Official nine-year compulsory-schooling rule and start age.
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Education in Austria
DATA2025
9 years compulsory · 43.7% tertiary attainment · official statistics
Austria has nine years of compulsory schooling. The obligation begins on 1 September after a child reaches age six and runs for nine school years. Primary school normally covers the first four school years, after which students move into lower-secondary routes such as Mittelschule or the lower cycle of an academic secondary school. Statistics Austria reports tertiary attainment of 43.7% in 2025 for the relevant education indicator series.
Compulsory schooling
9 years
Compulsory start
Age 6
Tertiary attainment
43.7%*
Early leavers
10.0%*
Austria Education System
| Stage / measure | Structure | Current interpretation | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary school | Volksschule, 4 years | Begins with compulsory schooling. | Usually ages 6 to 10. |
| Lower secondary | Mittelschule or AHS lower cycle | Four-year lower-secondary stage. | Compulsory years continue. |
| Upper secondary | Academic, vocational and technical routes | Multiple pathways after lower secondary. | Can include the ninth compulsory year. |
| Higher education | Universities, universities of applied sciences and other providers | Post-secondary. | Separate from compulsory schooling. |
| Adult / attainment indicators | Population-based measures | Statistics Austria and OECD publish harmonized indicators. | Not enrollment counts. |
* Reference period is shown with the figure.
Nine years of compulsory schooling
The Federal Ministry of Education states that general compulsory schooling starts on 1 September after a child completes age six and lasts nine school years. This is a duration rule, not a claim that every student follows the same school type for all nine years.
Primary and lower secondary routes
Volksschule is the standard primary stage and covers four school years. From around age 10, students can enter Mittelschule or the lower cycle of an academic secondary school. The AHS long form consists of a lower and upper cycle and normally lasts eight years in total.
Current attainment indicators
Statistics Austria reports tertiary-level attainment of 43.7% in 2025 and an early-leaver rate from education and training of 10.0%. These are population indicators and should not be substituted for school enrollment rates.
OECD context
Education at a Glance 2025 reports that Austria's share of 25 to 34 year-olds without upper secondary attainment fell from 11% in 2019 to 10% in 2024. OECD also reports 705 hours of compulsory instruction per year in primary education and 930 hours in lower secondary education for the relevant reference years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is compulsory schooling in Austria?
Nine school years.
When does compulsory schooling begin?
It begins on 1 September after the child reaches age six, subject to the detailed legal date rules.
How long is primary school?
Volksschule normally covers four school years.
What are the main lower-secondary routes?
Mittelschule and the lower cycle of an academic secondary school are two major routes.
What was Austria's tertiary attainment indicator in 2025?
Statistics Austria reports 43.7%.
What was the early-leaver indicator in 2025?
Statistics Austria reports 10.0%.
Sources and Methodology
Official lower-secondary school description.
Official AHS structure and progression.
2025 tertiary attainment and early-leaver indicators.
Current international comparison indicators and instruction-time context.