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The 10 Most Educated Countries in the World

hawx

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n the past 50 years, college graduation rates in developed countries have increased nearly 200%, according to Education at a Glance 2011, a recently published report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The report shows that while education has improved across the board, it has not improved evenly, with some countries enjoying much greater rates of educational attainment than others. Based on the report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 10 developed countries with the most educated populations.

The countries with the most highly educated citizens are also some of the wealthiest in the world. The United States, Japan and Canada are on our list and also have among the largest GDPs. Norway and Australia, also featured, have the second and sixth-highest GDPs per capita, respectively. All these countries aggressively invest in education.

The countries that invest the most in education have the most-educated people. All of the best-educated countries, except for the UK, fall within the top 15 OECD countries for greatest spending on tertiary — that is, college or college-equivalent — spending as a percentage of GDP. The U.S. spends the second most and Canada spends the fourth most.

Interestingly, public expenditure on educational institutions relative to private spending by these countries is small compared with other countries in the OECD. While the majority of education is still funded with public money, eight of the countries on our list rely the least on public funding as a percentage of total education spending.

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The countries included here have had educated populations for a long time. While they have steadily increased the percentages of their populations with postsecondary educations, the increases are modest compared to developing countries. The U.S., Canada and Japan have had tertiary educational attainment above 30% since at least 1997. Poland, a recently developed country that is not on our list, had a tertiary educational rate of 10% in 1997. As of 2009, that rate had grown to 21%.

These are the 10 most educated countries in the world.

10. Finland
> Pct. population with postsecondary education: 37%
> Avg. annual growth rate (1999 – 2009): 1.8% (3rd lowest)
> GDP per capita: $36,585 (14th highest)
> Pop. change (2000 – 2009): 3.15% (10th lowest)

Finland is a small country relative to the other OECD members. The share of its adult population with some sort of postsecondary education, however, is rather large. This select group is reaching the end of its expansion. From 1999 to 2009, the number of college-educated adults increased only 1.8% annually — the third-smallest amount among all OECD countries. Finland is also one of only two countries, the other being Korea, in which the fields of social sciences, business and law are not the most popular among students. In Finland, new entrants are most likely to study engineering, manufacturing and construction.

9. Australia
> Pct. population with postsecondary education: 37%
> Avg. annual growth rate (1999 – 2009): 3.3% (11th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $40,719 (6th highest)
> Pop. change (2000 – 2009): 14.63% (3rd highest)

Australia’s population grew 14.63% between 2000 and 2009. This is the third-largest increase among OECD countries. Its tertiary-educated adult population is increasing at the much less impressive annual rate of 3.3%. Australia also spends the sixth-least amount in public funds on education as a percentage of all expenditures. The country also draws large numbers of international students.

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8. United Kingdom
> Pct. population with postsecondary education: 37%
> Avg. annual growth rate (1999 – 2009): 4.0% (9th highest)
> GDP per capita: $35,504 (16th highest)
> Pop. change (2000 – 2009): 3.47% (13th lowest)

Unlike most of the countries with the highest percentage of educated adults, the UK’s educated group increased measurably — more than 4% between 1999 and 2009. Its entire population only grew 3.5% between 2000 and 2009. One aspect that the UK does share with a number of other countries on this list is relatively low public expenditure on education institutions as a percentage of all educational spending. As of 2008, 69.5% of spending came from public sources — the fourth-smallest amount among OECD countries.

7. Norway
> Pct. population with postsecondary education: 37%
> Avg. annual growth rate (1999 – 2009): N/A
> GDP per capita: $56,617 (2nd highest)
> Pop. change (2000 – 2009): 7.52% (14th highest)

Norway has the third-greatest expenditure on educational institutions as a percentage of GDP, at 7.3%. Roughly 23% of that is spent on tertiary education. In Norway, more than 60% of all tertiary graduates were in a bachelor’s program, well more than the U.S., which is close to the OECD average of 45%. The country is one of the wealthiest in the world. GDP per capita is $56,617, second only to Luxembourg in the OECD.

6. South Korea
> Pct. population with postsecondary education: 39%
> Avg. annual growth rate (1999 – 2009): 5.3% (5th highest)
> GDP per capita: $29,101 (13th lowest)
> Pop. change (2000 – 2009): 3.70% (14th lowest)

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Korea is another standout country for its recent increase in the percentage of its population that has a tertiary education. Graduates increased 5.3% between 1999 and 2009, the fifth-highest among OECD countries. Like the UK, this rate is greater than the country’s recent population growth. Korea is also one of only two countries — the other being Finland — in which the most popular fields of study are not social sciences, business and law. In Korea, new students choose to study education, humanities and arts at the greatest rates. Only 59.6% of expenditures on educational institutions come from public funds — the second-lowest rate.

5. New Zealand
> Pct. population with postsecondary education: 40%
> Avg. annual growth rate (1999 – 2009): 3.5% (14th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $29,871 (14th lowest)
> Pop. change (2000 – 2009): 11.88% (8th largest)

New Zealand is not a particularly wealthy country. GDP per capita is less than $30,000, and is the 14th lowest in the OECD. However, 40% of the population engages in tertiary education, the fifth-highest rate in the world. The country actually has a rapidly growing population, increasing 11.88% between 2000 and 2009. This was the eighth-largest increase in the OECD. Part of the reason for the high rate of tertiary graduates is the high output from secondary schools. More than 90% of residents graduate from secondary school.

4. United States
> Pct. population with postsecondary education: 41%
> Avg. annual growth rate (1999 – 2009): 1.4% (the lowest)
> GDP per capita: $46,588 (4th highest)
> Pop. change (2000 – 2009): 8.68% (12th highest)

The U.S. experienced a fairly large growth in population from 2000 to 2009. During the period, the population increased 8.68% — the 12th highest among OECD countries. Meanwhile, the rate at which the share of the population with a tertiary education is growing has slowed to an annual rate of 1.4% — the lowest among the 34 OECD countries. Just 71% of funding for educational institutions in the country comes from public funds, placing the U.S. sixth-lowest in this measure. Among OECD countries, the largest share of adults with a tertiary education live in the United States — 25.8%.

3. Japan
> Pct. population with postsecondary education: 44%
> Avg. annual growth rate (1999 – 2009): 3.2% (10th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $33,751 (17th lowest)
> Pop. change (2000 – 2009): 0.46% (6th lowest)

In Japan, 44% of the adult population has some form of tertiary education. The U.S. by comparison has a rate of 41%. Japan’s population increased just 0.46% between 2000 and 2009, the sixth-slowest growth rate in the OECD, and the slowest among our list of 10. Japan is tied with Finland for the third-highest upper-secondary graduation rate in the world, at 95%. It has the third-highest tertiary graduation rate in the world, but only spends the equivalent of 1.5% of GDP on tertiary education — the 17th lowest rate in the OECD.

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2. Israel
> Pct. population with postsecondary education: 45%
> Avg. annual growth rate (1999 – 2009): N/A
> GDP per capita: $28,596 (12th lowest)
> Pop. change (2000 – 2009): 19.02% (the highest)

Although there is no data on the percentage of Israeli citizens with postsecondary education dating back to 1999, the numbers going back to 2002 show that growth is slowing dramatically compared to other countries. In fact, in 2006, 46% of adults ages 25 to 64 had a tertiary education. In 2007 this number fell to 44%. Only 78% of funds spent on educational institutions in Israel are public funds. The country is also only one of three — the other two being Ireland and Sweden — where expenditure on educational institutions as a proportion of GDP decreased from 2000 to 2008. Israel also had the largest increase in overall population, approximately 19% from 2000 to 2009.

1. Canada
> Pct. population with postsecondary education: 50%
> Avg. annual growth rate (1999 – 2009): 2.3% (5th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $39,070 (10th highest)
> Pop. change (2000 – 2009): 9.89% (10th highest)

In Canada, 50% of the adult population has completed tertiary education, easily the highest rate in the OECD. Each year, public and private expenditure on education amount to 2.5% of GDP, the fourth-highest rate in the world. Tertiary education spending accounts for 41% of total education spending in the country. In the U.S., the proportion is closer to 37%. In Israel, the rate is 22%. In Canada, nearly 25% of students have an immigrant background.




Why china is not in the list,according to the infinite no of threads opened in recent months china is first while India is last.

I am shocked to my core by not finding china in the list,I admire there ultra high IQ .
 
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And i could nt see india rather in the list

better try your best to reach the top ten level

stop thinking about china
 
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OECD reports only cover OECD countries.

Occasionally an exception is made to intentionally cover China (e.g. a non-OECD country). However, the vast majority of OECD reports only cover OECD countries.

China and Taiwan are not part of the OECD.

However, Japan and South Korea are members of the OECD (and you see both countries on the list of educational Top Ten in OECD).

Reference: See "current 34 members of OECD" at Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Taiwan is not internationally recognized as a country. It can't join OECD.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/03/21/2003406455
"Mar 21, 2008 – China proposed seven conditions in the MOU -- that Taiwan cannot become a full-fledged OECD member, Taiwan cannot become a member of ..."

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I think China qualifies or was invited to join the OECD, but they said it's the rich-man's club and they're staying out of the OECD. That's how I remember it.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-03/25/content_6563669.htm

"China in running for OECD
By Fu Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-03-25 10:19

The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is mulling over China's entry to the market economy club.

Angel Gurria, OECD secretary-general, said it has already "expressed interest" in a membership offer to China.

"We (China and the OECD) know each other well and we have already conducted closer cooperation in many fields," Gurria said yesterday at the China Development Forum in Beijing.

The OECD is a forum for governments of 30 market economies, including the US and UK, that produce almost 60 percent of the world's goods and services, to work together to address the economic, social and governance challenges of globalization as well as to exploit its opportunities.

Newly appointed director of the National Energy Bureau, Zhang Guobao, said China is keen to join the OECD.

"We hope to become a member as soon as possible," Zhang said on Sunday at the forum.

Hu Angang, an academic at Tsinghua University, said the OECD should consider membership for China and also approve the country's entry to its sub-organization the International Energy Agency, which has a powerful say in controlling the global energy market.

Gurria said the first step is to set out a timetable for discussion. "Timing is still in the hands of the Chinese government. For us, there is no deadline, no rush," Gurria said. "This (China's membership) is too important to be urgent."

The OECD General Secretariat has told its Center for Cooperation with Non-members to increase cooperation with the Chinese government.

Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa and Southeast Asia as a whole are also being considered for OECD membership.

The OECD began accession talks with Chile, Estonia, Israel, Russia and Slovenia last December.

"The engagement of China is a must for effectively addressing the global issues," Gurria said. "The world faces a new set of opportunities and challenges and China lies at the heart of them."

China's economy has been growing at breakneck speed for some time, bringing benefits and challenges for the country and the world.

Gurria said innovative policies are needed to curb income inequality and regional disparities, balance rural and urban development, control natural resources consumption, increase clean energy use and improve the environment.

"OECD countries are facing similar challenges, which they are all trying to tackle through sharing experiences and solutions," Gurria said."
 
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lol a desperate inferior complex india tries to troll China's education, without understanding it is the OECD countries' list, what a epic fall..:D
 
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I thought it is normal thread, But the last sentence prove it is not!!!
hehe, indians what can we expect,

anyway, i think China do have some bright brains that can score high, but i believe we still behind those countries in terms of average education level
 
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hehe, indians what can we expect,

anyway, i think China do have some bright brains that can score high, but i believe we still behind those countries in terms of average education level
They love ! If someone start a thread with the title Our new Supa powa Ind.....;)
 
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lol a desperate inferior complex india tries to troll China's education, without understanding it is the OECD countries' list, what a epic fall..:D

sad you feel that way . you should have a chat ith one of your countrymen . a shining example of unbiased threads.:)

his name is davidson, or David Sun as you may know him:lol:
 
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Atleast India is trying to reach somewhere by chasing our dream rather than jumping on some other country's achievements. I know few NGOs who are working really hard to educate rural areas. It may take decades but we will someday reach there.

As far as official language is concerned, it was due to colonial time when most of the administrative work was conducted in this language. Due to diversity of languages is india, which no country has, it was and is better to continue work in this language.

Its not a sign of slavery. Just like using american products isn't.

@Chinese members -
You were once there where we are. I follow many chinese researchers, so do they follow my thesis adviser.

---------- Post added at 06:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:08 PM ----------

and english is there official language too LOL

Its "and english is THEIR official language to LOL"

---------- Post added at 06:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:09 PM ----------

They love ! If someone start a thread with the title Our new Supa powa Ind.....;)

Its "Super power India" :D
 
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