Key Findings

From early childhood to adult education, Education at a Glance 2019 paints an overall picture of comparative success for the New Zealand education system.

• New Zealand is ranked highest in the OECD in terms of educational spending as a percentage of total GDP.
• The actual salaries of teachers and principals in New Zealand were above the OECD average in 2018 for both primary and secondary schools¹.
• Degree completion rates for New Zealand are amongst the top five in the OECD, although New Zealanders on average take longer to complete their degree than many other OECD countries.
• Compared to other OECD countries, New Zealand has an above-average proportion of the population with a bachelor’s degree.
• Fewer adults pursue a master’s degree in New Zealand compared to other OECD countries – short post-bachelor’s courses are more common in New Zealand, which is rare among OECD countries.
• International students account for 20% of all diploma-level and above students in New Zealand and for 50% of doctoral candidates. This is much higher than the OECD averages of 6% for all diploma-level and above students and 22% for doctoral candidates.
• New Zealand has a higher employment rate than the OECD average, particularly for diploma-level and above educated young adults.
• Our Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET) rate for 18-24 year olds is below the OECD average.

Footnotes:

1. Please note these salaries are from 2018 and predate the new collective agreements negotiated in 2019; see Collective agreements on page 6 for further details.