Education and science

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Education Statistics 2021

The pocket statistics 2021 presents a selection of the most up-to-date key figures from the various education statistics on pupils and students, diplomas, staff and finances.

In the academic year 2020/21, there were 10 300 schools in Switzerland, of which 1 400 were private. 59% of schools were located in urban communes, accounting for 63% of the population and 78% of pupils.

The main figures

Description of the infografic

People in education 2020/21, in thousands
• Compulsory education: 976,1
• Upper secondary level: 364,0
• Professional education: 62,0
• Higher education institutions 2021/22: 276,6

Teaching staff 2019/20, and higher education staff, in thousands
• Compulsory education: 100,9
• Higher education institutions: 97,9
• Upper secondary level: 34,5
• Colleges of higher education: 7,3

Diplomas 2020, in thousands
• Upper secondary level
    Vocational education and training: 70,2
    General education: 43,4
• Tertiary level
    Professional education: 25,7
    Higher education institutions
        -Bachelor: 32,6
          -Master: 19,6
          -Doctorate: 4,4

Educational expenditure 2018
• Educational public expenditure: CHF 38,9 bn
        Share of the gross domestic product: 5,4%

Research and development (R&D) 2019
• Expenditure on R&D, in Switzerland: 23 bn
         of which business enterprises: 68%
• R&D personnel in the business entreprises (full-time equivalents): 51 623

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