12 answers, 5 from Italy's own official bodies, with a link to each figure.
Italian 15-year-olds scored in line with the OECD average in science in PISA 2025, according to INVALSI's summary of Italy's PISA 2025 results. 22% of Italian students fell below the basic level, against 25% across the OECD, while 4% reached the top levels, against 7%.
INVALSI reports that Italy's average science score was broadly stable between 2022 and 2025, while many OECD countries fell. Results were highest in the North-West and North-East and in licei. More material is on INVALSI's PISA 2025 page.
Italian students scored 490 points in computational problem solving in PISA 2025, against an international average of 500, according to INVALSI's summary of Italy's PISA 2025 results.
The area was assessed in PISA for the first time. INVALSI reports that Italian students were in line with the OECD average in modelling, while the main gap, 17 points, was in programming. In environmental science Italy scored 482 points against an OECD average of 480.
8.2% of 18 to 24-year-olds in Italy were early leavers from education and training in 2025, according to Istat's 2026 SDGs report. The rate is below the European target of 9.0% set for 2030.
Early leavers are young people who have at most a lower secondary qualification and are not in education or training. The rate varies by region; Istat notes a larger gap in Sicily on education goals overall.
54.3% of people aged 16 to 74 in Italy had at least basic digital skills in 2025, according to Istat's 2026 SDGs report. That was below the EU27 average of 60.4% but higher than in 2023.
The indicator follows the EU's common definition, which looks at several areas of digital activity such as finding information and communicating online. In the same report, Istat notes that performance in English continued to improve.
Public spending on education in Italy was 4.1% of GDP in 2022, according to the World Bank's government expenditure on education indicator, which draws on UNESCO data. It was 4.4% in 2020.
The indicator includes spending by central, regional and local governments on all levels of education. The 2026 budget law adds a schoolbook bonus and a contribution of up to €1,500 for some families choosing private schools, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The figures below use one definition for every country, so they can differ from national figures.
95.7%: that is net primary school enrolment in Italy for 2017, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 95.7%, and Italy placed 23rd highest of 45. Worldwide: 49th of 134.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross secondary school enrolment in Italy was 100.7% in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 99.2% (2005) to 101.8% (2020). Europe & Central Asia median: 102.3%; Italy is 26th highest of 48. Worldwide: 48th of 138.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, gross tertiary enrolment in Italy was 75.9% in 2023. No year since 2005 has been higher. Europe & Central Asia median: 75.9%; Italy is 25th highest of 49. World rank, highest first: 34th of 120.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2019, is 99.3%. In 2011 the figure was 98.8%. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 99.8%, and Italy placed 7th highest of 8. World rank, highest first: 7th of 55.
According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, government spending on education in Italy was 4.1% of GDP in 2022. Since 2005 it has ranged from 3.8% of GDP (2016) to 4.5% of GDP (2006). Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 4.5% of GDP, and Italy placed 29th highest of 45. World rank, highest first: 78th of 155.
The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2017, is 11. Its high point since 2005 was 2014, at 12; its low point was 2007, at 10. It is 28th highest of 39 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 13. World rank, highest first: 113th of 130.
In 2023, the primary completion rate in Italy was 97.4%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. The peak was 105.5% in 2008 and the low 97.2% in 2022. Europe & Central Asia median: 97.9%; Italy is 25th highest of 42. World rank, highest first: 55th of 131.
Read on 14 October 2026. Definitions · Report an error