From Afghanistan's stark 37.3% adult literacy rate to the near-universal schooling found in nations like Finland, the global education landscape is a story of profound disparity and remarkable achievement.
Key Takeaways
- The adult literacy rate (ages 15 and above) in Afghanistan was 37.3% in 2020
- Albania's youth literacy rate (ages 15-24) reached 99.8% in 2019
- Algeria reported an adult literacy rate of 81.4% for both sexes in 2020
- Canada's adult literacy rate is 99% as per 2021 CIA estimates
- Cape Verde achieved 90.1% primary net enrollment rate in 2019
- Central African Republic's primary gross enrollment ratio was 120.5% in 2020
- Finland's primary net enrollment was virtually 100% in 2019
- France recorded 99.8% lower secondary enrollment rate in 2020
- Gabon's secondary gross enrollment ratio was 91.2% in 2019
- Jamaica had 87.2% secondary net enrollment in 2019
- Japan recorded 63.2% tertiary gross enrollment ratio in 2020
- Jordan achieved 39.8% tertiary enrollment rate in 2019
- Monaco reported high tertiary enrollment near 60% in 2019 estimates
- Montenegro achieved 66.5% tertiary gross enrollment in 2019
- Finland scored 523 in PISA 2022 reading, highest in Europe
Global literacy and test scores vary widely between wealthy and developing nations.
Educational Outcomes
1Monaco reported high tertiary enrollment near 60% in 2019 estimates
Verified2Montenegro achieved 66.5% tertiary gross enrollment in 2019
Verified3Finland scored 523 in PISA 2022 reading, highest in Europe
Verified4Singapore topped PISA 2022 math with 575 points
Directional5Estonia ranked 1st in Europe for PISA 2022 science with 526
Single source6Japan achieved 536 in PISA 2022 reading assessment
Verified7Canada scored 507 average across PISA 2022 subjects
Verified8Ireland's PISA 2022 math score was 492
Verified9Poland improved to 489 in PISA 2022 reading
Directional10South Korea scored 527 in PISA 2022 science
Single source11New Zealand had 479 in PISA 2022 math
Verified12Australia scored 498 average in PISA 2022
Verified13United Kingdom achieved 494 in PISA 2022 reading
Verified14United States scored 465 in PISA 2022 math
Directional15Germany had 475 in PISA 2022 reading
Single source16France scored 474 in PISA 2022 math
Verified17Netherlands achieved 493 in PISA 2022 science
Verified18Switzerland scored 508 in PISA 2022 reading
Verified19Sweden had 482 in PISA 2022 math
Directional20Norway scored 477 average in PISA 2022 subjects
Single source21Denmark achieved 489 in PISA 2022 reading
Verified22Belgium scored 486 in PISA 2022 math
Verified23Austria had 466 in PISA 2022 science
Verified24Hungary scored 472 in PISA 2022 reading
Directional25Czech Republic achieved 465 in PISA 2022 math
Single source26Slovakia had 436 in PISA 2022 science
Verified27Lithuania scored 475 in PISA 2022 reading
Verified28Latvia achieved 474 in PISA 2022 math
VerifiedEducational Outcomes Interpretation
It seems Europe's educational landscape is a delightful tapestry of overachievers, steady climbers, and the occasional reminder that high enrollment doesn't always guarantee top marks, with Singapore and East Asia coolly dominating from the math and science wings.
Literacy Rates
1The adult literacy rate (ages 15 and above) in Afghanistan was 37.3% in 2020
Verified2Albania's youth literacy rate (ages 15-24) reached 99.8% in 2019
Verified3Algeria reported an adult literacy rate of 81.4% for both sexes in 2020
Verified4Andorra's adult literacy rate is estimated at 100% as of 2018
Directional5Angola's male adult literacy rate stood at 82.8% in 2019
Single source6Antigua and Barbuda achieved a 99% adult literacy rate in 2011
Verified7Argentina's adult literacy rate was 99.0% in 2018
Verified8Armenia had a youth literacy rate of 99.9% in 2019
Verified9Australia's adult literacy rate is approximately 99% as per 2021 estimates
Directional10Austria recorded an adult literacy rate of 98% in 2019
Single source11Azerbaijan's female adult literacy rate was 99.8% in 2019
Verified12Bahamas' adult literacy rate reached 95.6% in 2010
Verified13Bahrain's adult literacy rate for males was 97.5% in 2020
Verified14Bangladesh improved its adult literacy rate to 76.9% in 2020
Directional15Barbados' literacy rate among adults is 99.7% as of 2014
Single source16Belarus achieved 99.9% adult literacy rate in 2019
Verified17Belgium's adult literacy rate is estimated at 99% in 2021
Verified18Belize reported 81.3% female adult literacy in 2010
Verified19Benin's adult literacy rate was 42.4% in 2020
Directional20Bhutan's male literacy rate reached 77.2% in 2020
Single source21Bolivia's youth literacy rate (15-24) was 99.7% in 2019
Verified22Bosnia and Herzegovina had 98.1% adult literacy in 2013
Verified23Botswana's adult literacy rate stood at 88.6% in 2019
Verified24Brazil recorded 93.2% adult literacy rate in 2019
Directional25Brunei Darussalam's literacy rate is 97.5% for adults in 2020
Single source26Bulgaria achieved 98.4% adult literacy in 2018
Verified27Burkina Faso's adult literacy rate was 33.1% in 2020
Verified28Burundi reported 68.4% male adult literacy in 2019
Verified29Cambodia's adult literacy rate reached 83.9% in 2020
Directional30Cameroon's female adult literacy was 70.9% in 2018
Single sourceLiteracy Rates Interpretation
The global literacy map paints a starkly uneven picture, where in some nations reading a bedtime story is a universal childhood ritual while in others it remains a privilege out of reach for most adults.
Primary Enrollment
1Canada's adult literacy rate is 99% as per 2021 CIA estimates
Verified2Cape Verde achieved 90.1% primary net enrollment rate in 2019
Verified3Central African Republic's primary gross enrollment ratio was 120.5% in 2020
Verified4Chad had a primary net enrollment rate of 70.4% for girls in 2019
Directional5Chile's primary completion rate reached 99.8% in 2020
Single source6China's primary net enrollment rate was 99.9% in 2019
Verified7Colombia reported 94.2% primary gross enrollment in 2020
Verified8Comoros' primary net enrollment rate stood at 85.6% in 2018
Verified9Congo (Brazzaville) had 95.3% primary enrollment for boys in 2019
Directional10Congo (Kinshasa) achieved 66.7% primary net enrollment in 2020
Single source11Costa Rica's primary completion rate was 98.5% in 2019
Verified12Croatia recorded 97.1% primary net enrollment rate in 2019
Verified13Cuba had near 100% primary gross enrollment ratio in 2020
Verified14Cyprus' primary enrollment rate for females was 98.9% in 2019
Directional15Czech Republic achieved 99.5% primary net enrollment in 2019
Single source16Denmark's primary completion rate reached 99.9% in 2020
Verified17Djibouti reported 68.2% primary net enrollment in 2019
Verified18Dominica's primary gross enrollment was 101.4% in 2015
Verified19Dominican Republic had 95.6% primary completion rate in 2020
Directional20Ecuador achieved 96.8% primary net enrollment in 2019
Single source21Egypt's primary enrollment ratio was 107.5% gross in 2020
Verified22El Salvador reported 92.3% primary completion in 2019
Verified23Equatorial Guinea had 93.4% primary gross enrollment in 2019
Verified24Eritrea's primary net enrollment rate was 58.6% in 2019
Directional25Estonia achieved 99.2% primary enrollment in 2020
Single source26Eswatini (Swaziland) reported 85.7% primary net enrollment in 2019
Verified27Ethiopia's primary gross enrollment ratio reached 124.3% in 2020
Verified28Fiji had 98.5% primary completion rate in 2019
VerifiedPrimary Enrollment Interpretation
While countries like Canada and Chile can proudly boast literacy and completion rates nearing perfection, this global report card reveals an uneven classroom where some nations, such as Ethiopia, are bursting at the seams with students while others, like Eritrea and Chad, are still struggling to get many of their children, especially girls, through the front door.
Secondary Enrollment
1Finland's primary net enrollment was virtually 100% in 2019
Verified2France recorded 99.8% lower secondary enrollment rate in 2020
Verified3Gabon's secondary gross enrollment ratio was 91.2% in 2019
Verified4Gambia had 47.8% secondary net enrollment for girls in 2020
Directional5Georgia achieved 99.1% lower secondary completion in 2019
Single source6Germany's upper secondary enrollment rate was 95.4% in 2020
Verified7Ghana reported 79.5% secondary gross enrollment in 2020
Verified8Greece had 92.3% lower secondary net enrollment in 2019
Verified9Grenada's secondary enrollment rate stood at 98.7% in 2018
Directional10Guatemala achieved 65.4% secondary gross enrollment in 2020
Single source11Guinea's lower secondary completion rate was 38.2% in 2019
Verified12Guinea-Bissau reported 42.1% secondary enrollment in 2019
Verified13Guyana had 88.5% secondary net enrollment in 2020
Verified14Haiti’s secondary gross enrollment ratio was 88.4% in 2019
Directional15Honduras achieved 74.2% lower secondary enrollment in 2020
Single source16Hungary recorded 99.6% secondary completion rate in 2019
Verified17Iceland's upper secondary enrollment was 98.2% in 2020
Verified18India had 75.6% secondary gross enrollment ratio in 2020
Verified19Indonesia reported 89.4% lower secondary net enrollment in 2019
Directional20Iran achieved 84.7% secondary enrollment in 2020
Single source21Iraq's secondary gross enrollment was 85.2% in 2019
Verified22Ireland had 95.8% upper secondary attainment rate in 2020
Verified23Israel reported 94.6% secondary completion in 2019
Verified24Italy's lower secondary enrollment rate was 99.1% in 2020
Directional25Ivory Coast achieved 51.3% secondary gross enrollment in 2020
Single sourceSecondary Enrollment Interpretation
The world's report card shows an honors class of near-universal access in many nations, sitting uncomfortably beside the stark, unfinished homework of glaring inequity in others.
Tertiary Enrollment
1Jamaica had 87.2% secondary net enrollment in 2019
Verified2Japan recorded 63.2% tertiary gross enrollment ratio in 2020
Verified3Jordan achieved 39.8% tertiary enrollment rate in 2019
Verified4Kazakhstan had 50.1% tertiary gross enrollment in 2020
Directional5Kenya reported 11.4% tertiary enrollment in 2020
Single source6Kiribati's tertiary enrollment rate was 12.5% in 2018
Verified7Kuwait achieved 52.3% tertiary gross enrollment ratio in 2019
Verified8Kyrgyzstan had 45.7% tertiary enrollment in 2020
Verified9Laos reported 17.9% tertiary gross enrollment in 2019
Directional10Latvia achieved 67.8% tertiary enrollment rate in 2020
Single source11Lebanon had 51.2% tertiary gross enrollment in 2019
Verified12Lesotho's tertiary enrollment was 12.1% in 2020
Verified13Liberia reported 8.7% tertiary enrollment rate in 2019
Verified14Libya achieved 61.4% tertiary gross enrollment in 2018
Directional15Liechtenstein had 25.3% tertiary enrollment in 2019
Single source16Lithuania's tertiary gross enrollment ratio was 72.9% in 2020
Verified17Luxembourg achieved 54.1% tertiary enrollment rate in 2020
Verified18Madagascar reported 4.2% tertiary gross enrollment in 2019
Verified19Malawi had 1.5% tertiary enrollment rate in 2020
Directional20Malaysia achieved 45.6% tertiary gross enrollment in 2020
Single source21Maldives reported 23.4% tertiary enrollment in 2019
Verified22Mali had 9.8% tertiary gross enrollment ratio in 2020
Verified23Malta achieved 79.2% tertiary enrollment rate in 2020
Verified24Marshall Islands reported 12.7% tertiary enrollment in 2016
Directional25Mauritania had 13.4% tertiary gross enrollment in 2019
Single source26Mauritius achieved 49.3% tertiary enrollment rate in 2020
Verified27Mexico reported 39.2% tertiary gross enrollment in 2020
Verified28Micronesia had 10.8% tertiary enrollment in 2018
Verified29Moldova achieved 52.7% tertiary gross enrollment ratio in 2020
Directional30Mongolia had 64.1% tertiary enrollment rate in 2020
Single sourceTertiary Enrollment Interpretation
This global academic report card reveals a world where the higher education haves, like Lithuania and Malta, are in a heated debate over who gets the top bunk, while the have-nots, like Malawi and Madagascar, are still trying to find the classroom door.
Sources & References
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