When we were searching an answer for the 20 dumbest countries in Europe, we were surprised to see the likes of Italy and Turkey in the list. Well, they are here for a reason. We’ll get to that in a minute. For now let us focus on the mechanism on how we have ranked these nations. We have used WEF’s Global Competitiveness 2014 – 2015 report as our main source. The report is a detailed one and analyzes and assesses the competitiveness of 144 countries in numerous departments while identifying key indicators of prosperity and productivity.
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Extracted from the report, we have picked our 4 categories which may prove out to be substantial when trying to measure the dumbness of a country. The categories chosen were the quality of math and science education, tertiary education enrollment, advancement in technology and percentage of people using Internet. These categories when taken alone may not be enough to decide about the dumbest countries but when analyzed and taken as a mix forms a great scale to measure the dumbness of any nation.
What is important to understand here is the fact that the data from WEF is of only 150 countries so (of the world’s 196 recognized countries), there may be other countries with worse figures and yet not included in the list. By the way, we already identified the dumbest countries in the world in a previous article. Please check out that article if you’d like to find out whether any European countries made that list.
20. Luxemburg
Luxemburg gets an average ranking of 113.25 and makes it to number 20 in our ranking.
Quality of math and science education: 4.8
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 123
Tertiary education enrollment %: 18.2
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 49
Patent applications/million: 118.6
Rank based on patent applications: 135
Percent of individuals using internet: 93.8
Rank based on internet access: 146
Average ranking score: 113.25
19. Portugal
Portugal is more famous for football but not so much when it comes to advancement in technology and access to Internet.
Quality of math and science education: 4.54
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 107
Tertiary education enrollment %: 68.9
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 122
Patent applications/million: 13
Rank based on patent applications: 118
Percent of individuals using internet: 62
Rank based on internet access: 103
Average ranking score: 112.5
18. Malta
Malta is a state known for historic sites. The country however is not the most technologically advanced and struggles in the field of education too.
Quality of math and science education: 5.3
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 138
Tertiary education enrollment %: 41.2
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 85
Patent applications/million: 10.2
Rank based on patent applications: 113
Percent of individuals using internet: 69
Rank based on internet access: 113
Average ranking score: 112.25
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17. Spain
Spain is another European country known for its rich culture and history. Thousands of tourists from around the world visit the country each year. Spain unfortunately is not very technologically advanced – the main reason behind its inclusion in our list of 20 dumbest countries in Europe.
Quality of math and science education: 3.86
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 62
Tertiary education enrollment %: 84.6
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 143
Patent applications/million: 39.6
Rank based on patent applications: 123
Percent of individuals using internet: 71.6
Rank based on internet access: 116
Average ranking score: 111
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16. Poland
Poland is situated in Eastern Europe and is known for its mouth watering cuisines, beautiful architecture and friendly people. Poland is struggling when it comes to education and is ranked as the 100th state with worst quality of math and science education.
Quality of math and science education: 4.4
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 100
Tertiary education enrollment %: 73.2
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 128
Patent applications/million: 7.14
Rank based on patent applications: 108
Percent of individuals using internet: 62.8
Rank based on internet access: 104
Average ranking score: 110
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15. Italy
A surprising name in the list, Italy might be famous for fashion and fast cars but not so much when we talk about technology and Internet access.
Quality of math and science education: 4.47
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 105
Tertiary education enrollment %: 62.5
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 116
Patent applications/million: 53.8
Rank based on patent applications: 125
Percent of individuals using internet: 58.5
Rank based on internet access: 94
Average ranking score: 110
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14. Hungary
A landlocked country of Europe, Hungary finds itself at number 14 probably because its poor performance in primary and higher education departments.
Quality of math and science education: 4.31
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 90
Tertiary education enrollment %: 60
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 107
Patent applications/million: 24.97
Rank based on patent applications: 120
Percent of individuals using internet: 72.64
Rank based on internet access: 117
Average ranking score: 108.5
13. Czech Republic
Czech Republic’s performance in the field technology is not that bad but the country really struggles in education department.
Quality of math and science education: 4.1
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 74
Tertiary education enrollment %: 64.2
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 119
Patent applications/million: 15.83
Rank based on patent applications: 119
Percent of individuals using internet: 74.1
Rank based on internet access: 121
Average ranking score: 108.25
12. Russian Federation
Russian Federation finds itself performing below averagely in all of our criteria and at number 12 on our list.
Quality of math and science education: 4.31
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 91
Tertiary education enrollment %: 76.14
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 132
Patent applications/million: 7.13
Rank based on patent applications: 107
Percent of individuals using internet: 61.4
Rank based on internet access: 102
Average ranking score: 108
11. Ukraine
Sharing borders with Poland and Slovakia, Ukraine is at number 11. What brings the country down is its lack of performance in technology.
Quality of math and science education: 4.8
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 120
Tertiary education enrollment %: 79.7
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 138
Patent applications/million: 3.19
Rank based on patent applications: 96
Percent of individuals using internet: 41.8
Rank based on internet access: 68
Average ranking score: 105.5
10. Montenegro
Montenegro is a small country of Europe filled with rugged mountain terrains. The country really struggles when it comes to providing quality education to its people.
Quality of math and science education: 4.9
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 126
Tertiary education enrollment %: 55.5
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 103
Patent applications/million: 3.22
Rank based on patent applications: 97
Percent of individuals using internet: 56.8
Rank based on internet access: 92
Average ranking score: 104.5
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9. Bosnia and Herzegovina
There are many problems being faced by Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of which is its poor education system and the other is access to Internet.
Quality of math and science education: 5.4
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 141
Tertiary education enrollment %: 38.1
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 79
Patent applications/million: 1.96
Rank based on patent applications: 89
Percent of individuals using internet: 65.36
Rank based on internet access: 106
Average ranking score: 103.75
8. Slovak Republic
Slovak Republic finds itself struggling in almost all the four categories.
Quality of math and science education: 4
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 73
Tertiary education enrollment %: 55.1
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 100
Patent applications/million: 9.20
Rank based on patent applications: 110
Percent of individuals using internet: 77.9
Rank based on internet access: 126
Average ranking score: 102.25
7. Bulgaria
There are only 5.05 patent application per million people in the country, which shows its inability to progress in the field of tech.
Quality of math and science education: 4.3
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 96
Tertiary education enrollment %: 62.7
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 117
Patent applications/million: 5.05
Rank based on patent applications: 100
Percent of individuals using internet: 53.1
Rank based on internet access: 88
Average ranking score: 100.25
6. Romania
Romania is known for beautiful forests and mountains. The country is also well-known when it comes to finding good Internet connection as only less than half of the population in Romania uses Internet.
Quality of math and science education: 4.7
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 119
Tertiary education enrollment %: 51.6
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 98
Patent applications/million: 2.24
Rank based on patent applications: 91
Percent of individuals using internet: 49.8
Rank based on internet access: 83
Average ranking score: 97.75
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5. Serbia
The main reason why Serbia makes it to number five on our list is its poor performance in the field of tech.
Quality of math and science education: 4.3
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 97
Tertiary education enrollment %: 52.4
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 99
Patent applications/million: 2.31
Rank based on patent applications: 92
Percent of individuals using internet: 51.5
Rank based on internet access: 85
Average ranking score: 93.25
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4. Turkey
Another surprising name in the list, Turkey is in the list because its lack of technological development.
Quality of math and science education: 3.5
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 49
Tertiary education enrollment %: 69.4
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 123
Patent applications/million: 6.9
Rank based on patent applications: 106
Percent of individuals using internet: 46.25
Rank based on internet access: 78
Average ranking score: 89
3. Albania
With an average score of 87, Albania makes it to number 3 spot on our list of 20 dumbest countries in Europe.
Quality of math and science education: 4.3
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 86
Tertiary education enrollment %: 55.5
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 102
Patent applications/million: 0.35
Rank based on patent applications: 62
Percent of individuals using internet: 60.1
Rank based on internet access: 98
Average ranking score: 87
2. Macedonia
Macedonia is really struggling when it comes to higher education enrollment rate and quality of math and science education in the country.
Quality of math and science education: 4.4
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 102
Tertiary education enrollment %: 38.5
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 80
Patent applications/million: 0.24
Rank based on patent applications: 55
Percent of individuals using internet: 61.2
Rank based on internet access: 101
Average ranking score: 84.5
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1. Moldova
Number one on our list is Moldova, the country finds itself performing poorly in all of the 4 categories.
Quality of math and science education: 3.9
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 67
Tertiary education enrollment %: 40.1
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 82
Patent applications/million: 0.77
Rank based on patent applications: 73
Percent of individuals using internet: 48.8
Rank based on internet access: 80
Average ranking score: 75.5
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This has been our list of 20 dumbest countries in Europe. Do you have any comment about it?
