While these statistics reveal everything from Japan's 99.9% enrollment to the millions of children out of school in Nigeria and Pakistan, a deeper look inside the global classroom uncovers a complex story of progress, peril, and profound disparity in education today.
Key Takeaways
- In the United States, public school enrollment totaled 49.4 million students in fall 2020, representing a 2% decline from 2019.
- Globally, 258 million children and youth were out of school in 2021, with 69 million primary school-aged children affected.
- In India, the gross enrollment ratio for primary education reached 103.9% in 2020-21.
- The U.S. average NAEP score in 8th grade math was 282 in 2022, down 5 points from 2019.
- OECD PISA 2022 average reading score was 476, a drop of 30 points since 2000.
- In Finland, 9th graders' math proficiency was 511 in PISA 2022.
- U.S. public per-pupil expenditure was $13,185 in 2020.
- OECD average education spending per student was $10,500 USD PPP in primary 2020.
- U.S. K-12 education funding from federal sources was 8.1% in 2020.
- U.S. average teacher salary $66,397 in 2020-21.
- OECD average statutory teacher salary upper secondary $47,000 USD PPP 2020.
- U.S. public schools had 3.2 million full-time equivalent teachers in 2020.
- 12% of U.S. students reported being bullied weekly in 2019.
- Global youth suicide rate 14.5 per 100,000 for ages 15-19 in 2021.
- U.S. school shooting incidents totaled 346 in 2022.
Global education enrollment is rising but crises in safety and mental health persist.
Academic Performance
- The U.S. average NAEP score in 8th grade math was 282 in 2022, down 5 points from 2019.
- OECD PISA 2022 average reading score was 476, a drop of 30 points since 2000.
- In Finland, 9th graders' math proficiency was 511 in PISA 2022.
- U.S. 4th grade reading proficiency on NAEP was 33% in 2022.
- Singapore topped PISA 2022 math with 575 points.
- UK GCSE pass rate (grade 4+) was 73.2% in 2023.
- In China (B-S-J-Z), PISA science score was 580 in 2022.
- U.S. high school students' AP exam pass rate was 75% in 2023.
- Japan's PISA reading score was 516 in 2022.
- Australia NAPLAN year 9 reading mean was 582 in 2022.
- In Germany, 15-year-olds' math PISA score was 475 in 2022.
- Canada's PISA math average was 497 in 2022.
- India TIMSS 2019 8th grade math score was 6% advanced.
- France baccalaureate pass rate was 91.1% in 2023.
- South Korea PISA math score was 527 in 2022.
- U.S. NAEP 12th grade science score averaged 150 in 2019.
- Netherlands PISA reading was 485 in 2022.
- Brazil PISA math score was 379 in 2022.
- Sweden TIMSS 2019 4th grade math was 518.
- Mexico's PISA science score was 410 in 2022.
- Ireland Leaving Cert points average was 448 in 2023.
- Estonia PISA math top performer at 510 in 2022.
- Poland PISA reading 489 in 2022.
- U.S. ACT composite score averaged 19.8 in 2023.
- Switzerland PISA science 503 in 2022.
- Indonesia PISA math 366 in 2022.
- New Zealand NAPLAN-equivalent year 9 numeracy 500 in 2022.
- Portugal PISA improvement to 484 in math 2022.
- U.S. SAT evidence-based reading average 529 in 2023.
- Denmark PISA reading 489 in 2022.
- Turkey PISA science 477 in 2022.
Academic Performance Interpretation
The global report card paints a picture of academic haves and have-nots, where the U.S. is anxiously treading water while nations like Singapore and Estonia surge ahead, proving that consistent, high-quality education isn't a fantasy—it's a measurable, and for many, a missed reality.
Enrollment and Attendance
- In the United States, public school enrollment totaled 49.4 million students in fall 2020, representing a 2% decline from 2019.
- Globally, 258 million children and youth were out of school in 2021, with 69 million primary school-aged children affected.
- In India, the gross enrollment ratio for primary education reached 103.9% in 2020-21.
- U.S. public high school graduation rate was 86% for the class of 2020.
- In sub-Saharan Africa, 33% of children of primary school age were out of school in 2022.
- UK state school attendance averaged 92.6% in autumn 2022 post-COVID.
- China's compulsory education enrollment rate hit 95.4% for primary schools in 2021.
- In Brazil, 98.2% of children aged 6-14 were enrolled in school in 2022.
- U.S. private school enrollment was 5.7 million students in 2019-20.
- Nigeria had 10.5 million primary school-aged children out of school in 2021.
- Australia reported 4,059,800 full-time students in schools in 2022.
- In Germany, 8.1 million pupils were enrolled in general schools in 2022/23.
- South Africa's public school enrollment was 12.8 million in 2022.
- Japan had 99.9% primary enrollment rate in 2021.
- In Pakistan, 22.8 million children aged 5-16 were out of school in 2021.
- Canada had 5.5 million elementary and secondary students in 2021-22.
- France enrolled 12.3 million students in primary and secondary education in 2022.
- Mexico's primary enrollment rate was 98.5% in 2022.
- In the EU, 93.4% of 15-17 year-olds were in education in 2021.
- Indonesia had 52 million students in basic education in 2022.
- U.S. chronic absenteeism affected 23% of students in 2018-19.
- Egypt's primary enrollment reached 11.2 million in 2021/22.
- In Russia, 17.3 million students attended schools in 2022/23.
- Turkey's compulsory education enrollment was 97.8% in 2022.
- Bangladesh had 25.3 million primary students in 2021.
- Sweden's school enrollment for ages 7-15 was 99.8% in 2022.
- In the Philippines, 27.7 million students were in basic education in 2022.
- Iran enrolled 15.2 million students in public schools in 2021/22.
- Vietnam's primary enrollment rate was 99.1% in 2022.
- U.S. homeschooling increased to 3.7 million students in 2021.
Enrollment and Attendance Interpretation
While some nations, like Japan and Sweden, approach near-universal enrollment, the persistent and devastating global crisis of out-of-school children—258 million and concentrated in regions like sub-Saharan Africa and Pakistan—stands as a stark, morally urgent counterpoint to the incremental progress celebrated elsewhere.
Funding and Resources
- U.S. public per-pupil expenditure was $13,185 in 2020.
- OECD average education spending per student was $10,500 USD PPP in primary 2020.
- U.S. K-12 education funding from federal sources was 8.1% in 2020.
- UK public school spending per pupil was £6,775 in 2021/22.
- India allocated 2.9% of GDP to education in 2022.
- Australia school funding totaled AUD 81.2 billion in 2023.
- Germany's public education expenditure was 4.8% of GDP in 2021.
- Brazil spent 6.2% of GDP on education in 2022.
- Canada provincial education spending per student CAD 12,653 in 2021.
- Japan education budget was 3.6% of GDP in 2022.
- France per-pupil spending €8,900 in primary 2021.
- South Africa education budget R456 billion in 2023/24.
- China invested RMB 4.56 trillion in education in 2021.
- Sweden school funding per student SEK 130,000 in 2022.
- Mexico public education expenditure 4.5% GDP 2022.
- Russia K-12 funding 3.9% GDP in 2022.
- Indonesia education budget IDR 665 trillion in 2023.
- U.S. Title I funding for low-income schools $18.4 billion in 2023.
- Finland education spending 5.6% GDP in 2021.
- Netherlands per-pupil expenditure €12,300 in 2022.
- Egypt education budget 12.3% of total budget in 2022/23.
- South Korea spent 4.6% GDP on education 2022.
- Poland public education 5.2% GDP 2021.
- U.S. capital outlay for schools $25 billion in 2020.
- Norway school funding per student NOK 150,000 in 2022.
- Turkey education expenditure 4.1% GDP 2022.
- Vietnam allocated 20% of state budget to education 2022.
Funding and Resources Interpretation
While the U.S. pours more cash per student than a Broadway producer, the global script reveals a complex plot where some nations bank on high GDP percentages, others on sheer budgetary volume, and America uniquely stars in a subplot of vast federal detachment and targeted poverty funds, proving that in education spending, the story is never just about the headline number.
Student Outcomes and Safety
- 12% of U.S. students reported being bullied weekly in 2019.
- Global youth suicide rate 14.5 per 100,000 for ages 15-19 in 2021.
- U.S. school shooting incidents totaled 346 in 2022.
- UK child mental health issues rose to 20% in 2022.
- India 15% of school students faced cyberbullying in 2022.
- Australia 1 in 4 students experienced bullying in 2021.
- Germany 6% of students victims of physical assault in school 2022.
- Brazil school violence affected 11% of students in 2021.
- Canada 19% of students felt unsafe at school in 2019.
- Japan student suicide rate 9.3 per 100,000 in 2022.
- France 15% of middle schoolers reported anxiety disorders 2022.
- South Africa 20% truancy rate linked to safety fears 2022.
- China reported 1.2 million juvenile delinquency cases in 2021.
- Sweden 25% of students experienced stress daily 2022.
- Mexico 8% of students victims of robbery at school 2021.
- Russia 5% of schools had violence incidents weekly 2022.
- Indonesia 12% of students obese in 2022.
- U.S. 37% of high school students had poor mental health in 2021.
- Finland 7% of students cyberbullied in 2022.
- Netherlands 22% of pupils worried about climate affecting future 2022.
- Egypt 10% dropout rate due to safety issues 2022.
- South Korea 28% of students suicidal ideation 2022.
- Poland 18% of students smoked in 2021.
- U.S. sports injuries caused 2.6 million ER visits for kids 2020.
- Norway 5% of students physically bullied 2022.
- Turkey 14% of students obese in urban schools 2022.
- Vietnam 8% of students reported drug exposure 2022.
Student Outcomes and Safety Interpretation
From Japan's alarming student suicide rate to the widespread anxiety among French middle schoolers, these grim statistics paint a sobering global portrait of our children's schooling experience being less about nurturing potential and more about surviving a minefield of bullying, violence, and mental health crises.
Teachers and Staff
- U.S. average teacher salary $66,397 in 2020-21.
- OECD average statutory teacher salary upper secondary $47,000 USD PPP 2020.
- U.S. public schools had 3.2 million full-time equivalent teachers in 2020.
- UK teacher vacancy rate rose to 1.9% in 2023.
- India pupil-teacher ratio primary was 24:1 in 2021.
- Australia had 252,000 full-time teachers in 2022.
- Germany pupil-teacher ratio secondary 12:1 in 2022.
- Brazil primary teachers numbered 837,000 in 2022.
- Canada average teacher salary CAD 76,000 in 2021.
- Japan had 870,000 school teachers in 2022.
- France teacher workforce 1.1 million in 2022.
- South Africa pupil-teacher ratio 31:1 in 2022.
- China had 18 million primary and secondary teachers in 2021.
- Sweden teacher shortage affected 20% of schools in 2022.
- Mexico pupil-teacher ratio primary 23:1 in 2022.
- Russia 1.6 million teachers employed in 2022.
- Indonesia teacher number 3.1 million in basic education 2022.
- U.S. teacher attrition rate 8% annually pre-COVID.
- Finland pupil-teacher ratio 14:1 primary 2021.
- Netherlands 180,000 teachers in primary/secondary 2022.
- Egypt 900,000 public school teachers in 2022.
- South Korea teacher salary ratio to GDP per capita 1.4 in 2020.
- Poland pupil-teacher ratio 11:1 secondary 2021.
- U.S. principals numbered 93,500 in public schools 2020.
- Norway 80,000 teachers in compulsory schools 2022.
- Turkey 1 million teachers in 2022.
- Vietnam 1.1 million teachers in general education 2022.
- U.S. 16% of teachers had less than 5 years experience in 2020.
Teachers and Staff Interpretation
The world's education systems show a common, pressing arithmetic: high global demand for teachers often meets inadequate pay and support, creating a universal equation where the solution to attracting and retaining educators remains frustratingly unsolved.
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