Introduction

The OECD’s Education at a Glance 2025 report provides key insights into Canada’s education system. With a special focus on tertiary education, the findings also touch upon access, skills, employment outcomes, financial resources, and international student mobility.

Educational Attainment and Inequality

Canada continues to show progress in reducing educational inequality, though intergenerational gaps persist.

• Tertiary attainment by family background: 74% of young adults (25–34) with tertiary-educated parents complete a tertiary qualification, compared to 38% of those whose parents did not finish upper secondary. This 36-point gap is smaller than the OECD average of 44 points.

• Decline in low attainment: The share of young adults without upper secondary education fell from 6% in 2019 to 5% in 2024, compared to an OECD average of 13%.

Education and Employment Outcomes

Higher education remains closely tied to better labour market outcomes.

• Unemployment rates (ages 25–34):

  • Without upper secondary: 14.7%

  • With upper secondary/post-secondary non-tertiary: 8.1%

  • With tertiary: 6%

• Master’s qualifications: 14% of young Canadian adults hold a master’s degree (below OECD average of 16%), but this marks growth from 11% in 2019.

• Earnings: Wage gaps between education levels are narrower in Canada than in most OECD countries, reflecting more compressed income distribution.

Skills and Literacy

• Low literacy: 20% of adults (25–64) score at or below Level 1 in literacy proficiency, below the OECD average of 27%.

• Literacy gap by education: Tertiary-educated adults score 27 points higher than those with upper secondary education (OECD average gap: 34 points).

• Trends: Literacy levels declined slightly from 2012–2015 to 2023, though Canada’s decrease was smaller than the OECD average.

Access, Participation and Completion

• Demographic shifts: The population of 0–4 year-olds fell by 3% (2013–2023) and is projected to decline another 4% by 2033.

• Programme enrolment: 53% of Canadian tertiary entrants enrol in bachelor’s programmes (OECD average: 78%).

• Gender balance: Women make up 54% of new tertiary entrants, matching the OECD average.

• Completion rates:

  • 46% complete bachelor’s programmes on time.

  • 80% complete within three years after the theoretical end date (above OECD average).

  • Women complete at higher rates (83%) than men (76%).

  • STEM completion is lower (56%) compared to health and welfare (70%).

• International students: Their share rose from 13.8% (2018) to 21.2% (2023) of tertiary enrolment.

Financial Resources

• Spending per student:

  • Primary to post-secondary non-tertiary: USD 14,381

  • Tertiary: USD 13,684 (close to OECD average)

• Education expenditure: 5.5% of GDP, above OECD average of 4.7%.

• Tuition fees: Foreign students at master’s level pay significantly more (USD 20,876 annually) than domestic students (USD 9,564).

Instruction Time

• Primary school: 921 compulsory hours annually (OECD average: 804).

• Lower secondary school: 924 compulsory hours annually (OECD average: 909).

Conclusion

Canada demonstrates strong progress in education access, completion, and international student participation. While literacy challenges and intergenerational gaps remain, Canada’s relatively equitable wage distribution, high completion rates, and global education role stand out among OECD nations.

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FAQs

Q: What percentage of young Canadians complete tertiary education if their parents are tertiary-educated?
A: 74% of 25–34 year-olds, compared to 38% for those with less-educated parents.

Q: How does Canada’s unemployment rate vary by education level?
A: 14.7% for those without upper secondary, 8.1% for upper secondary/post-secondary non-tertiary, and 6% for tertiary graduates.

Q: What share of Canada’s GDP is spent on education?
A: 5.5%, higher than the OECD average of 4.7%.

Q: How many international students are enrolled in Canada?
A: International students accounted for 21.2% of tertiary enrolment in 2023, up from 13.8% in 2018.

Q: What are the tuition fees for foreign students at the master’s level?
A: On average, USD 20,876 annually, compared to USD 9,564 for domestic students.