Most Educated Countries in the World
More people around the globe are attending college than ever before.
According to a 2017 UNESCO report, “the number of students in higher education institutions more than doubled” in recent years, increasing from 100 million in 2000 to 207 million in 2014. During that time, the global higher education gross enrollment ratio rose to 34 percent, up from 19 percent.
But not every country has contributed to this rise in higher education equally. These are the countries with the most educated populations.
46. South Africa
Percent of population age 25-64 with tertiary education: 7.2
Total population: 59.3 million
Note: Rankings are based on tertiary education, or highest level of education completed. Source is 2018 data is from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, unless otherwise noted.
Bottom Line: South Africa
About 7 percent of the 59 million people in South Africa have an advanced education.
The African nation is still dealing with the residual effects of apartheid, but South Africa’s colleges and universities are on the rise.
The University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University and the University of Kwazulu-Natal are just a few schools for students to consider in South Africa.
45. China
Percent of population age 25-64 with tertiary education (2010): 9.68
Total population: 1.44 billion
Bottom Line: China
According to 2010 data — the most recent data available on China — a bit less than 10 percent of this Asian county’s massive 1.44 billion people have an upper education.
That’s still a lot of people (144 million), but that also means there are seas of people without an advanced education.
All Chinese people are required to complete school through Grade 9, or junior middle school.