TOML
National Education Systems - TOML
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
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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
[[items]]
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 = ""
[[items]]
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 = ""