Most of the world’s population are well educated, but billions worldwide are not. It’s a contrast that is all too real and doesn’t stop at an education level. There are obvious inequalities worldwide, and education is often at the heart of the discussions.

Universities in the United States continue to dominate the world’s leading institutes, with eight being found in the U.S. On the contrary, the U.S. falls to seventh place among the most educated countries in the world. This is according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (O.E.C.D.).

Of course, O.E.C.D. measures a country’s education level by the number of people who’ve completed a two or four-year degree or vocational program.

You may also want to read the top 10 countries in Africa with the best education system.

The Top 10 Educated Countries in the World

In 2023, O.E.C.D. believes the most educated countries in the world will include:

1. Canada
2. Russia
3. Japan
4. Luxembourg
5. South Korea
6. Israel
7. United States
8. Ireland
9. United Kingdom
10. Australia

Canada

It’s thought that Canada will be the world’s most educated country in 2023. Canada’s population currently stands at 38,257,001 and has an impressive literacy rate of 60%. While there has been an increased number of tertiary-educated adults in Canada, few have advanced degrees. This is according to the O.E.C.D.

89% of all Canadians have obtained a secondary education, and Justin Trudeau, Canada’s Prime Minister, referred to the country’s education as a great resource. So, it’s easy to see why Canada has been named in the top spot.

Russia

According to O.E.C.D., Russia is the second most educated country in the world. It boasts a 56.70% literacy rating, with a population of 145,805,947. It’s easy to see why Russia takes second place. Surprisingly, tertiary education is below average, even though most of the Russian population is well-educated.

The Ministry of Education and Science provides most of the educational services in the country. It is, however, regional authorities that regulate the federal laws on education.

Japan

Japan has a literacy rate of 52.70%, and most can read and write subjects, including science and math. Japan has become the third most educated country in the world and has a staggering population of 125,584,838. Japan’s compulsory education spans nine years, from elementary to junior high school.

Luxembourg

In a popular of 642,371, there is a good literacy rate of 51.30%. However, education is a priority in Luxembourg, and it has among the highest number of adults in non-job-related education. Typically, those who have a tertiary education have a master’s degree.

One of the more unique aspects of Luxembourg’s education system is it’s multilingual. It has fundamental, secondary, and higher education. It’s mandatory to attend school from the ages of four to sixteen. Most schools are free and governed by the state.

South Korea

Surprisingly, South Korea only reaches the fifth spot. Literacy is 50.70% in a country with a massive population of 51,329,899. However, South Korea spends more on education than many other countries. According to the O.E.C.D., private school and tutor fees are considerably higher than tertiary fees.

Israel

With a population of 8,922,892 and a literacy rate of 50.10%, Israel is sixth on the list. It has an impressive education system and pushes for fair education across the board. While it does have the same literacy rate as the U.S.A., it does push ahead further slightly.

United States of America

While schools in the U.S.A. dominate official world rankings, they only reach the seventh spot. With a population of 334,805,269 and a literacy rate of 50.10%, fewer adults are entering higher education. While the universities produce fantastic graduates, there has been a slight decrease in the number of students completing their higher education.

Ireland

Ireland finishes eighth on the list with a literacy rate of 49.90% and a population of 5,020,199. In Ireland, it’s compulsory for children aged six to sixteen to attend school. Children can be enrolled in infant classes at four or five; this depends on the parents and if they want their child to start education early.

United Kingdom

With a vast population of 68,497,907 and a literacy rating of 49.40%, the United Kingdom finished in ninth place. There are four elements to the education system: primary, secondary, further, and higher education. Every child must attend primary and secondary education in the U.K. and typically begins at five.

Australia

Australia ranks at number ten on the list with a literacy rating of 49.30% and a population of 26,068,792. Typically, primary education lasts six years, followed by another six years of high school, and students begin by age five.