EDUCATION INDICATORS: An International Perspective
Notes on Figures and Tables for Indicator 11
Australia
Estimates are based on self-reported information about the number of years of schooling and the highest diploma or degree obtained.
The data do not refer to the age groups 25 to 64 (or 55-64 in Indicator 12) but to the groups 25-69 (or 55-69) years of age.
The gender differences in educational attainment shown in Indicator AA7 can partly be explained as a result of the method used to allocate individuals to levels of education. In the past, persons who transferred from lower secondary education to apprenticeship programs (mostly male) were classified at the upper secondary level, whereas those who transferred directly to nurse and teacher education (mostly female) were classified at the nonuniversity higher education level. In the new classification system nurse and teacher education are considered as university education. Because a wide age band is examined in 11, 12, and 13, it will take a number of years before the impact of the new classification system is fully reflected in the data.
Austria
Classifications for the upper secondary to graduate school levels of education are based on the highest diploma received; whereas those to the preprimary to lower secondary levels refer to the number of years of schooling obtained. Because of the data structure, nonuniversity higher education graduates are reported at the upper secondary level.
Belgium
Estimates are based on self-reported information about the highest diploma or degree obtained. The data are collected by means of a labor force survey.
Canada
Classifications for the primary to upper secondary school levels is based on the average number of years of schooling; for the higher education levels, it is based on diplomas and degrees actually obtained.
Czechoslovakia
Data refer to the population 25 years of age and over. For the age group 55-64 years in Indicator 12, the data actually refer to the group aged 55 years and over.
Nonuniversity higher education is included in the upper secondary level. One percent or less of the total is not classified by level. Missing data were proportionally redistributed.
Finland
Data are derived from the Register of Completed Education and Degrees. The register contains information about educational qualifications at the upper secondary to graduate school levels, as attained within the regular school and university system. Adult education and apprenticeship programs are excluded.
France
Classification is based on diplomas for all levels except the preprimary and primary levels. The upper secondary level is very complex as it refers to general, vocational, and professional education. The professional programs in the upper secondary level lead to three separate diplomas. One percent or less of the total is not classified by level. Missing data were proportionally redistributed.
Germany
The survey data refer to the populations living in the territory of the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany) as well as in the former territory of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). Only obtained diplomas or degrees are considered in classifying persons in the upper secondary through graduate school levels. The data include 11 percent nonresponse, which was proportionally redistributed across the education levels.
Ireland
Classification to level of education is made by level of certificate. The exception is the preprimary and primary levels, where the number of years of schooling is used. A significant number of people who have completed apprenticeship programs equivalent to upper secondary education are classified at the lower secondary level. Postsecondary vocational courses are classified at the upper secondary level, while postsecondary academic programs are classified as nonuniversity higher education. The proportion of men with upper secondary education is likely to be underestimated due to the classification of a predominantly male population with apprenticeship qualifications at the lower secondary level. One percent or less of the total is not classified by level. Missing data were proportionally redistributed.
Netherlands
Classification is based on self-reported information, collected by means of a labor force survey, concerning the highest diploma or degree obtained in regular as well as in adult education.
Senior secondary vocational education is totally classified at the upper secondary level. A new scheme currently under development proposes to classify the 3- and 4-year programs Middlebaar Berueps Orderwijs (MBO) as nonuniversity higher education.
New Zealand
The data do not refer to the age group 45-54 in Indicator 12, but to the group 45-64 years of age. One percent or less of the total is not classified by level. Missing data were proportionally redistributed.
Norway
One percent or less of the total is not classified by level. Missing data were proportionally redistributed.
Portugal
One percent or less of the total is not classified by level. Missing data were proportionally redistributed.
Sweden
The data are based on the national register of population and educational attainment, which contains information about issued certificates at the higher education levels. Around 20 percent of the classifications at the nonuniversity level and 10 percent at the university and graduate school levels are based on self-reported information. Until 1968, persons who had passed an examination of a general program at the upper secondary level were awarded a diploma. The classification of persons educated at a later date is not based on diplomas but on the completion of the lower or upper secondary levels.
One percent or less of the total is not classified by level. Missing data were proportionally redistributed.
Switzerland
One percent or less of the total is not classified by level. Missing data were proportionally redistributed.
Turkey
Classification is based on the latest diploma or degree obtained. The preprimary level is excluded.
United Kingdom
Data are based on a labor force survey which does not include women older than 60 years of age because the female retirement age is 60. Therefore, the number of women 60-64 years of age and their educational attainment is estimated.
The upper secondary level (defined as beginning at about 14-15 years of age and lasting about three years) is interpreted for the United Kingdom as covering all persons with O level or A level examination passes, or their equivalent. Most vocational qualifications are included in the upper secondary level.
One percent or less of the total is not classified by level. Missing data were proportionally redistributed.
United States
Classification to levels of education is derived from the number of years of schooling completed. Preprimary-primary is 8 or fewer years; lower secondary is between 9 and 11 years; upper secondary is between 12 and 13 years; nonuniversity higher education is between 14 and 15 years; and higher education is 16 or more years schooling completed.
Supplemental Table 2: Percentage of men and women in the total population 25-64 years of age that has completed a certain highest level of education, by education level, gender, and country: 1992
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Higher
education
Preprimary_ Lower Upper (non- Higher
primary secondary secondary university) education
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Country M F M F M F M F M F
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-7 /1
Canada 11 11 18 18 27 33 27 26 17 13
France 24 28 20 24 40 33 5 6 11 9
Germany /2 /2 11 25 61 60 13 7 15 8
Italy 33 41 37 32 23 21 /2 /2 7 5
United-
Kingdom /2 /2 28 41 54 44 5 8 12 7
United States 7 6 10 10 52 56 6 7 26 21
Other
Autralia /3 /2 /2 37 57 39 21 11 11 13 11
Austria /2 /2 23 43 69 52 /2 /2 12 6
Belgium 25 31 28 25 26 24 9 14 12 7
Czechos-
lovakia /4 /2 /2 19 35 69 57 /2 /2 12 8
Denmark /2 /2 37 46 44 35 5 7 14 13
Finland /2 /2 40 40 40 43 8 8 12 8
Ireland 34 30 27 25 21 29 8 9 10 7
Netherlands 14 19 22 29 40 34 /2 /2 24 18
New Zealand 29 35 9 14 41 25 8 17 14 9
Norway /2 /2 20 22 53 55 12 13 15 10
Portugal /4 76 79 9 8 8 7 1 2 5 5
Spain 58 64 16 16 11 9 4 2 11 9
Sweden /2 /2 32 29 45 46 11 14 12 11
Switzerland /2 /2 13 25 57 63 19 7 11 5
Turkey 73 87 9 4 12 6 /2 /2 7 3
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Data for Japan not available.
2/ Data included in another category.
3/ 1993 data.
4/ 1991 data.
SOURCE: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Center for Educational Research and Innovation, Education Statistics, 1985-1992.
Supplemental Table 3: Percentage of men and women in the total population 25-34 years of age having completed specific levels of education, by highest education level, gender, and country: 1991
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Higher
education
Preprimary- Lower Upper (non- Higher
primary secondary secondary university) education
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Country M F M F M F M F M F
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-7 /1
Canada 4 4 17 14 33 36 30 30 16 16
France /2 /2 32 34 48 43 8 10 12 12
Germany /2 /2 9 14 69 68 9 8 13 11
Italy 8 10 51 47 35 37 /2 /2 7 7
United-
Kingdom /2 /2 18 20 61 60 7 9 14 11
United States 4 4 10 9 57 56 6 8 23 23
Other
Australia /3 /2 /2 35 57 39 21 11 11 13 11
Autria /2 /2 15 27 77 64 /2 /2 7 8
Belgium 13 14 30 24 33 33 12 20 13 10
Czechos-
lovakia /4 X X 11 16 75 72 X X 14 12
Denmark /2 /2 32 34 50 45 5 7 13 14
Finland /2 /2 20 16 60 63 8 11 12 10
Ireland 14 14 36 25 30 40 11 12 10 10
Netherlands 9 10 22 23 44 44 /2 /2 24 23
New Zealand 24 27 12 18 43 30 7 15 14 11
Norway 2 1 12 9 59 60 14 17 13 12
Portugal /4 67 64 14 14 12 12 1 3 6 8
Spain 28 29 31 30 19 18 7 5 15 18
Sweden /2 /2 19 15 57 59 15 17 9 9
Switzerland /2 /2 10 15 60 72 18 7 11 6
Turkey 61 79 12 6 19 11 /2 /2 7 4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ No data available for Japan.
2/ Data included in another category.
3/ 1993 data.
4/ 1991 data.
SOURCE: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Center for Educational Research and Innovation, Education Statistics, 1985-1992.
