Women Are Majority of Israelis Studying in Higher Education Institutions

Jerusalem, 21 September, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics released the data on higher education in Israel in 2025. The data was taken from the OECD Education Yearbook – Education at a Glance 2025. The publication includes approximately 25 education indicators in the education systems of 37 OECD member countries. It serves as a central source of education statistics for international comparison, and aims to assist in building a more efficient and equitable education system.

Entry into higher education:

56% of those enrolling for the first time in post-secondary studies (academic or non-academic) in Israel are women, a rate slightly higher than the average in OECD countries (54%).

In Israel, the rate of women completing their undergraduate studies within the standard time is higher than the rate of men, similar to the trend in OECD countries.

26% of undergraduate students in Israel begin their studies the year after graduating from high school, a rate much lower than the OECD average (56%). The gap is most pronounced among men (14% in Israel compared to 55% in the OECD average), but is also significant among women (33% compared to 58%, respectively).

Bachelor’s degree recipients by field:

In Israel, there was a higher representation of bachelor’s degree recipients in the humanities and social sciences – 26% of all bachelor’s degree recipients compared to only 22% on average in the OECD.

In contrast, the rate of bachelor’s degree recipients in the fields of business, administration and law was lower in Israel – only 18% compared to 23% in OECD countries. In the fields of science, technology and engineering, the rates were the same (23%).