Photo: uploaded by Chern038 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Ukraine: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Ukraine is placed joint 72nd of 171 countries on education & knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Upper Secondary Completion Rate 97.25 (2025); Out-of-School Rate, Primary 12.93 (2024).
Education & Knowledge
joint72nd
of 171 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Ukraine 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
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Why it is a key: How far a schooling system carries the young people who get through primary — the only key here that measures anything past childhood.
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
97.25
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Ukraine: 97.25. 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 Eastern Europe
- 97.25 Ukraine
- Land neighbours
- Belarus 94.55 · Hungary 86.31 · Moldova 92.82 · Poland 91.82 · Romania 81.93 · Russia 91.4 · Slovakia 93.3
Each grey tick is one of 164 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 2 of 4
Youth Literacy Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Why it is a key: Whether 15- to 24-year-olds can read and write — the only key here that tests what a schooling system produced, rather than how many passed through it or what it cost.
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%)
Higher is better
UIS publishes no reading from 2014–2024 for Ukraine, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 174 countries at their latest reading, values run from 36.7 (South Sudan) to 100 (Uzbekistan); the world median is 98.22.
- World median
- 98.22
- Best in Eastern Europe
- 99.94 Romania
- Land neighbours
- Belarus 99.87 · Hungary 99.37 · Moldova 99.81 · Poland 99.8 · Romania 99.94 · Russia 99.92
Each grey tick is one of 174 countries at its latest reading, 2014–2024.
Key 3 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Why it is a key: What a state chooses to spend on education, as a share of its economy — the input, where the other two keys measure reach.
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 Ukraine, 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 Eastern Europe
- 6.557 Moldova
- Land neighbours
- Belarus 4.909 · Moldova 6.557 · Russia 4.165
Each grey tick is one of 123 countries in the 2023 edition.
Key 4 of 4
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Why it is a key: Primary-age children who are not in school at all: the floor of an education system.
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
12.93
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Ukraine: 12.93. Across the 121 countries in this edition, values run from 0.004 (United Arab Emirates) to 64.73 (South Sudan); the world median is 3.691.
- World median
- 3.691
- Best in Eastern Europe
- 0.092 Poland
- Land neighbours
- Belarus 4.492 · Hungary 2.808 · Moldova 0.463 · Poland 0.092 · Slovakia 1.064
Each grey tick is one of 121 countries in the 2024 edition.
02Over time
Which way Ukraine 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.
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
UkraineWorld median
Ukraine rose from 88.91 in 2000 to 97.25 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Ukraine World median 2025 97.3 64.9 2024 97.1 65.0 2023 96.8 64.2 2022 96.7 63.6 2021 96.5 62.9 2020 96.2 62.2 2019 95.9 61.5 2018 95.7 60.9 2017 95.4 60.5 2016 95.2 60.1 2015 94.9 58.9 2014 94.6 57.0 2013 94.4 54.7 2012 94.1 52.4 2011 93.9 50.9 2010 93.7 49.5 2009 93.5 48.5 2008 93.4 47.4 2007 93.1 46.2 2006 92.8 45.0 2005 92.3 43.8 2004 91.7 42.9 2003 91.0 41.6 2002 90.3 40.3 2001 89.7 39.0 2000 88.9 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
UkraineWorld median
Ukraine rose from 4.023 in 2000 to 5.14 in 2021; the world median went from 3.886 to 4.261.
Every year’s figures
Year Ukraine World median 2023 — 3.7092 2022 — 4.0570 2021 5.14 4.2611 2020 5.38 4.4056 2019 5.44 4.1407 2018 5.32 4.2159 2017 5.42 4.1401 2016 5.01 4.2342 2015 5.34 4.2386 2014 5.87 4.2005 2013 6.42 4.3493 2012 6.44 4.0348 2011 5.94 3.9987 2010 — 4.1396 2009 7.05 4.6638 2008 6.15 4.4226 2007 5.90 4.1717 2006 5.98 4.0593 2005 5.85 4.0557 2004 5.12 3.9745 2003 5.40 4.1595 2002 5.24 4.0173 2001 4.53 4.1002 2000 4.02 3.8861 Out-of-School Rate, Primary
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%) · lower is better
UkraineWorld median
Ukraine rose from 1.996 in 2002 to 12.93 in 2024; the world median went from 4.144 to 3.691.
Every year’s figures
Year Ukraine World median 2024 12.93 3.691 2023 12.01 3.393 2022 — 3.002 2021 15.87 3.330 2020 16.35 2.678 2019 16.38 2.758 2018 16.80 2.439 2017 16.46 2.907 2016 16.26 2.954 2015 15.97 3.052 2014 11.32 3.904 2013 10.71 3.413 2012 10.24 3.408 2011 9.13 3.626 2010 8.45 3.491 2009 8.14 3.577 2008 7.67 3.878 2007 7.55 4.029 2006 7.74 4.338 2005 7.68 4.571 2004 8.17 3.791 2003 8.08 4.412 2002 2.00 4.144 2001 — 4.051 2000 — 8.642
03In context
Ukraine beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 171 countries on education & knowledge, never a place within the region.
Ukraine and the countries it borders
The standing is each country’s place among all 171 placed on the topic; the other columns are the publishers’ own values, read at the edition the standing used.
| Country | Standing | Upper Secondary Completion RateUpper secondary completion rate (%) | Youth Literacy Rate15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%) | Government Spending on EducationGovernment expenditure on education (% of GDP) | Out-of-School Rate, PrimaryOut-of-school rate, primary age (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Poland | 3rd | 91.82 | 99.8 | — | 0.092 |
 Moldova | 6th | 92.82 | 99.81 | 6.557 | 0.463 |
 Slovakia | =9th | 93.3 | — | — | 1.064 |
 Romania | 16th | 81.93 | 99.94 | — | — |
 Russia | 18th | 91.4 | 99.92 | 4.165 | — |
 Belarus | 22nd | 94.55 | 99.87 | 4.909 | 4.492 |
 Hungary | 54th | 86.31 | 99.37 | — | 2.808 |
| Ukraine | =72nd | 97.25 | 99.8 | — | 12.93 |
“—” means the publisher gives no reading for that country in that edition. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed.
Across Eastern Europe
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 171.
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below Ukraine in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Ukraine is ahead of the world, and behind
17 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 median8
Statistics on which Ukraine does better than the middle country measured.
Tertiary Enrolment RatioUIS · 2024 · world median 52.7787.1952.77▼ Worsened since 2014
Ukraine: 87.19 · world median 52.77 · Gross enrolment ratio, tertiary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 2.566 to 141.86; higher is better.
Position 11th of 95 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9999.4393.99No earlier reading
Ukraine: 99.43 · 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 20th of 172 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4399.5697.43▼ Worsened since 2015
Ukraine: 99.56 · 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 38th of 165 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32478.17414.32▲ Improved since 2010
Ukraine: 478.17 · 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 41st of 172 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9419.8757.941▲ Improved since 2010
Ukraine: 9.875 · 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 41st of 172 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93311.129.933▼ Worsened since 2013
Ukraine: 11.12 · 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 67th of 193 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Pre-Primary Net Enrolment RateUIS · 2024 · world median 65.9380.2265.93▲ Improved since 2015
Ukraine: 80.22 · world median 65.93 · Net enrolment rate, pre-primary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.779 to 99.85; higher is better.
Position 44th of 120 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Learning PovertyWorld Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics · 2023 · world median 34.0227.8834.02No earlier reading
Ukraine: 27.88 · 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 69th of 125 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Behind the world median7
Statistics on which Ukraine does worse than the middle country measured.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3413.3313.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Ukraine: 13.33 · 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 99th of 195 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.95586.08701.95No earlier reading
Ukraine: 586.08 · 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 77th of 145 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
School Life ExpectancyUIS · 2024 · world median 14.5913.9914.59▼ Worsened since 2014
Ukraine: 13.99 · world median 14.59 · School life expectancy, primary to tertiary (years). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.478 to 21.01; higher is better.
Position 45th of 77 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Inbound Mobility Rate, TertiaryUIS · 2024 · world median 5.4942.2085.494▼ Worsened since 2014
Ukraine: 2.208 · world median 5.494 · Inbound mobility rate, tertiary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.12; higher is better.
Position 52nd of 75 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Secondary School EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 93.1986.1793.19▼ Worsened since 2014
Ukraine: 86.17 · world median 93.19 · Gross secondary enrolment ratio (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 19.87 to 158.55; higher is better.
Position 77th of 109 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Research and Development SpendingUIS · 2023 · world median 0.8140.3220.814▼ Worsened since 2013
Ukraine: 0.322 · 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 60th of 84 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.2810.619▼ Worsened since 2015
Ukraine: 0.281 · 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 130th of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No better end2
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1743.0138.17No earlier reading
Ukraine: 43.01 · 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.
Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · 2023 · world median 5.2796.6365.279Moved since 2013
Ukraine: 6.636 · 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.
No current reading for Ukraine
Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2021), Government Spending on Education (last 2021), PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance and Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2021). Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
05Country Index 2026
Education & Knowledge among Ukraine’s 14 topics
Education & Knowledge is Ukraine’s 5th best-placed topic of 14. Strongest first; each marker sits at the position divided by that topic’s field, so fields of different sizes compare fairly.
- Poverty & Inequality5th of 1592/2 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 21st of 1983/3 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 56th of 1834/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital65th of 1963/3 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 72nd of 1712/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing91st of 2003/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation83rd of 1764/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 91st of 1812/3 keys
- Risk & Resilience103rd of 1923/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties117th of 1983/3 keys
- Food & Agriculture106th of 1754/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 121st of 1944/4 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 112th of 1473/3 keys
- Peace & Security156th of 1774/4 keys
No standing on Work & Labour, Energy: 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 171, and the leaders Ukraine can most readily be measured against.
1
South KoreaEastern Asia
1st of 171 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
2
UzbekistanCentral Asia
2nd of 171 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra · CC BY 2.0, greyscale
3PolandEastern Europe
3rd of 171 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Europe
Poland3rd2/4 keysThis page
Ukraine=72nd2/4 keys
Positions out of 171 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
Ukraine 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 Ukraine rank on education & knowledge?
Ukraine is placed joint 72nd of 171 countries on Education & Knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (Upper Secondary Completion Rate and Out-of-School Rate, Primary). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Upper Secondary Completion Rate figure for Ukraine?
97.25 in 2025 (upper secondary completion rate (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 64.87.
What is the latest Out-of-School Rate, Primary figure for Ukraine?
12.93 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.
How does Ukraine compare with Russia on education & knowledge?
Russia is placed 18th of 171, and Ukraine joint 72nd. Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Russia 91.4, Ukraine 97.25.
How have Ukraine’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 88.91 in 2000 to 97.25 in 2025; Government Spending on Education rose from 4.023 in 2000 to 5.14 in 2021; Out-of-School Rate, Primary rose from 1.996 in 2002 to 12.93 in 2024.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Ukraine?
No current reading is published for Ukraine on Government Funding per Primary Student, Government Spending on Education, PISA Mathematics Performance, PISA Reading Performance, PISA Science Performance and Upper Secondary Attainment. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Keep reading
Explore further
Ukraine, topic by topic
- Governance & Institutions=121st of 194
- Economy & Innovation83rd of 176
- Health & Wellbeing91st of 200
- Development & Human Capital65th of 196
- Environment & Sustainability=91st of 181
- Gender & Equality=56th of 183
- Democracy & Civil Liberties117th of 198
- Peace & Security156th of 177
- Risk & Resilience103rd of 192
- Mobility & Trade=112th of 147
- Food & Agriculture106th of 175
- Poverty & Inequality5th of 159
- Digital & Technology=21st of 198
- The full Ukraine profile
Nearby, on education & knowledge
The key statistics, for every country
09Method
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 adult literacy also appear as context.
How the Education & Knowledge standing is decided, step by step
A standing is a place in a list, not a mark out of anything. This one is part of the Country Index 2026, and it is worked out like this.
- A few key indicators decide it; the rest are context. 4 indicators on this topic are keys and 22 are charted alongside them without a vote. That split is the point: if every statistic voted, importing five more of one kind would quietly change what the topic is about.
- Each key is read at one edition. ⚠ The keys behind this standing do not all describe the same year — they run from 2023 to 2025, because publishers release on their own schedules. Read the standing as “how this country places now”, not as a snapshot of one year.
- Every country’s published value is turned into a place within that one key’s own field, and then expressed as a share of that field — how far down this key’s list the country sits, rather than how many countries are above it. Keys where a higher published number is worse (terrorism, hunger, disaster risk) are turned round first, so the good end is always the same end.
- Dividing by the field first is the whole reason this works. A place carries the size of its list inside it: 22nd of 44 and 108th of 215 are the same showing, and averaging the numbers 22 and 108 says loudly that they are not. Fields on this site run from about 44 countries to about 215, so averaging raw places would reward a country for happening to be measured in small ones. Dividing each place by its own field removes the size and leaves only the showing.
- The shares are averaged, plainly. One key, one vote — no key is weighted above another, because any weighting would be this site’s opinion presented as a measurement. Countries are then put in order by that average, and the average itself is never published. It is our arithmetic with nothing anchoring it, so printing it would invite it to be read as a measurement somebody made. The position it produces, the band, and the keys it was built from are all published instead — every one of them checkable against the tables on this page.
- A country needs 2 of this topic’s 4 keys — half, rounded up, and never fewer than 2. A standing built from one reading, printed beside one built from four, is two different things sharing a column heading. 171 countries clear the bar here.
- A key has to earn its vote every edition. It must measure at least 120 countries (below that it starts measuring who was surveyed rather than the world), it must not have more than 10% of its field tied at either end, and it must not repeat another key in the same topic — Spearman correlation above 0.92 counts as repeating. A topic needs at least 2 surviving keys to place anyone at all; this one has 4.
- A standing is relative, and the grouping is ours. It says where a country places against the others measured alongside it, so it moves when they move. The publishers listed on this page did not agree to be read together, and each measures its subject its own way: the underlying numbers are theirs, the ordering on top is this site’s — the same method as the rest of the Country Index, applied to one subject instead of all of them.
The key statistics and their licences
- Upper Secondary Completion Rate — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Youth Literacy 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
- Out-of-School Rate, Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 17 statistics on this page come from 5 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
Ukraine’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Ukraine (banner) — uploaded by Chern038, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Uzbekistan — Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0
- Poland — Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich), CC BY 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Ukraine: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/ukraine/education