Governments are increasingly looking to international comparisons of education opportunities and outcomes as they develop policies to enhance individuals’ social and economic prospects, provide incentives for greater efficiency in schooling, and help to mobilise resources to meet rising demands. The OECD Directorate for Education and Skills contributes to these efforts by developing and analysing the quantitative, internationally comparable indicators that it publishes annually in Education at a Glance. Together with OECD country policy reviews, these indicators can be used to assist governments in building more effective and equitable education systems.

Vocational education and training (VET) is vital. It offers an alternative to academic education, equips learners with practice-oriented and employability skills, eases the school-to-work transition, and meets economies’ demand for skilled workers.

Education at a Glance 2023: OECD Indicators offers a rich, comparable and up-to-date array of indicators that reflect a consensus among professionals on how to measure the current state of education internationally. The indicators provide information on the human and financial resources invested in education, how education and learning systems operate and evolve, and the returns to investments in education. They are organised thematically, each accompanied by information on the policy context and interpretation of the data.

Education at a Glance is the definitive guide to the state of education around the world. It analyses all levels of education and provides data on topics such as attainment, enrolment, finance and the organisation of education systems. The 2023 edition focuses on vocational education and training (VET) - a vital part of a country’s education system that offers students an alternative to academic-focused education. Readers interested in a summary of the main findings on VET are referred to the accompanying Spotlight on VET (OECD, 2023).

Russia’s large-scale war of aggression against Ukraine has forced the displacement of millions of Ukrainians across the world, many of whom have been received by OECD countries. As of June 2023, the number of Ukrainian refugees across the OECD stands at approximately 4.7 million, with around 3.7 million registered in European Union (EU) OECD countries. In absolute terms, Germany, Poland, and the United States accommodate the largest number of Ukrainian refugees, while Estonia, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania have received the highest proportion of refugees relative to their population (OECD, forthcoming[1]). An estimated 40% of these refugees are children, whose futures and education have been disrupted.