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[INTERNATIONAL] · Canada, Ireland, Japan, South Korea, United States · 3 sources

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OECD education data reveals disparities in university graduation and employment rates

OECD university graduation rates employment rates education statistics youth unemployment

Recent data from the OECD ‘Education at a Glance 2026’ report and analysis by TEDMEM highlight significant trends in global and domestic education levels. Globally, Canada leads the 25-64 age group with a 64% university graduation rate, followed by Ireland (59%) and Japan and South Korea (58%). In terms of total number of graduates, China holds the highest count at 152.4 million, followed by India (119.2 million) and the United States (93 million).

In Turkey, the proportion of adults aged 25-64 with a university degree stands at 28%, which is below the OECD average of 43%. While educational attainment among younger generations in Turkey is rising—with the percentage of those without a high school diploma dropping from 48% to 26% between 2015 and 2025—employment trends do not mirror these gains.

Turkey reports the highest rate of youth (ages 18-24) not in education or employment at 31%, exceeding the OECD average. Additionally, Turkey has the lowest employment rates in the OECD for both high school graduates (62.2%) and university graduates (75.0%). Conversely, Turkey’s Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin, noted that the country has surpassed OECD averages regarding physical infrastructure in education.

Entities

Canada · OECD · TEDMEM · Turkish Ministry of National Education · Yusuf Tekin

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

  • [○ 1 SOURCE] 31% of Turkish youth aged 18-24 are neither in education nor employment. www.aydinlik.com.tr
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Turkey has the lowest employment rate for university graduates in the OECD at 75.0%. www.aydinlik.com.tr
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] China has the highest total number of university or higher education graduates at 152.4 million. kutahyaekspres.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Canada has the highest rate of university graduates in the 25-64 age group at 64%. kutahyaekspres.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Turkey's physical education infrastructure has surpassed OECD averages. www.bursahaber.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] The proportion of female university graduates in Turkey rose from 27% to 50% between 2015 and 2025. www.aydinlik.com.tr
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] The proportion of adults aged 25-64 in Turkey with a university degree is 28%. kutahyaekspres.com
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] The percentage of people in Turkey without a high school diploma aged 25-34 fell from 48% to 26% between 2015 and 2025. www.aydinlik.com.tr

Sources

Üniversite mezunu oranı en yüksek ülkeler belli oldu [kutahyaekspres.com]
Bakan Tekin: 'Eğitimde fiziki altyapıda OECD’yi aştık' - Bursa Haber [www.bursahaber.com]
Diplomalı işsizlikte OECD ile arayı iyice açtık [www.aydinlik.com.tr]