Top 10 Most Educated Countries, Spoiler: Russia Tops The List
The Organization for Co-operation and Development (OECD) released a data of the most educated countries in the world. Surprisingly, Russia, at 53.3% came out as the most educated country in the world. It was ahead of USA, Canada, South Korea, Israel, New Zealand, Australia and other reviewed countries perceived to be more developed.
According to the report, more than half of Russian adults had tertiary degrees in 2012.
The top 10 countries with the highest proportion of adults (25 to 64) holding a degree were reviewed by 24/7 Wall Street in 2012. These data were included in OECD’s 2014 report-Education at a Glance report. 34 OECD member countries, and ten non-OECD nations were considered for the report.
One would be surprised why US didn’t top the list, even though the average spending per student in the US was $26,021.
According to the director of education skills at the OECD-Andreas Schleicher, earning a higher degree in the U.S. has become much more expensive, and student debt burdens have reached worrying heights in recent years.
Despite this fact, a college degree is still considered as a good investment in the U.S. This is because U.S. residents with higher degrees, earn far more than their less educated peers.
Schleicher also explained that “taxpayers in the U.S. get $200,000 more out of every graduate than what they actually invested, so it’s a good business for the government as well.”
Russia
Percentage of population with tertiary education: 53.5%
Average annual growth rate (2000-2011): N/A
Tertiary education spending per student: $7,424 (the lowest)
Canada
Percentage population with tertiary education: 52.6%
Average annual growth rate (2000-2011): 2.3% (8th lowest)
Tertiary education spending per student: $23,225 (2nd highest)
Japan
Percentage population with tertiary education: 46.6%
Average annual growth rate (2000-2011): 2.8% (12th lowest)
Tertiary education spending per student: $16,445 (10th highest)
Israel
Percentage population with tertiary education: 46.4%
Average annual growth rate (2000-2011): N/A
Tertiary education spending per student: $11,553 (18th highest)
United States
Percentage population with tertiary education: 43.1%
Average annual growth rate (2000-2011): 1.4% (the lowest)
Tertiary education spending per student: $26,021 (the highest)
Korea
Percentage population with tertiary education:41.7%
Average annual growth rate (2000-2011): 4.8% (8th highest)
Tertiary education spending per student: $9,926 (12th lowest)
Australia
Percentage population with tertiary education: 41.3%
Average annual growth rate (2000-2011): 3.5% (15th highest)
Tertiary education spending per student: $16,267 (11th highest)
United Kingdom
Percentage population with tertiary education:41.0%
Average annual growth rate (2000-2011): 4.0 (11th highest)
Tertiary education spending per student: $14,222 (16th highest)
New Zealaand
Percentage population with tertiary education:40.6%
Average annual growth rate (2000-2011): 2.9% (13th lowest)
Tertiary education spending per student: $10,582 (15th lowest)
Ireland
Percentage population with tertiary education:39.7%
Average annual growth rate (2005-2012): 5.2% (4th highest)
Tertiary education spending per student: $16,095 (12th highest)
My conclusion: Tertiary education spending is highest in the most educated populations. Tertiary education spending in six of the most educated countries was higher than the OECD average of $13,957.
