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Education & Knowledge

60th

of 198 countries placed

Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics

01The evidence

The 4 key statistics that decide it

Only these place United States 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 · United States’s is from 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    3.982

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

    Lower is better

    United States: 3.982. 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 Northern America
    3.982 United States
    Land neighbours
    Canada 4.99 · Mexico 0.363
  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 · United States’s is from 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0

    86.51

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

    Higher is better

    United States: 86.51. 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 Northern America
    93.3 Canada
    Land neighbours
    Canada 93.3 · Mexico 99.59
  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

    93.5

    Upper secondary completion rate (%)

    Higher is better

    United States: 93.5. 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 Northern America
    93.5 United States
    Land neighbours
    Canada 88.41 · Mexico 61.6
  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 United States, 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 Northern America
    1.865 Bermuda

03In context

United States 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.

Northern America
1st198thNot placed · 26 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on education & knowledge

United States and the countries it borders

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)
Mexicocompare24th0.36399.5961.6—
United States60th3.98286.5193.5—
Canadacompare70th4.9993.388.41—

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

Across Northern America

Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.

Placed either side on education & knowledge

The countries immediately above and below United States in the topic’s list.

04Context, no vote

Where United States 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 median20

Statistics on which United States does better than the middle country measured.

  • Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93313.91No real change since 2013

    United States: 13.91 · 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 3rd of 193 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary CompletionUIS · 2024 · world median 0.5290.994No earlier reading

    United States: 0.994 · world median 0.529 · Adjusted wealth parity index, lower secondary completion (poorest vs richest fifth; 1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.032 to 1.022; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4399.99▲ Improved since 2015

    United States: 99.99 · 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 6th of 165 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Research and Development SpendingUIS · 2023 · world median 0.8143.447▲ Improved since 2013

    United States: 3.447 · 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 5th of 84 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Bachelor's or Higher AttainmentUIS · 2023 · world median 19.8638.6▼ Worsened since 2013

    United States: 38.6 · 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 6th of 90 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Upper Secondary AttainmentUIS · 2023 · world median 65.7691.46No real change since 2013

    United States: 91.46 · world median 65.76 · Adults 25+ who completed upper secondary or higher (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 5.26 to 97.89; higher is better.

    Position 7th of 95 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • PISA Reading PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 440.35503.94▲ Improved since 2012

    United States: 503.94 · 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 9th of 79 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2199.03No real change since 2015

    United States: 99.03 · 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 18th of 164 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2022 · world median 58.5979.87No earlier reading

    United States: 79.87 · 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

  • Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32511.8▲ Improved since 2010

    United States: 511.8 · 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 24th of 172 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

  • Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 60.0894.51No earlier reading

    United States: 94.51 · 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 701.954,937No earlier reading

    United States: 4,937 · 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 24th of 145 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • PISA Science PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 446.93499.41▲ Improved since 2012

    United States: 499.41 · 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 16th of 79 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

  • Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.94110.56▲ Improved since 2010

    United States: 10.56 · 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 34th of 172 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

  • Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3415.92▼ Worsened since 2013

    United States: 15.92 · 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 47th of 195 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Learning PovertyWorld Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics · 2023 · world median 34.029.692No earlier reading

    United States: 9.692 · 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 95th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 43.867.84No earlier reading

    United States: 67.84 · 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 Mathematics, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2023 · world median 48.966.08No earlier reading

    United States: 66.08 · 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

  • Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.413No earlier reading

    United States: 0.413 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.

    Position 94th of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2017 dataset

  • PISA Mathematics PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 442.09464.89▲ Improved since 2012

    United States: 464.89 · 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 34th of 79 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2022 dataset

Behind the world median1

Statistics on which United States does worse than the middle country measured.

  • Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.397▼ Worsened since 2015

    United States: 0.397 · 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 117th of 176 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 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.

  • Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of BirthNobel Prize Outreach · 2025 · world median 2296No earlier reading

    United States: 296 · world median 2 · Laureates born in the country, 1901 to date (people). Nobel Prize Outreach, 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 1 to 296.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,240700,214No real change since 2022

    United States: 700,214 · 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

  • Trust in ScientistsWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 34.3553.94No real change since 2018

    United States: 53.94 · 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

  • Share of Graduates from ICT ProgrammesUIS · 2023 · world median 5.6016.183Moved since 2014

    United States: 6.183 · 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 35.338.48Moved since 2014

    United States: 38.48 · 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

  • Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · 2023 · world median 5.2790.655No real change since 2013

    United States: 0.655 · 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

“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 United States 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 Americas

    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines11th3/4 keys
  3. Highest in Northern America

    United States60th3/4 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

United States 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 United States rank on education & knowledge?

United States is placed 60th 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 United States?

3.982 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 United States?

86.51 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 does United States compare with Mexico on education & knowledge?

Mexico is placed 24th of 198, and United States 60th. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Mexico 0.363, United States 3.982; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Mexico 99.59, United States 86.51; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Mexico 61.6, United States 93.5.

How have United States’s education & knowledge figures changed?

Out-of-School Rate, Primary rose from 0.565 in 2005 to 3.982 in 2022; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary fell from 93.14 in 2005 to 86.51 in 2022; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 88.03 in 2000 to 93.5 in 2025; Government Spending on Education rose from 4.931 in 2015 to 5.42 in 2021.

Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for United States?

No current reading is published for United States on Adult Literacy Rate, Female Share of Researchers, Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment, Government Funding per Primary Student, Government Spending on Education, Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary, 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 and Youth Literacy Rate. 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 9 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

United States’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). United States: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/united-states/education

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