Despite significant disparities in the attainment and dissemination of education, global trends in educational attainment are gradually improving. According to UNESCO’s Higher Education Global Data report released in 2022, more than 235 million higher education students were enrolled worldwide in 2020. This number is double the higher educational student enrollment in 2000, which stood at 100 million.
Although student enrollment has improved across all SDG regional groupings as demarcated by the United Nations Statistics Division, it occurred at different rates, resulting in a change in the distribution of students between regions. The number of students in North America and Europe increased by 24% between 2000 and 2020. However, the regions went from accounting for around 40% of the world’s enrollment in 2000 to 21% of global enrollment in 2020.
Central and Southern Asia saw the highest student enrollment rate among the regional groupings, experiencing a 268% surge between 2000 and 2020. Consequently, the region went from accounting for 13% of the world’s students in 2000 to 21% in 2020.
Latin America and the Caribbean have the highest rate of enrollment in private higher education institutions as of 2021, standing at around 54%. The lowest enrollment rate in this category in Oceania, at 15%.
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Is The World Becoming More Educated?
Similar positive trends can be seen across the worldwide gross enrolment rate in higher education, which went from 19% in 2000 to 40% in 2020, according to UNESCO’s Higher Education Global Data report. The gross enrolment rate refers to the general participation level in a given education level. Despite its limitations, the metric offers an estimate of the education system’s capacity. In the two decades between 2000 and 2020, the most significant regional increase in gross enrolment rate occurred in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, increasing by 36 percentage points. In contrast, the smallest improvement took place in Sub-Saharan Africa, rising by only 5 percentage points.
A report by the Education Policy and Data Center on Global Education Trends further highlights the surge in educational attainment. Its estimates show that the proportion of adults aged 15 and above with at least some secondary education level will increase from 60% to 71% between 2005 and 2025. Tertiary educational attainment is expected to rise from 10% to 14%, with Asia housing the fastest-growing number of highly educated adults. While the youth bulge, which refers to a significant group of individuals aged 15-24 relative to the rest of the population, is anticipated to stabilize in Latin America and Asia, it is expected to continue growing in Sub-Saharan Africa for the next two decades.
The report also shows that secondary school educational attainment is likely to become a norm for young adults in a majority of countries across the globe by 2025. The Sub-Saharan African region is the only exception to this expectation. Despite Asia being the fastest-growing region in terms of highly educated adults, the percentage of tertiary education attainment in adults is expected to remain the highest in OECD and Eastern European countries by 2025.
With these trends in view, let’s look at the 25 countries with the best education system in the world. You can also look at 20 Worst States for Education in the US and 7 Best Education Stocks To Invest In Now.
25 Countries With the Best Education System in the World
Our Methodology
To compile this list of the 25 Countries With the Best Education System in the World, we consulted the Insider Monkey Global Education Index. Our index relies on the number of Top 1,000 QS-ranked universities in each country, the average rank of all ranked universities, and the per capita government spending on education. To view our index methodology which shows all data sources and calculations, you can check out the Insider Monkey Global Education Index.
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Top 25 Countries With the Best Education System in the World
25. South Africa
Total Number of QS Universities: 10
Average Rank of Top Universities: 547
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $383
South Africa takes the 25th spot on our list of the countries with the best education system in the world, and is the only African country to rank on the list. It has 10 universities among the top 1,000 QS ranking of 2024, with the average rank of its top universities being 547.
24. Brazil
Total Number of QS Universities: 10
Average Rank of Top Universities: 541
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $601
The Brazilian government spends $601 on its per capita educational expenditure, according to 2024 estimates. The country has 10 universities that rank among the top 1,000 QS universities as of 2024, giving it the 24th spot on our list. The average rank of these universities comes up to 541.
23. Switzerland
Total Number of QS Universities: 10
Average Rank of Top Universities: 206
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $5,189
Switzerland has one of the best education systems in the world, with 10 of its universities ranking among the top 1,000 QS universities as of 2024. These universities have an average rank of 206. The country has a per capita government expenditure of $5,189 on education as of 2024.
22. Argentina
Total Number of QS Universities: 11
Average Rank of Top Universities: 664
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $618
Argentina takes the 22nd spot on our list of the 25 countries with the best education system in the world, with 11 of the country’s universities ranking among the top 1,000 QS universities as of 2024. The country spends around $618 on its per capita government educational expenses.
21. Mexico
Total Number of QS Universities: 11
Average Rank of Top Universities: 652
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $639
According to 2024 estimates, Mexico spends $639 on its per capita government expenditure on education. As of the same year, 11 of its universities rank among the top 1,000 QS universities.
20. United Arab Emirates
Total Number of QS Universities: 11
Average Rank of Top Universities: 522
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $1,971
The United Arab Emirates ranks 20th on our list of the top 25 countries with the best education system in the world. 11 universities in the region rank among the top 1,000 universities in the QS World Ranking 2024, with an average rank of 522.
19. Poland
Total Number of QS Universities: 12
Average Rank of Top Universities: 752
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $1,107
Poland spends 4.94% of its GDP on educational expenses as of 2024, and the Polish government has a per capita government expenditure on education of around $1,107 as of 2024. It takes the 19th spot on our list of the countries with the best education system in the world.
18. Kazakhstan
Total Number of QS Universities: 13
Average Rank of Top Universities: 691
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $545
Kazakhstan is a Central Asian country and was formerly a part of the Soviet Republic. It has 13 universities among the top 1,000 QS universities, with the average rank of top universities being 691.
17. The Netherlands
Total Number of QS Universities: 13
Average Rank of Top Universities: 168
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $3,172
The European country of the Netherlands takes the 17th spot on our list of the 25 countries with the best education system in the world. It spends 5.14% of its GDP on educational expenses as of 2024, and has a per capita government expenditure of $3,172 on education.
16. Saudi Arabia
Total Number of QS Universities: 14
Average Rank of Top Universities: 634
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $2,542
Saudi Arabia has a per capita expense of $2,542 on education as of 2024. 14 Saudi universities rank among the top 1,000 QS universities as of the same year, giving it the 16th spot on our list.
15. Taiwan
Total Number of QS Universities: 15
Average Rank of Top Universities: 489
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $1,617
Taiwan boasts one of the best education systems in the world, with 15 Taiwanese universities ranking among the top 1,000 universities in the QS World Ranking 2024. The average rank of these 15 universities, when computed by considering their individual ranks in the top 1,000 list, comes up to 489.
14. Malaysia
Total Number of QS Universities: 19
Average Rank of Top Universities: 478
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $457
Malaysia spends $457 on its per capita educational attainment as of 2024 and 3.51% of its GDP on education expenses. It holds the 14th spot on our list of the countries with the best education system in the world.
13. France
Total Number of QS Universities: 25
Average Rank of Top Universities: 439
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $2,429
25 French universities rank among the top 1,000 universities in the QS World Ranking 2024. The French government spends 5.25% of its GDP on education expenses, which translates to a per capita expense of $2,429 on education as of 2024.
12. Russian Federation
Total Number of QS Universities: 26
Average Rank of Top Universities: 582
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $481
Russia has 26 universities that rank among the top 1,000 universities in the QS World Ranking 2024, and these universities have an average rank of 582. It takes the 12th spot on our list of the 25 countries with the best education system in the world.
11. Spain
Total Number of QS Universities: 28
Average Rank of Top Universities: 529
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $1,517
The Spanish government has a per capita expenditure of $1,517 on education as of 2024. 28 of the country’s universities rank among the top 1,000 QS universities, giving it the 11th spot on our list.
10. Canada
Total Number of QS Universities: 28
Average Rank of Top Universities: 386
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $2,204
Canada ranks 10th on our list of the countries with the best education system in the world with 28 universities ranking among the top 1,000 universities in the QS World Ranking 2024. The average rank of these 28 universities comes up to 386.
9. India
Total Number of QS Universities: 31
Average Rank of Top Universities: $619
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $121
India is the most populated country in the world, boasting one of the best education systems. It spends 4.64% of its GDP on education expenses, which comes up to a per capita government expenditure of $121 on education as of 2024.
8. South Korea
Total Number of QS Universities: 31
Average Rank of Top Universities: 516
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $1,592
South Korea has one of the best education systems in the world, with 31 universities ranking among the top 1,000 QS universities across the globe. The East Asian country has a per capita educational spending of around $1,592.
7. Japan
Total Number of QS Universities: 32
Average Rank of Top Universities: 549
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $1,126
Japan has 32 universities among the top 1,000 QS universities, with the average rank of its top universities being 549. The country’s per capita government expenditure on education comes up to $1,126 as of 2024.
6. Italy
Total Number of QS Universities: 36
Average Rank of Top Universities: 572
Per Capita Government Expenditure on Education (2024 Estimates): $1,534
Italy ranks sixth on our list of the top countries with the best education system in the world. The Italian government spends 4.13% of its GDP on education expenses. This comes up to a per capita government expenditure of $1,534 on education as of 2024.
