While education levels vary from country to country, there is a clear correlation between the quality of a country's educational system and its general economic status and overall well-being. In general, developing nations tend to offer their citizens a higher quality of education than the least developed nations do, and fully developed nations offer the best quality of education of all. Education is clearly a vital contributor to any country's overall health.
According to the Global Partnership for Education, education is considered to be a human right and plays a crucial role in human, social, and economic development. Education promotes gender equality, fosters peace, and increases a person's chances of having more and better life and career opportunities.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." — Nelson Mandela
The annual Best Countries Report, conducted by US News and World Report, BAV Group, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, reserves an entire section for education. The report surveys thousands of people across 78 countries, then ranks those countries based upon the survey's responses. The education portion of the survey compiles scores from three equally-weighted attributes: a well-developed public education system, would consider attending university there, and provides top-quality education. As of 2023, the top ten countries based on education rankings are:
Countries with the Best Educational Systems - 2021 Best Countries Report*
Ironically, despite the United States having the best-surveyed education system on the globe, U.S students consistently score lower in math and science than students from many other countries. According to a Business Insider report in 2018, the U.S. ranked 38th in math scores and 24th in science. Discussions about why the United States' education rankings have fallen by international standards over the past three decades frequently point out that government spending on education has failed to keep up with inflation.
It's also worthwhile to note that while the Best Countries study is certainly respectable, other studies use different methodologies or emphasize different criteria, which often leads to different results. For example, the Global Citizens for Human Rights' annual study measures ten levels of education from early childhood enrollment rates to adult literacy. Its final 2020 rankings look a bit different:
Education Rates of Children Around the World
Most findings and ranking regarding education worldwide involve adult literacy rates and levels of education completed. However, some studies look at current students and their abilities in different subjects.
One of the most-reviewed studies regarding education around the world involved 470,000 fifteen-year-old students. Each student was administered tests in math, science, and reading similar to the SAT or ACT exams (standardized tests used for college admissions in the U.S.) These exam scores were later compiled to determine each country's average score for each of the three subjects. Based on this study, China received the highest scores, followed by Korea, Finland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Australia and the Netherlands.
On the down side, there are many nations whose educational systems are considered inadequate. This could be due to internal conflict, economic problems, or underfunded programs. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's Education for All Global Monitoring Report ranks the following countries as having the world's worst educational systems:
Countries with the Lowest Adult Literacy Rates
FAQs
1- South Korea. South Korea stands out as the most educated country globally, with a literacy rate of 97.9% in 2024. Its high percentage of higher education graduates among OECD countries was reached in 2022 when approximately 70% of the population between the ages of 25 and 34 had completed their college education.
What is the ranking of education in 2024? ›
According to the 2024 rankings, the United Kingdom has the most well-developed education system in the world. The United States comes in second place, followed by Australia, the Netherlands, and Sweden. France is ranked sixth, Denmark seventh, Canada eighth, Germany ninth, and Switzerland tenth.
What country is ranked #1 in education? ›
Snapshot
| Country | Education Rank (USN 2021) |
|---|
| United States | 1 |
| United Kingdom | 2 |
| Germany | 3 |
| Canada | 4 |
6 more rowsMay 7, 2024, at 12:01 a.m. A young woman walks on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa, Florida. For the second year in a row, Florida is the top state for education in U.S. News & World Report's Best States rankings. The debate around education in Florida is among the most contentious in America.
Which country has the most perfect education system? ›
1. United States of America. The United States has the best education system in the world. A significant number of international students, totalling 1,057,000, have been enrolled in universities in the USA last year.
Which country is the most advanced in education? ›
Most Educated Countries Across the World
- South Korea. South Korea distinguishes itself as the preeminent hub of global education, flaunting an astounding tertiary education rate of 69.29%. ...
- Canada. ...
- Japan. ...
- Luxembourg. ...
- Ireland. ...
- Russia. ...
- Lithuania. ...
- United Kingdom.
For example, the US education ranking comes in 13th place, with a score of 0.883, and falls behind countries like Germany and New Zealand, in 2nd and 3rd place respectively. Developing and underdeveloped countries, mainly in African and South Asian regions, are at the lower end of the rankings.
Where does the US rank in math? ›
It's now sixth among the 81 countries in reading (from eighth in 2018), 10th in science (from 11th) and 26th in math (from 29th), primarily because other countries that once outperformed the United States — including France, Portugal, Iceland and Norway — posted scores that were statistically tied, Carr said.
What is the hardest education system in the world? ›
Singapore is ranked as having the most challenging education system, although it may not necessarily be the best system. Singapore epitomises a system where academic excellence is of utmost importance.
What country has the lowest level of education? ›
Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone ranks among the least educated countries globally. In 2022, 48.6% of adults aged 15 and above had the capability to read and write in the country.
Iceland is the safest country in the world, according to the latest Global Peace Index (GPI) ranking of 2023. The measurements target societal safety and security, domestic and international conflict, and militarization through 23 specific indicators.
What is the US ranked in the world? ›
The U.S. is overall the No. 5 best country in the world, according to the 2023 Best Countries rankings, which were based on a survey of more than 17,000 people and gathered perceptions about 87 nations. That's down just one spot from last year, when it was the No. 4 Best Country in the U.S. News rankings.
What state is lowest in education? ›
On the other end of the spectrum, analysts concluded that West Virginia is the least educated state, with the worst educational attainment rank and the sixth-worst educational quality rank in the U.S. 1.
Where does Florida rank in education? ›
The publication's Best State ranking is based on a combination of strong performances in higher education and K-12 metrics. “Under Governor DeSantis' leadership, Florida again ranks number one in education,” said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr.
What is California ranked in education? ›
Most Educated States
| Overall Rank | State | Quality of Education |
|---|
| 28 | California | 8 |
| 29 | Alaska | 50 |
| 30 | Pennsylvania | 36 |
| 31 | Iowa | 29 |
46 more rowsOur animation represents the most up-to-date data the United Nations has available (as of August, 2022). Australia is the country with the highest expected years of schooling at 22, and Eritrea and South Sudan have the lowest expected years of schooling at 5.
What country has the hardest education system? ›
South Korea, Finland, America and Russia have some of the world's toughest education systems, according to a new guide. Singapore, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Africa complete the top 10 list of countries with difficult education systems published by mastersdegree.net, a Kosovo-based education platform.
What is the smartest school in the world? ›
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Rank 1. Stanford University: Rank 5. Harvard University: Rank 4. Caltech: Rank 15.
