Finland’s innovative approach to education puts its education consistently at the top of the World Economic Forum “Global Competitiveness Report” on which these rankings are based. The only required test for students is given at age 16. Homework is rare. Every class includes pupils of all grades, which results in the smallest gap, globally, between its strongest and weakest students.

Qatar’s “Vision 2030” program to improve the country’s educational system is paying dividends. All Qatar citizens receive education with no cost to students or their families, as the government pays for it.

Japan’s students routinely give their nation excellent status in mathematics, science, and literacy. School is compulsory through elementary school (six years) and the US equivalent of middle school (three years). Enrollment in high school (three years) is not mandatory, but nearly 98 percent of students attend.

Ranking: Finland (1), Switzerland and Belgium (tied at 2), Singapore (4), Netherlands (5), Qatar and Ireland (tied at 6), Estonia (8), New Zealand, Barbados, and Japan (tied at 9).

The United States did not crack the top 11. Neither did the United Kingdom.

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