Best Countries In The World For School Education (Ranked)

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to moving abroad is getting your child into a good school. In order to find a place in the right primary or secondary school, you’ll not only need to understand how the education system in your new country works, but how good it is.

To help you in your search for the right school, we’ve ranked the countries considered best for education. We’ve taken several factors into account, including performance for key subjects, education spending, and the country’s social and economic environment.

The 12 countries that make the grade all boast wonderful state education systems that tax-paying expats can take advantage of. With that said, let’s take a look at which country has the best education system.

What makes these places the best countries for education in the world?

Levels of education vary between countries around the world. Some countries invest heavily in state education, while others do not. Therefore, the quality of schools can vary considerably between countries.

Generally speaking, the quality of education in developed nations is good. However, even among the wealthiest and most developed countries, the quality of education can vary, with those at the higher end of the spectrum offering truly world-leading education.

In this article, we’ve ranked the top 12 best countries in the world for quality of education, using data from the Organisation for Economic Co-ordination and Development (OECD) and other sources.

We’ve based our decisions on the percentage of population that graduate from secondary education, the percentage of GDP invested in education, and the funding that the average individual child receives at both primary and secondary level. These rankings are for state (public) primary and secondary education only.

According to our research these are currently the best countries for education in the world. We have based our rankings on a number of variables including overall secondary graduation rate, spending per student, general syllabi and education outcomes. The final rankings are based on our own interpretation of these statistics.

Honourable mentions go to Belgium, Singapore and Iceland, who only narrowly missed the cut.

1/ United States

1. GDP US$20.94 trillion
2. POPULATION 331.89 million
3. GDP PER CAPITA, PPP US$63,543

Education overview

The United States tops our leaderboard as the best country for education. Being one of the world’s biggest spenders in education, it’s no wonder America produces so many modern-day CEOs, academics and artists. Educational attainment is extremely high in the USA, with around 50% of the population completing tertiary education, and a further 42% having completed upper secondary education.

The US school system is typically split into three levels: elementary (taking children from 5 to 11), middle (covering age 11 to 13) and high school (from age 13 to 17).

In terms of economy, the USA is on the up after a dip during COVID. US GDP grew 5.7% in 2021, after decreasing 3.4% in 2020. This resulted in an increase of 6.7 million jobs in 2021, with the average annual unemployment rate sitting at around 5.4%.

Education in the United States in stats

Data: oecd.org

2/ United Kingdom

1. GDP US$2.708 trillion
2. POPULATION 67.22 million
3. GDP PER CAPITA, PPP US$40,284

Education overview

The UK offers a universal public education system, both in primary and secondary schools with the belief that every child regardless of background deserves a good education.

Children in the UK have to legally attend school from 5 years old until 16 years old, after which they can choose to go into full-time employment, to college, become an apprentice, or apply to university. Primary and secondary schools follow a ‘national curriculum’ set by the government, ensuring all children receive a good education across a broad range of subjects.

The UK economy is highly developed, providing job opportunities for all levels of school leavers. The rate of unemployment in the UK is very low at just 4.3%, while around  65% of graduates and 77% of postgraduates can expect to find their way into highly-skilled occupations. The government also imposes a minimum wage, forcing employers to pay all workers a salary considered enough to live on.

Education in the United Kingdom in stats

Data: oecd.org

3/ South Korea

1. GDP US$1,631 trillion
2. POPULATION 51.78 million
3. GDP PER CAPITA, PPP US$31,489

Education overview

South Korea is – to put it bluntly – obsessed with education. There’s even a term for it in Korea: “education fever.” Students in South Korea are known for being extremely competitive, which is why it should come as no surprise that the country ranks so highly worldwide.

South Korea can also boast of having the world’s most educated population, with 84% of people having completed high school education and 71.5% enrolling in university.

Economically, South Korea has experienced a decade of rapid economic growth and is now considered a highly industrialised economy led by the technology sectors – electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, as well as chemicals, shipbuilding and steel.

Education in South Korea in stats

Data: oecd.org

4/ Denmark

1. GDP US$355.2 billion
2. POPULATION 5.83 million
3. GDP PER CAPITA, PPP US$60,908

Education overview

The education system in Denmark is less rigid than in many other high-performing countries, with a system that values curiosity and logic over memorisation. As such, primary education tends to avoid class rankings and formal tests to focus instead on problem-solving and social integration. And the approach seems to work, with almost 80% of Danes going on to complete upper secondary education.

Academia and the pursuit of knowledge is considered a way of life in Denmark, and doesn’t stop with childhood. One in three Danish adults aged 25-64 is taking some kind of continuing education course, either on top of a degree or simply as a hobby.

Denmark’s economy has already returned to pre-pandemic size and is expected to sustain its momentum. The employment rate in Denmark averages 65.74%.

Education in Denmark in stats

Data: oecd.org

5/ Netherlands

1. GDP US$912.2 billion
2. POPULATION 17.44 million
3. GDP PER CAPITA, PPP US$52,304

Education overview

The Netherlands ranks highly across most fields of education and was even named third-most educated country in the world by the World Economic Forum in 2016. A highly international country, children in Dutch schools are taught English from a young age, and there are a wealth of bi-lingual and international schools for expats to choose from.

The Dutch education system is known for its modern curriculum and facilities, encouraging students to meet international standards of education. The Dutch are big spenders when it comes to education, especially in the realm of secondary education, and so it’s no surprise they rank consistently high across many education metrics.

The Netherlands economy is the seventeenth largest in the world and the fifth largest in the European monetary Union, with its leading sectors being aerospace, defence, cyber security, energy, information and communication technology and agriculture.

Education in the Netherlands in stats

Data: oecd.org

6/ Germany

1. GDP US$3.806 trillion
2. POPULATION 83.1 million
3. GDP PER CAPITA, PPP US$45,723

Education overview

Despite running into some post-pandemic problems, the German education system remains one of the best-performing in the world. For the proof, one need look no further than the quality of high school graduates Germany turns out – they fill the corridors of the world’s top universities and are top competitors for the world’s highest-paying jobs.

Germany spends big on education, and this is reflected in its famously spic-and-span classrooms, its beautifully designed school buildings and its top-of-the-range facilities. Class sizes in Germany are typically fairly small and teachers are treated like royalty, receiving the second-highest teaching salaries in the world.

After graduating from one of the best countries for education in the world, German students will enter into the fourth largest economy in the world after the USA, China and Japan, with impressive employment rates of 91.3% for graduates in 2021.

Education in Germany in stats

Data: oecd.org

7/ Ireland

1. GDP US$418.6 billion
2. POPULATION 4.994 million
3. GDP PER CAPITA, PPP US$83,812

Education overview

When it comes to education, Ireland is one to watch. Historically a low-performer in the field, the emerald isle has come on leaps and bounds in recent years to emerge as one of the best countries for education.

And, while class sizes in Ireland are usually on the larger side (Ireland has a bit of a schools shortage due to its growing population), Irish teachers benefit from some of the highest salaries in the world.

The litmus test of whether Ireland can continue this upwards trend will be whether or not the country can continue its rapid economic development. Until the end of 2022, Ireland was the fastest-growing economy in the EU, but has since been affected by the global cost of living crisis. This sucker-punch to the country’s GDP has impacted its education spending in the short-term, but hope is not lost and Ireland can be expected to continue its growth in the coming years.

Education in Ireland in stats

Data: oecd.org

8/ Sweden

1. GDP US$537.6 billion
2. POPULATION 10.38 million
3. GDP PER CAPITA, PPP US$51,925

Education overview

One of the most notable things about the Swedish education system is that it’s decentralised – giving Swedish citizens freedom of choice to enrol children in a diverse selection of schools. Because of this, Sweden has a phenomenal educational infrastructure, with all schools competing to offer the highest-quality education.

Sweden puts an emphasis on individual learning and makes play an integral part of early years education. Perhaps this is what places them comparatively high on the scale in providing equal opportunities to children across all social and economic backgrounds. Spending 4.1% of their GDP on education, the Swedes are some of the world’s biggest investors in education, as well as being one of the few countries to spend more per student on primary, as opposed to secondary education.

Education in Sweden in stats

Data: oecd.org

9/ Finland

1. GDP US$271.2 million
2. POPULATION 5.536 million
3. GDP PER CAPITA, PPP US$49,041

Education overview

Appearing near the top of the rankings for most, if not all subjects, it’s no wonder Finland can boast of having one of the best education systems in the world.

The Finns don’t skimp on education spending, being in the top 10 for education budgets worldwide. So, while teachers’ salaries and class sizes may be average today, it’s likely Finland will see huge improvements soon if it keeps up its current level of spending.

Another win for Finland’s schooling system is its ability to provide high-quality education regardless of social background, with students performing well across the board.

Education in Finland in stats

Data: oecd.org

10/ Japan

1. GDP US$5.065 trillion
2. POPULATION 125,836 million
3. GDP PER CAPITA, PPP US$40,113

Education overview

As well as having one of the best healthcare systems worldwide, Japan is a country that takes education extremely seriously. With an economy based heavily on science, engineering and technology, it’s no wonder Japanese students rank fifth and sixth in the world respectively for science and maths.

Overall, Japan has one of the highest levels of general adult education in the world. Around 4 in every 5 Japanese students have some form of tertiary education, with over 50% going on to university.

Japan is also well-known for its high-intensity education culture. Cram schools, called Juku, are common in major cities. These are private evening schools that many students attend to practice for exams.

This is not to say Japan is perfect. Ironically, considering the large intake, Japan has some of the lowest scores for people who finish tertiary education.

Education in Japan in stats

Data: oecd.org

11/ Australia

1. GDP US$1.331 trillion
2. POPULATION 25.726 million
3. GDP PER CAPITA, PPP US$51,812

Education overview

The Australian education system is standardised across the whole country, with children starting primary education around five years old and staying in compulsory education until age 16. After this, students can choose to stay on to receive a level 3 or level 4 certificate, enabling them to apply for university.

Australia also boasts a large and growing number of independent schools for children of all ages. As many as 30% of Australia’s primary school children now attend independent schools. However, this is not to say that public schools do not provide good-quality education. In Australia, 51.5% of adults go on to complete tertiary education – way above the OECD average of 40.7%.

In terms of economy, Australia is well on its way to a solid recovery from the pandemic, and has even managed to avoid some of the worst effects of the global cost of living crisis. The employment rate in Australia is currently sitting around 64.2%.

Education in Australia in stats

Data: oecd.org

12/ France

1. GDP US$515.3 billion
2. POPULATION 67.75 million
3. GDP PER CAPITA, PPP US$44,594

Education overview

The French education system is divided into three stages: primary, secondary and higher. School attendance is compulsory for children aged 6-16, with the language of instruction being French – expats should note that bilingual education programmes are mostly reserved for independent schools.

Public schools in France are free, secular and co-ed, and follow a national curriculum as laid out by the Ministry of Education. Only 20% of French children are educated privately.

The French economy is fifth largest in the world and represents one fifth of the Euro region’s GDP. Despite being rocked by the global cost of living crisis, the French economy is expected to grow by around 1.4% in 2025. The average employment rate between 2003 and 2022 in France was a respectable 65.05%.

Education in France in stats

Data: oecd.org

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