Photo: Khairul Nizam . · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Singapore: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Singapore is placed 71st of 198 countries on education & knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Out-of-School Rate, Primary 0.212 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 95.2 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
71st
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 0.212Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 95.2Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- —Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025No reading for this country
- 2.104Government Spending on Education, 2023Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Singapore 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.
Key 1 of 4
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Singapore’s is from 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.212
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Singapore: 0.212. 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 South-eastern Asia
- 0.212 Singapore
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Singapore’s is from 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
95.2
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Singapore: 95.2. 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 South-eastern Asia
- 96.66 Thailand
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
UIS publishes no 2025 figure for Singapore, so the standing rests on the other keys.
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 South-eastern Asia
- 73.54 Philippines
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
2.104
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
Singapore: 2.104. 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 South-eastern Asia
- 5.241 Timor-Leste
02Over time
Which way Singapore is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%) · lower is better
SingaporeWorld median
Singapore rose from 0.01 in 2016 to 0.212 in 2023; the world median went from 2.954 to 3.393.
Every year’s figures
Year Singapore World median 2024 — 3.691 2023 0.21 3.393 2022 0.93 3.002 2021 0.65 3.330 2020 0.12 2.678 2019 0.10 2.758 2018 0.20 2.439 2017 0.03 2.907 2016 0.01 2.954 2015 — 3.052 2014 — 3.904 2013 — 3.413 2012 — 3.408 2011 — 3.626 2010 — 3.491 2009 — 3.577 2008 — 3.878 2007 — 4.029 2006 — 4.338 2005 — 4.571 2004 — 3.791 2003 — 4.412 2002 — 4.144 2001 — 4.051 2000 — 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
SingaporeWorld median
Singapore fell from 100 in 2018 to 95.2 in 2023; the world median went from 89.6 to 87.61.
Every year’s figures
Year Singapore World median 2024 — 85.9 2023 95.2 87.6 2022 98.9 87.7 2021 96.0 87.0 2020 96.9 88.3 2019 97.1 88.8 2018 100.0 89.6 2017 — 87.4 2016 — 87.9 2015 — 88.2 2014 — 89.2 2013 — 88.0 2012 — 85.4 2011 — 86.2 2010 — 86.1 2009 — 84.8 2008 — 85.8 2007 — 86.7 2006 — 84.0 2005 — 82.2 2004 — 81.8 2003 — 78.3 2002 — 80.0 2001 — 80.8 2000 — 66.3 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
SingaporeWorld median
Singapore fell from 3.321 in 2000 to 2.104 in 2023; the world median went from 3.886 to 3.709.
Every year’s figures
Year Singapore World median 2023 2.104 3.7092 2022 2.475 4.0570 2021 2.827 4.2611 2020 2.692 4.4056 2019 2.728 4.1407 2018 2.853 4.2159 2017 2.879 4.1401 2016 2.945 4.2342 2015 2.992 4.2386 2014 3.014 4.2005 2013 2.854 4.3493 2012 3.071 4.0348 2011 3.031 3.9987 2010 3.080 4.1396 2009 3.010 4.6638 2008 2.765 4.4226 2007 2.947 4.1717 2006 2.859 4.0593 2005 3.196 4.0557 2004 3.653 3.9745 2003 3.982 4.1595 2002 3.879 4.0173 2001 3.543 4.1002 2000 3.321 3.8861
03In context
Singapore 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.
Singapore and South-eastern Asia
Singapore 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.
| Country | Standing | Out-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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore | 71st | 0.212 | 95.2 | — | 2.104 |
 Thailand | 74th | 0.552 | 96.66 | 72.72 | 2.521 |
 Vietnam | 75th | 1.732 | 94.43 | 51.98 | — |
 Indonesia | 117th | 1.071 | 88.16 | 72.75 | 1.275 |
 Timor-Leste | =123rd | 6.877 | 58.92 | 56.72 | 5.241 |
 Brunei | 127th | 3.612 | 77.29 | — | — |
 Malaysiacompare | =131st | 11.97 | 85.43 | 63.26 | 3.515 |
 Philippines | 135th | 11.64 | 76.54 | 73.54 | 3.624 |
 Cambodia | 160th | 3.691 | 72.15 | 25.65 | 2.181 |
 Laos | 170th | 10.34 | 67.06 | 36.4 | 1.234 |
 Myanmar | 192nd | — | 12.06 | 24.38 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across South-eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below Singapore in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Singapore is ahead of the world, and behind
21 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.
Ahead of the world median15
Statistics on which Singapore does better than the middle country measured.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32575.27414.32No real change since 2010
Singapore: 575.27 · 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 1st of 172 · derived.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.94112.817.941No real change since 2010
Singapore: 12.81 · 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 1st of 172 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2022 · world median 58.5988.8358.59No earlier reading
Singapore: 88.83 · 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.
PISA Mathematics PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 442.09574.66442.09No real change since 2012
Singapore: 574.66 · 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 1st of 79 · derived.
PISA Reading PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 440.35542.55440.35No real change since 2012
Singapore: 542.55 · 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 1st of 79 · derived.
PISA Science PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 446.93561.43446.93No real change since 2012
Singapore: 561.43 · 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 1st of 79 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 43.892.6943.8No earlier reading
Singapore: 92.69 · 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.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2023 · world median 48.989.3448.9No earlier reading
Singapore: 89.34 · 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.
Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.958,782701.95No earlier reading
Singapore: 8,782 · 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 5th of 145 · derived.
Learning PovertyWorld Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics · 2023 · world median 34.023.3734.02No earlier reading
Singapore: 3.37 · 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 121st of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 60.0896.6660.08No earlier reading
Singapore: 96.66 · 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.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2299.8998.22No earlier reading
Singapore: 99.89 · 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.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3416.7413.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Singapore: 16.74 · 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 29th of 195 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93311.999.933▲ Improved since 2013
Singapore: 11.99 · 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 42nd of 193 · derived.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9997.6593.99No earlier reading
Singapore: 97.65 · 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 52nd of 172 · derived.
Behind the world median2
Statistics on which Singapore does worse than the middle country measured.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.4660.619▲ Improved since 2015
Singapore: 0.466 · 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 110th of 176 · derived.
Government Funding per Primary StudentUIS · 2022 · world median 17.8114.4317.81▼ Worsened since 2017
Singapore: 14.43 · 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 48th of 68 · derived.
No better end4
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Share of Graduates from ICT ProgrammesUIS · 2023 · world median 5.60110.835.601Moved since 2016
Singapore: 10.83 · 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.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,24027,5602,240Moved since 2022
Singapore: 27,560 · 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.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1731.7538.17No earlier reading
Singapore: 31.75 · 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.
Female Share of STEM GraduatesUIS · 2023 · world median 35.331.8335.3Moved since 2016
Singapore: 31.83 · 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.
No current reading for Singapore
Bachelor's or Higher Attainment (last 2022), Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2023), Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2012), Intergenerational Persistence in Education, Lower Secondary Completion Rate, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age (last 2023), Out-of-School Rate, Primary (last 2023), Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary (last 2012), Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary (last 2023), Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate (last 2023), Primary Completion Rate, Primary Schools with Electricity (last 2023), Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching (last 2023), Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary (last 2023), Qualified Teachers in Primary Education (last 2023), Research and Development Spending (last 2022), School Life Expectancy (last 2023), Secondary School Enrolment (last 2023), Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2023), Trust in Scientists (last 2018), Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2022), Upper Secondary Completion Rate and Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“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
05Country Index 2026
Education & Knowledge among Singapore’s 15 topics
Education & Knowledge is Singapore’s 11th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Mobility & Trade1st of 1774/4 keys
- Digital & Technology3rd of 1984/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture8th of 1842/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital12th of 1963/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions12th of 1944/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience13th of 1934/4 keys
- Work & Labour17th of 1824/4 keys
- Economy & Innovationjoint 24th of 1764/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing28th of 2003/4 keys
- Peace & Security33rd of 1774/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge71st of 1983/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties87th of 1984/4 keys
- Energy91st of 1653/3 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 106th of 1834/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability112th of 1863/4 keys
No standing on Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on education & knowledge
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Singapore can most readily be measured against.
1
United Arab EmiratesWestern Asia
1st of 198 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
GreeceSouthern Europe
2nd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
PolandEastern Europe
3rd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
Moldova7th4/4 keysHighest in Asia
United Arab Emirates1st2/4 keysHighest in South-eastern Asia
Singapore71st3/4 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
Singapore 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 Singapore rank on education & knowledge?
Singapore is placed 71st 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 Government Spending on Education). 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 Singapore?
0.212 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 Singapore?
95.2 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 Singapore’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary rose from 0.01 in 2016 to 0.212 in 2023; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary fell from 100 in 2018 to 95.2 in 2023; Government Spending on Education fell from 3.321 in 2000 to 2.104 in 2023.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Singapore?
No current reading is published for Singapore on Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, Intergenerational Persistence in Education, Lower Secondary Completion Rate, Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of Birth, Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age, Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Outbound Mobility Ratio, Tertiary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate, Primary Completion Rate, Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, Research and Development Spending, School Life Expectancy, Secondary School Enrolment, Tertiary Enrolment Ratio, Trust in Scientists, Upper Secondary Attainment, Upper Secondary Completion Rate 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.
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
- Out-of-School Rate, Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Upper Secondary Completion Rate — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Spending on Education — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 21 statistics on this page come from 7 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
Singapore’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Singapore (banner) — Khairul Nizam ., CC BY 2.0
- United Arab Emirates — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greece — User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Poland — Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich), CC BY 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Singapore: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/singapore/education