Israel Spends Less Per Student Than OECD Average, Especially in Early Childhood
Translated & summarized from Davar by baba
Israel's national education spending was 7.1% of GDP in 2023, higher than the OECD average of 5.3%. Despite this, per-student spending in Israel is lower than the OECD average, particularly for children aged 0-5, due to a younger population. Israel spent $7,104 per student in early childhood education compared to the OECD average of $13,904.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel's national education spending was 7.1% of GDP in 2023, exceeding the OECD average of 5.3%.
- Per-student spending in Israel is lower than the OECD average across most age groups.
- The largest spending gap is in early childhood education (ages 0-5), with Israel spending $7,104 per student versus the OECD average of $13,904.
- Israel's younger population, with 43% aged 0-24, contributes to lower per-student expenditure.
- In primary education, Israel's per-student spending slightly exceeds the OECD average.
- Upper secondary education spending per student in Israel is below the OECD average.
Israel's national expenditure on education in 2023 represented a higher percentage of its GDP compared to the OECD average, reaching 7.1% versus 5.3%. However, this did not translate into higher per-student spending, according to data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics. The disparity is attributed to Israel's younger population, with 43% of residents aged 0-24 in 2023, compared to the OECD average of 28.6%.
When measured in purchasing power parity dollars, Israel spends less per student than the OECD average across most age groups. The most significant gap is in early childhood education (ages 0-5), where Israel spent $7,104 per student, less than half the OECD average of $13,904.
In upper secondary education (middle and high school), Israel invested an average of $12,739 per student, slightly below the OECD average of $14,994. Conversely, in primary education, Israel's spending per student was slightly above the average, at $13,945 compared to the OECD's $13,639.
The data is drawn from the OECD's annual "Education at a Glance" report, which also covers resource allocation, staffing, accessibility, and learning conditions.
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