Photo: © User:Colin / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
United Kingdom: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
United Kingdom is placed 6th 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 0.07 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 98.6 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
6th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 0.07Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 98.6Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 90.29Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- —Government Spending on Education, 2023No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place United Kingdom 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)
Why it is a key: Primary-age children who are not in school at all: the floor of an education system.
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · United Kingdom’s is from 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
0.07
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
United Kingdom: 0.07. 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 Europe
- 0.07 United Kingdom
- Land neighbours
- Ireland 1.813
Each grey tick is one of 192 countries at its latest reading, 2014–2024.
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Why it is a key: Whether children take part in organised learning in the year before primary school — whether an education system reaches them before it starts.
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · United Kingdom’s is from 2014 · CC BY-SA 4.0
98.6
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
United Kingdom: 98.6. 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 Europe
- 99.56 Lithuania
- Land neighbours
- Ireland 95.03
Each grey tick is one of 187 countries at its latest reading, 2014–2024.
Key 3 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
90.29
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
United Kingdom: 90.29. 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 Europe
- 95.09 Ireland
- Land neighbours
- Ireland 95.09
Each grey tick is one of 164 countries in the 2025 edition.
Key 4 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 United Kingdom, 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
Each grey tick is one of 123 countries in the 2023 edition.
02Over time
Which way United Kingdom 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
United KingdomWorld median
United Kingdom rose from 0.052 in 2000 to 0.07 in 2023; the world median went from 8.642 to 3.393.
Every year’s figures
Year United Kingdom World median 2024 — 3.691 2023 0.0698 3.393 2022 0.0728 3.002 2021 0.0336 3.330 2020 0.0263 2.678 2019 0.0525 2.758 2018 0.3090 2.439 2017 0.7758 2.907 2016 1.2698 2.954 2015 1.4510 3.052 2014 1.6644 3.904 2013 1.9099 3.413 2012 1.9127 3.408 2011 1.0995 3.626 2010 0.5583 3.491 2009 0.7501 3.577 2008 0.3876 3.878 2007 2.3628 4.029 2006 1.0377 4.338 2005 0.0796 4.571 2004 0.5871 3.791 2003 0.0423 4.412 2002 0.0261 4.144 2001 0.0480 4.051 2000 0.0518 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
United KingdomWorld median
United Kingdom fell from 100 in 2000 to 98.6 in 2014; the world median went from 66.32 to 89.17.
Every year’s figures
Year United Kingdom World median 2024 — 85.9 2023 — 87.6 2022 — 87.7 2021 — 87.0 2020 — 88.3 2019 — 88.8 2018 — 89.6 2017 — 87.4 2016 — 87.9 2015 — 88.2 2014 98.6 89.2 2013 96.1 88.0 2012 97.4 85.4 2011 95.8 86.2 2010 95.9 86.1 2009 97.5 84.8 2008 97.3 85.8 2007 91.6 86.7 2006 91.9 84.0 2005 92.8 82.2 2004 93.9 81.8 2003 94.7 78.3 2002 99.9 80.0 2001 99.0 80.8 2000 100.0 66.3 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
United KingdomWorld median
United Kingdom rose from 87.38 in 2000 to 90.29 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year United Kingdom World median 2025 90.29 64.9 2024 90.10 65.0 2023 89.91 64.2 2022 89.73 63.6 2021 89.55 62.9 2020 89.34 62.2 2019 89.12 61.5 2018 88.94 60.9 2017 88.79 60.5 2016 88.61 60.1 2015 88.48 58.9 2014 88.29 57.0 2013 88.07 54.7 2012 87.88 52.4 2011 87.71 50.9 2010 87.68 49.5 2009 87.64 48.5 2008 87.65 47.4 2007 87.59 46.2 2006 87.58 45.0 2005 87.55 43.8 2004 87.52 42.9 2003 87.52 41.6 2002 87.48 40.3 2001 87.42 39.0 2000 87.38 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
United KingdomWorld median
United Kingdom rose from 4.018 in 2000 to 5.907 in 2021; the world median went from 3.886 to 4.261.
Every year’s figures
Year United Kingdom World median 2023 — 3.7092 2022 — 4.0570 2021 5.91 4.2611 2020 5.44 4.4056 2019 5.26 4.1407 2018 5.20 4.2159 2017 5.45 4.1401 2016 5.43 4.2342 2015 5.55 4.2386 2014 5.60 4.2005 2013 5.53 4.3493 2012 — 4.0348 2011 5.57 3.9987 2010 5.70 4.1396 2009 5.06 4.6638 2008 4.91 4.4226 2007 4.92 4.1717 2006 4.98 4.0593 2005 4.93 4.0557 2004 4.74 3.9745 2003 4.80 4.1595 2002 4.61 4.0173 2001 4.10 4.1002 2000 4.02 3.8861
03In context
United Kingdom 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.
United Kingdom and the countries it borders
The standing is each country’s place among all 198 placed on the topic; the other columns are the publishers’ own values, read at the edition the standing used.
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 6th | 0.07 | 98.6 | 90.29 | — |
 Ireland | 23rd | 1.813 | 95.03 | 95.09 | — |
“—” means the publisher gives no reading for that country in that edition. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed.
Across Northern Europe
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 Kingdom in the topic’s list.
Poland3rd
Cyprus4th
Lithuania5th- United Kingdom6th
Moldova7th
South Korea8th
Switzerland9th
04Context, no vote
Where United Kingdom is ahead of the world, and behind
25 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 median18
Statistics on which United Kingdom does better than the middle country measured.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2199.989.21No real change since 2015
United Kingdom: 99.9 · 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 3rd of 164 — 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 34.023.39434.02No earlier reading
United Kingdom: 3.394 · 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 120th of 125 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93313.499.933No real change since 2013
United Kingdom: 13.49 · 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 9th of 193 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32520.36414.32▲ Improved since 2010
United Kingdom: 520.36 · 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 12th 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 7.94111.547.941No real change since 2010
United Kingdom: 11.54 · 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 12th of 172 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 60.0897.0360.08No earlier reading
United Kingdom: 97.03 · 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.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.280.446No earlier reading
United Kingdom: 0.28 · 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 142nd of 153 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = worst. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4399.8897.43▼ Worsened since 2015
United Kingdom: 99.88 · 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 14th of 165 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3417.8113.34▼ Worsened since 2013
United Kingdom: 17.81 · 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 18th of 195 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 43.880.1443.8No earlier reading
United Kingdom: 80.14 · 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 Reading, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2022 · world median 58.5979.8658.59No earlier reading
United Kingdom: 79.86 · 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.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2023 · world median 48.975.6748.9No earlier reading
United Kingdom: 75.67 · 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.
Research and Development SpendingUIS · 2023 · world median 0.8142.6760.814▲ Improved since 2013
United Kingdom: 2.676 · 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 13th of 84 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
PISA Reading PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 440.35494.4440.35▲ Improved since 2012
United Kingdom: 494.4 · 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 13th of 79 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
PISA Mathematics PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 442.09488.98442.09▲ Improved since 2012
United Kingdom: 488.98 · 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 14th of 79 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
PISA Science PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 446.93499.67446.93▲ Improved since 2012
United Kingdom: 499.67 · 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 15th of 79 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.954,473701.95No earlier reading
United Kingdom: 4,473 · 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 30th of 145 — 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 0.6190.6680.619▼ Worsened since 2015
United Kingdom: 0.668 · 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 82nd of 176 — derived here by ordering the published values, 1st = best. The publisher ranks no country on this.
No better end7
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 21102No earlier reading
United Kingdom: 110 · 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.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,240226,6462,240No real change since 2022
United Kingdom: 226,646 · 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.
Trust in ScientistsWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 34.3560.1234.35Moved since 2018
United Kingdom: 60.12 · 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.
Share of Graduates from ICT ProgrammesUIS · 2023 · world median 5.6015.8085.601Moved since 2014
United Kingdom: 5.808 · 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.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1738.7538.17No earlier reading
United Kingdom: 38.75 · 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 35.334.5835.3Moved since 2014
United Kingdom: 34.58 · 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.
Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · 2023 · world median 5.2791.2795.279Moved since 2013
United Kingdom: 1.279 · 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 United Kingdom
Adult Literacy Rate, Bachelor's or Higher Attainment (last 2021), Gender Parity Index, Tertiary Enrolment (last 2023), Government Funding per Primary Student (last 2021), Government Spending on Education (last 2021), Inbound Mobility Rate, Tertiary (last 2023), Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary Age (last 2023), Out-of-School Rate, Primary (last 2023), Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary (last 2014), Pre-Primary Net Enrolment Rate (last 2015), Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education, School Life Expectancy (last 2023), Secondary School Enrolment (last 2023), Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (last 2023), Upper Secondary Attainment (last 2021), Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion and Youth Literacy Rate. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
05Country Index 2026
Education & Knowledge among United Kingdom’s 15 topics
Education & Knowledge is United Kingdom’s 2nd best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first; each marker sits at the position divided by that topic’s field, so fields of different sizes compare fairly.
- Digital & Technology6th of 1984/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge6th of 1983/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture11th of 1844/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade13th of 1774/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions18th of 1944/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience21st of 1934/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital25th of 1963/3 keys
- Economy & Innovation26th of 1764/4 keys
- Work & Labour33rd of 1824/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality34th of 1593/3 keys
- Health & Wellbeing43rd of 2004/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties49th of 1984/4 keys
- Gender & Equality46th of 1834/4 keys
- Peace & Security60th of 1774/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 115th of 1864/4 keys
No standing on 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 198, and the leaders United Kingdom 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
3PolandEastern 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 Europe
Greece2nd3/4 keysHighest in Northern Europe
Lithuania5th3/4 keysThis page
United Kingdom6th3/4 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 Kingdom 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 Kingdom rank on education & knowledge?
United Kingdom is placed 6th 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 Kingdom?
0.07 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 Kingdom?
98.6 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 Kingdom compare with Ireland on education & knowledge?
Ireland is placed 23rd of 198, and United Kingdom 6th. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Ireland 1.813, United Kingdom 0.07; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Ireland 95.03, United Kingdom 98.6; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Ireland 95.09, United Kingdom 90.29.
How have United Kingdom’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary rose from 0.052 in 2000 to 0.07 in 2023; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary fell from 100 in 2000 to 98.6 in 2014; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 87.38 in 2000 to 90.29 in 2025; Government Spending on Education rose from 4.018 in 2000 to 5.907 in 2021.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for United Kingdom?
No current reading is published for United Kingdom on Adult Literacy Rate, Bachelor's or Higher Attainment, 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, Upper Secondary Attainment, Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion and Youth Literacy Rate. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Keep reading
Explore further
United Kingdom, topic by topic
- Governance & Institutions18th of 194
- Economy & Innovation26th of 176
- Work & Labour33rd of 182
- Health & Wellbeing43rd of 200
- Development & Human Capital25th of 196
- Environment & Sustainability=115th of 186
- Gender & Equality46th of 183
- Democracy & Civil Liberties49th of 198
- Peace & Security60th of 177
- Risk & Resilience21st of 193
- Mobility & Trade13th of 177
- Food & Agriculture11th of 184
- Poverty & Inequality34th of 159
- Digital & Technology6th of 198
- The full United Kingdom 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 youth 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 42 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. 198 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
- 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 25 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 Kingdom’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- United Kingdom (banner) — © User:Colin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 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). United Kingdom: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/united-kingdom/education