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Photo: Dirk Heldmaier derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale

Education & Knowledge

59th

of 198 countries placed

Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics

01The evidence

The 4 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Malta on education & knowledge — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.

Why these keys
  1. Key 1 of 4

    Out-of-School Rate, Primary

    UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

    Why it is a key

    Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Malta’s is from 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    2.638

    Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)

    Lower is better

    Malta: 2.638. Across the 192 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.004 (United Arab Emirates) to 65.6 (Equatorial Guinea); the world median is 3.691.

    World median
    3.691
    Best in Southern Europe
    0.11 Greece
  2. Key 2 of 4

    Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary

    UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

    Why it is a key

    Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Malta’s is from 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    93.49

    Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)

    Higher is better

    Malta: 93.49. Across the 187 countries at their latest reading, values run from 3.411 (Yemen) to 100 (United Arab Emirates); the world median is 85.9.

    World median
    85.9
    Best in Southern Europe
    99.93 Portugal
  3. Key 3 of 4

    Upper Secondary Completion Rate

    UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

    Why it is a key

    2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    83.98

    Upper secondary completion rate (%)

    Higher is better

    Malta: 83.98. Across the 164 countries in this edition, values run from 2.13 (South Sudan) to 99.27 (South Korea); the world median is 64.87.

    World median
    64.87
    Best in Southern Europe
    98.2 Croatia
  4. Key 4 of 4

    Government Spending on Education

    UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

    Why it is a key

    2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    No reading

    Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)

    Higher is better

    UIS publishes no 2023 figure for Malta, so the standing rests on the other keys.

    Across the 123 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Somalia) to 16.39 (Kiribati); the world median is 3.709.

    World median
    3.709
    Best in Southern Europe
    3.404 Serbia

03In context

Malta beside its neighbours

A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on education & knowledge, never a place within the region.

Southern Europe
1st198thNot placed · 26 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on education & knowledge

Malta and Southern Europe

Malta has no land border, so the table compares it with its sub-region. Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.

CountryStandingOut-of-School Rate, PrimaryOut-of-school rate, primary age (%)Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before PrimaryChildren one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)Upper Secondary Completion RateUpper secondary completion rate (%)Government Spending on EducationGovernment expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Greece2nd0.1199.5395.22—
Croatia12th1.81299.3298.2—
Portugal15th0.50899.9383.1—
Slovenia22nd1.44795.3793.2—
Spain34th1.23798.5874.82—
Montenegro45th0.21884.1788.97—
Italy46th2.05695.287.5—
Albania54th0.48894.4288.93.092
Malta59th2.63893.4983.98—
Gibraltar=67th1.5887.41——
San Marino=72nd6.13297.67——
Serbia95th3.33386.2182.763.404
Andorra112th2.41594.87—1.899
North Macedonia122nd3.79152.3786.31—
Bosnia and Herzegovina136th2.09737.4966.463.246
Kosovonot placed————
Vatican Citynot placed————

“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is

04Context, no vote

Where Malta is ahead of the world, and behind

27 more statistics filed under education & knowledge, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.

Every country

Ahead of the world median19

Statistics on which Malta does better than the middle country measured.

  • Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.874▲ Improved since 2015

    Malta: 0.874 · world median 0.619 · Academic freedom index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.019 to 0.978; higher is better.

    Position 25th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93312.42▲ Improved since 2013

    Malta: 12.42 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.

    Position 33rd of 193 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.94110.19▲ Improved since 2010

    Malta: 10.19 · world median 7.941 · Learning-adjusted years of school (0–14). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.207 to 12.81; higher is better.

    Position 39th of 172 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

  • Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2198.07▼ Worsened since 2015

    Malta: 98.07 · world median 89.21 · Lower secondary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 13.73 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 39th of 164 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3415.91No real change since 2013

    Malta: 15.91 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.

    Position 48th of 195 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32474.43▲ Improved since 2010

    Malta: 474.43 · world median 414.32 · Harmonized test score (TIMSS-equivalent points; 300 = minimum, 625 = advanced attainment). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.

    Published values in that edition run from 304.92 to 575.27; higher is better.

    Position 43rd of 172 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

  • Learning PovertyWorld Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics · 2023 · world median 34.0210.16No earlier reading

    Malta: 10.16 · world median 34.02 · 10-year-olds who cannot read and understand a simple text (%). World Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.331 to 98.5; lower is better.

    Position 94th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 43.869.08No earlier reading

    Malta: 69.08 · world median 43.8 · Pupils at the end of primary reaching minimum proficiency in mathematics (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.8 to 93.42; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 60.0890.24No earlier reading

    Malta: 90.24 · world median 60.08 · Pupils at the end of primary reaching minimum proficiency in reading (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 2 to 98.78; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.952,355No earlier reading

    Malta: 2,355 · world median 701.95 · Researchers per million inhabitants (full-time equivalent). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.446 to 18,130; higher is better.

    Position 42nd of 145 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2023 · world median 48.967.4No earlier reading

    Malta: 67.4 · world median 48.9 · Students at the end of lower secondary reaching minimum proficiency in mathematics (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.73 to 91.73; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Bachelor's or Higher AttainmentUIS · 2023 · world median 19.8626.3▲ Improved since 2013

    Malta: 26.3 · world median 19.86 · Adults 25+ who completed a bachelor's degree or higher (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.135 to 52.72; higher is better.

    Position 31st of 90 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • PISA Mathematics PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 442.09466.02▲ Improved since 2015

    Malta: 466.02 · world median 442.09 · Mean mathematics score. OECD, 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 336.4 to 574.66; higher is better.

    Position 33rd of 79 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2298.88No earlier reading

    Malta: 98.88 · world median 98.22 · 15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 36.7 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2022 · world median 58.5963.68No earlier reading

    Malta: 63.68 · world median 58.59 · Students at the end of lower secondary reaching minimum proficiency in reading (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 5.043 to 88.83; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • PISA Science PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 446.93465.59▲ Improved since 2015

    Malta: 465.59 · world median 446.93 · Mean science score. OECD, 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 347.1 to 561.43; higher is better.

    Position 36th of 79 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4398.14▼ Worsened since 2015

    Malta: 98.14 · world median 97.43 · Primary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 7.94 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 77th of 165 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Government Funding per Primary StudentUIS · 2022 · world median 17.8118.29▼ Worsened since 2012

    Malta: 18.29 · world median 17.81 · Government funding per primary student (% of GDP per capita). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 3.771 to 34.57; higher is better.

    Position 33rd of 68 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • PISA Reading PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 440.35445.3▲ Improved since 2015

    Malta: 445.3 · world median 440.35 · Mean reading score. OECD, 2022 edition, data for 2022.

    Published values in that edition run from 328.84 to 542.55; higher is better.

    Position 39th of 79 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

Behind the world median2

Statistics on which Malta does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9993.31No earlier reading

    Malta: 93.31 · world median 93.99 · Adults 15+ who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 26.83 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 92nd of 172 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Research and Development SpendingUIS · 2023 · world median 0.8140.648▼ Worsened since 2013

    Malta: 0.648 · world median 0.814 · Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 6.346; higher is better.

    Position 48th of 84 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

No better end6

These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.

  • Trust in ScientistsWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 34.3544.45Moved since 2018

    Malta: 44.45 · world median 34.35 · People aged 15+ who trust scientists in their country 'a lot' (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.

    Published values in that edition run from 9.335 to 72.35.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

  • Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · 2023 · world median 5.2795.03Moved since 2013

    Malta: 5.03 · world median 5.279 · Outbound mobility ratio, tertiary (% of tertiary enrolment at home). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.333 to 1,724.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1735.99No earlier reading

    Malta: 35.99 · world median 38.17 · Researchers who are women (% of headcount; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.54.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,2401,234No real change since 2022

    Malta: 1,234 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Share of Graduates from ICT ProgrammesUIS · 2023 · world median 5.6015.178Moved since 2014

    Malta: 5.178 · world median 5.601 · Tertiary graduates from ICT programmes (% of all graduates). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 17.19.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Female Share of STEM GraduatesUIS · 2023 · world median 35.332.82Moved since 2014

    Malta: 32.82 · world median 35.3 · STEM graduates who are women (%; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 8.333 to 55.96.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing

06The top of the list

Who leads on education & knowledge

The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Malta can most readily be measured against.

All 198 countries
  1. 1

    United Arab Emirates

    Western Asia

    1st of 198 · 2 of 4 keys

    Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    Greece

    Southern Europe

    2nd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys

    Photo: User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  3. 3

    Poland

    Eastern Europe

    3rd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys

    Photo: Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) · CC BY 3.0, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest placed on all 4 keys

    Moldova7th4/4 keys
  2. Highest in Europe

    Greece2nd3/4 keys
  3. This page

    Malta59th3/4 keys

Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.

07Questions

Malta on education & knowledge: questions answered

Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.

How does Malta rank on education & knowledge?

Malta is placed 59th of 198 countries on Education & Knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary and Upper Secondary Completion Rate). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.

What is the latest Out-of-School Rate, Primary figure for Malta?

2.638 in 2024 (out-of-school rate, primary age (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 3.691.

What is the latest Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary figure for Malta?

93.49 in 2024 (children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 85.9.

How have Malta’s education & knowledge figures changed?

Out-of-School Rate, Primary rose from 0.053 in 2011 to 2.638 in 2023; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary fell from 98.8 in 2011 to 93.49 in 2023; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 49.25 in 2000 to 83.98 in 2025; Government Spending on Education rose from 4.157 in 2002 to 4.713 in 2022.

Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Malta?

No current reading is published for Malta on Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Government Spending on Education, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Intergenerational Persistence in Education, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age, Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate, Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, School Life Expectancy, Secondary School Enrolment, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio, Upper Secondary Attainment and Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.

08Method

Method, sources and how to cite

What this topic does not measure

How much children actually learn is only partly covered. International test scores exist for a limited group of countries, and they are published here as context rather than used as a key, because a key must describe most of the world. Universities, research, and youth and adult literacy also appear as context.

About education & knowledge, in full

How the Education & Knowledge standing is decided

A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.

The education & knowledge method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built

The key statistics and their licences

The other 27 statistics on this page come from 8 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.

The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photographs

Malta’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Malta: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/malta/education

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