12. Sweden
Population with tertiary education: 46.4%
Sweden ranks 12th in our list of the top countries with the highest literacy rates in the world in 2017. It is well known that almost all Nordic countries have very good and regulated education systems. Mean years of schooling lasts up to 12.3, whereas expected years of schooling are 16.1. In addition, Swedish government spends 7.7% of GDP on education!