compulsoryEducation_structure=6-3-3
higherEducation_juniorCollege=true
higherEducation_polytechnic=true
higherEducation_university=true
higherEducation_vocationalCollege=true
compulsoryEducation_note=
higherEducation_communityCollege=true
higherEducation_liberalArtsCollege=
higherEducation_furtherEducationCollege=
higherEducation_grandeEcole=
higherEducation_universityOfAppliedSciences=
higherEducation_tafe=
higherEducation_college=
higherEducation_universityCollege=
higherEducation_instituteOfTechnology=