Appendix 1: Educational Statistics

Public Expenditures on Education

Total Number of Countries Ranked: 125

Period: 1997

Average Public Expenditure on Education as Percent of GNP by Region

Africa . . . . . . . . . 4.36%

East & South Asia . . . . . . 3.76%

Europe . . . . . . . . . 5.69%

Middle East . . . . . . . . 4.39%

North & Central America . . . . 4.65%

Oceania . . . . . . . . . 6.35%

South America . . . . . . . 4.01%

Southeast Asia . . . . . . . 3.08%

Public expenditures on education are presented here as their percentage of the nation's Gross National Product (GNP). This is a good gauge of a country's commitment to education. However, here as in other country comparison tables, there are differences that limit the usefulness of directly comparing public expenditures on education as a percent of GNP.

For countries with well established federal or centralized education systems, the expenses necessary to maintain the system in any particular year may be lower as a percentage of GNP than are the expenses experienced by a nation that has more recently established or enlarged its centralized and compulsory education system. In addition, many countries use tax incentives to encourage private funds to supplement their education systems. These incentives are not always included as a part of the GNP percentage earmarked for education. Nonetheless, this measure is frequently used to do overall comparisons of national education systems.

Countries are listed in descending order by public expenditure on education as percent of GNP.

Source: The WORLD BANK, World Development Indicators 2000, pp. 70-72.

Male Literacy Rate

Total Number of Countries Ranked: 137

Period: Most recent year for which data are available within the range 1995-99

Average Male Literacy Rates by Region

Africa . . . . . . . . . 64.5%

East & South Asia . . . . . . 83.5%

Europe . . . . . . . . . 97.3%

Lesser Antilles . . . . . . . 94.0%

Middle East . . . . . . . . 85.8%

North & Central America . . . . 81.5%

South America . . . . . . . 93.8%

Southeast Asia . . . . . . . 85.8%

Literacy is defined here as the percentage of males, aged 15 years and older, who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement about their everyday life. However, literacy is difficult to measure and some countries define literacy differently. As a result, one must view comparisons of literacy rates across countries with caution. Differences in the definition of literacy used to compile these figures along with differences in the methods used, and accuracy achieved, in collecting data must all be considered when using the figures presented here.

Countries are listed in descending order of their male literacy rate and in alphabetical order. They are ranked accordingly. Any country with a male literacy rate of 100% is ranked 1, while any country with a male literacy rate of 99% is ranked 2, and so forth. Worth noting is the fact that many industrialized countries do not report literacy rates.

Source: UNICEF, The State of The World's Children 2001, pp. 90-93 and The WORLD BANK, World Development Indicators 2000, pp. 82-84.

Female Literacy Rate

Total Number of Countries Ranked: 137

Period: Most recent year for which data are available within the range 1995-99

Average Female Literacy Rates by Region

Africa . . . . . . . . . 46.4%

East & South Asia . . . . . . 71.2%

Europe . . . . . . . . . 95.0%

Lesser Antilles . . . . . . . 92.5%

Middle East . . . . . . . . 72.8%

North & Central America . . . . 78.8%

South America . . . . . . . 91.0%

Southeast Asia . . . . . . . 73.1%

Literacy is defined here as the percentage of females, aged 15 years and older, who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement about their everyday life. However, literacy is difficult to measure and some countries define literacy differently. As a result, one must view comparisons of literacy rates across countries with caution. Differences in the definition of literacy used to compile these figures along with differences in the methods used, and accuracy achieved, in collecting data must all be considered when using the figures presented here.

Countries are listed in descending order of their female literacy rate and in alphabetical order. They are ranked accordingly. Any country with a female literacy rate of 100% is ranked 1, while any country with a female literacy rate of 99% is ranked 2, and so forth. Worth noting is the fact that many industrialized countries do not report literacy rates.

Source: UNICEF, The State of the World's Children 2001, pp. 90-93 and The WORLD BANK, World Development Indicators 2000, pp. 82-84.

Total Number of Primary Schools

Total Number of Countries Ranked: 178

Period: For the most recent year available within the range 1992-1998

Average Number of Primary Schools per Region

Africa. . . . . . . . . . 5,899

East & South Asia . . . . . . 75,956

Europe . . . . . . . . . 7,446

Lesser Antilles . . . . . . . 185

Middle East . . . . . . . 9,795

North & Central America. . . . 15,836

Oceania . . . . . . . . . 1,272

South America . . . . . . . 27,053

Southeast Asia . . . . . . . 31,271

The number of primary schools in a country tends to reflect that country's population. In more developed countries primary schools may be very large while in the rural areas of a less developed country a primary school may be a single room school that serves as both a primary and secondary institution. No differentiation is provided here as to the size of the primary school. This ranking is therefore a quantitative and not a qualitative measure.

Countries are listed in descending order by total number of primary schools. Countries not listed are not listed because they did not report number of primary schools during the period covered.

Source: UNESCO, Statistical Yearbook 1999, II/85-II/109.

Enrollment Rate in Primary Level Education

Total Number of Countries Ranked: 147

Period: 1996

Average Gross Enrollment Rate by Region

Africa . . . . . . . . . 84.5%

East &

South Asia . . . . . . 95.9%

Europe . . . . . . . . . 100%

Lesser Antilles . . . . . . . 99.0%

Middle East . . . . . . . . 92.1%

North & Central America . . . 103.5%

South America . . . . . . 110.9%

Southeast Asia . . . . . . 107.3%

Gross enrollment in primary level education is defined as the total enrollment in primary education, regardless of age, divided by the population of the age group which officially corresponds to primary schooling. The resulting ratio is presented as a percentage. Because the number of students enrolled may exceed the number of students who fall into the official age group to attend primary school, the gross enrollment rate may exceed 100%.

Primary level education varies from country to country. The duration may be as short as four years or as long as eight years. The age at which students enter primary education may be anywhere from 4 to 7 years. As a result, the following ranking is only a general assessment of participation in the primary education systems and is not a direct comparison of like systems.

Countries are listed in descending order of their primary level gross enrollment rates. They are ranked accordingly. Any country with a gross enrollment rate of 148% is ranked 1, while any country with a rate of 134% is ranked 2, and so forth.

Source: UNESCO, World Education Report 2000, pp. 104-143.

Female Enrollment Rate in Primary Level Education

Total Number of Countries Ranked: 137

Period: 1996

Average Gross Female Enrollment Rate by Region

Africa . . . . . . . . . 77.5%

East & South Asia . . . . . . 92.1%

Europe . . . . . . . . . 101.3%

Lesser Antilles . . . . . . 98.0%

Middle East . . . . . . . 87.9%

North & Central America . . . 102.2%

Oceania . . . . . . . . 92.6%

South America . . . . . . 107.9%

Southeast Asia . . . . . . 104.1%

Gross female enrollment in primary level education is defined as the total female enrollment in primary education, regardless of age, divided by the female population of the age group which officially corresponds to primary schooling. The resulting ratio is presented as a percentage. Because the number of female students enrolled may exceed the population of females in the official age group the gross enrollment rate may exceed 100%.

Primary level education varies from country to country. The duration may be as short as four years or as long as eight years. The age at which students enter primary education may be anywhere from 4 to 7 years. As a result, the following ranking is only a general assessment of female participation in the primary education systems and is not a direct comparison of like systems.

Countries are listed in descending order of their primary level gross female enrollment rates and are ranked accordingly. Any country with a gross enrollment rate of 147% is ranked 1, while any country with a rate of 132% is ranked 2, and so forth.

Source: UNESCO, World Education Report 2000, pp. 140-143.

Enrollment Rate in Secondary Level Education

Total Number of Countries Ranked: 139

Period: 1996

Average Gross Enrollment Rate by Region

Africa . . . . . . . . . 31.1%

East & South Asia . . . . . . 71.9%

Europe . . . . . . . . . 98.1%

Lesser Antilles . . . . . . . 74.0%

Middle East . . . . . . . . 70.6%

North & Central America . . . . 61.9%

Oceania . . . . . . . . . 71.0%

South America . . . . . . . 63.2%

Southeast Asia . . . . . . . 52.8%

Gross enrollment in secondary level education is defined as the total enrollment in secondary education, regardless of age, divided by the population of the age group which officially corresponds to secondary schooling. The resulting ratio is presented as a percentage. Because the number of students enrolled may exceed the number of students who fall into the official age group to attend secondary school, the gross enrollment rate may exceed 100%.

Secondary level education, like primary, varies from country to country. The duration may be as short as four years, as in the case of Chile, or it may be as long as fourteen years as it is in Yemen. The age at which students enter secondary education also varies, as does the compulsory nature of attendance. Secondary education is generally divided into two parts, lower (earlier) and upper (later) secondary education. For purposes of this list, the entire period of secondary education is taken as a whole.

Countries are listed in descending order of their secondary level gross enrollment rates. They are ranked accordingly. Any country with a gross enrollment rate of 148% is ranked 1, while any country with a rate of 146% is ranked 2, and so forth.

Source: UNESCO, World Education Report 2000, pp. 148-151.

Female Enrollment Rate in Secondary Level Education

Total Number of Countries Ranked: 132

Period: 1996

Average Gross Female Enrollment Rate by Region

Africa . . . . . . . . . 28.6%

East & South Asia . . . . . . 70.5%

Europe . . . . . . . . . 101.9%

Lesser Antilles . . . . . . 75.0%

Middle East . . . . . . . 67.6%

North & Central America . . . 63.4%

Oceania . . . . . . . . 71.2%

South America . . . . . . 63.9%

Southeast Asia . . . . . . 49.1%

Gross female enrollment in secondary level education is defined as the total female enrollment in secondary education, regardless of age, divided by the female population of the age group which officially corresponds to secondary schooling. The resulting ratio is presented as a percentage. Because the number of female students enrolled may exceed the number of females in the population of the official age group to attend secondary school, the gross enrollment rate may exceed 100%.

Secondary level education, like primary, varies from country to country. The duration may be as short as four years, as in the case of Chile, or it may be as long as fourteen years as it is in Yemen. The age at which students enter secondary education also varies, as does the compulsory nature of attendance. Secondary education is generally divided into two parts, lower (earlier) and upper (later) secondary education. For purposes of this list, the entire period of secondary education is taken as a whole.

Countries are listed in descending order of their secondary level gross enrollment rates. They are ranked accordingly. Any country with a gross enrollment rate of 153% is ranked 1, while any country with a rate of 151% (in this case the next lowest rate) is ranked 2, and so forth.

Source: UNESCO, World Education Report 2000, pp. 148-151.

Enrollment Rate in Tertiary or Higher Level Education

Total Number of Countries Ranked: 120

Period: 1996

Average Gross Enrollment Rate by Region

Africa . . . . . . . . . . 4.6%

East & South Asia . . . . . . 26.7%

Europe . . . . . . . . . 37.7%

Lesser Antilles . . . . . . . 25.0%

Middle East . . . . . . . . 18.6%

North & Central America . . . . 29.9%

Oceania . . . . . . . . . 48.6%

South America . . . . . . . 20.4%

Southeast Asia . . . . . . . 10.2%

Gross enrollment in tertiary level education is defined as the total enrollment in higher education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the population in the five year age group following the conclusion of secondary level education. Because the number of students enrolled may exceed the number of students who fall into the official age group to attend higher school, the gross enrollment rate may exceed 100%.

Tertiary level education varies from country to country. For many, all vocational training which occurs after the completion of secondary level education is a part of tertiary level education. For others, only university level education is counted as tertiary level education. As a result, the following ranking is only a general assessment of participation in tertiary or higher education systems and is not a direct comparison of like systems.

Countries are listed in descending order of their tertiary level gross enrollment rates and are ranked accordingly. Any country with a gross enrollment rate of 87% is ranked 1, while any country with a rate of 81% (in this case the next closest rate) is ranked 2, and so forth.

Source: UNESCO, World Education Report 2000, pp. 156-159.

Female Enrollment Rate in Tertiary or Higher Level Education

Total Number of Countries Ranked: 107

Period: 1996

Average Gross Female Enrollment Rate by Region

Africa . . . . . . . . . . 3.6%

East & South Asia . . . . . . 27.1%

Europe . . . . . . . . . 41.1%

Lesser Antilles . . . . . . . 7.0%

Middle East . . . . . . . . 18.3%

North & Central America . . . . 32.2%

Oceania . . . . . . . . . 52.6%

South America . . . . . . . 18.7%

Southeast Asia . . . . . . . 12.0%

Gross female enrollment in tertiary level education is defined as the total female enrollment in higher education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the female population in the five year age group following the conclusion of secondary level education. Because the number of female students enrolled may exceed the number of females who fall into the official age group to attend higher school, the gross enrollment rate may exceed 100%.

Tertiary level education varies from country to country. For many, all vocational training which occurs after the completion of secondary level education is a part of tertiary level education. For others, only university level education is counted as tertiary level education. Therefore, the following ranking is only a general assessment of female participation in tertiary or higher education systems and is not a direct comparison of like systems.

Countries are listed in descending order of their tertiary level gross enrollment rates and are ranked accordingly. Any country with a gross enrollment rate of 95% is ranked 1, while any country with a rate of 92% (in this case the next closest rate) is ranked 2, and so forth.

Source: UNESCO, World Education Report 2000, pp. 156-159.

Number of Primary Level Teachers

Total Number of Countries Ranked: 182

Period: For the most recent year available within the range 1992-1998

Average Number of Primary Teachers per Country by Region

Africa . . . . . . . . . 55,409

East & South Asia . . . . . 476,458

Europe. . . . . . . . . 65,260

Lesser Antilles . . . . . . 1,406

Middle East . . . . . . . 74,641

North & Cental America . . . 187,057

Oceania . . . . . . . . 13,664

South America . . . . . . 181,954

Southeast Asia . . . . . . 575,551

A straight count of the number of primary level teachers by country without reference to levels of teacher training is a somewhat limited measure. However, it does provide a rudimentary measure of comparison.

Worth noting is the fact that data reported by different countries are for different years and this must be considered in using these data.

Countries are listed and ranked in descending order of the number of primary level teachers they have.

Source: UNESCO, Statistical Yearbook 1999, II/85-II/109.

Number of Secondary Level Teachers

Total Number of Countries Ranked: 129

Period: For the most recent year available within the range 1993-1998

Average Number of Secondary Teachers per Country by Region

Africa . . . . . . . . . 30,509

East & South Asia . . . . . 508,156

Europe. . . . . . . . . 122,014

Lesser Antilles . . . . . . 1,291

Middle East . . . . . . . 62,987

North & Central America . . . 155,280

Oceania . . . . . . . . 10,693

South America . . . . . . 82,497

Southeast Asia . . . . . . 207,915

A straight count of the number of secondary level teachers by country without reference to levels of teacher training is a somewhat limited measure. However, it does provide a rudimentary measure of comparison. This list ranks countries by the total number of secondary level teachers that are reported for each country. As is often the case with comparing international statistics, care must be taken in using these data since differences exist in the way these data were compiled by each country.

Differences worth noting include the fact that some countries list teachers equally whether they are full time or part time teachers. Teachers are listed without reference to whether or not they are assigned nonteaching duties. The level of training provided a teacher varies from country to country. Finally, the data reported by each country are for the most recent year available from that country. As a result, although the figure for Oman is for 1998, that presented for French Polynesia is for 1993, clearly not a truly equal comparison but the best that can be made.

Countries are listed and ranked in descending order of the number of secondary level teachers they have.

Source: UNESCO, Statistical Yearbook 1999, II/111-II/212.

Number of Tertiary or Higher Level Teachers

Total Number of Countries Ranked: 115

Period: For the most recent year available within the range 1992-1998

Average Number of Tertiary Level Teachers per Country by Region

Africa. . . . . . . . . . 3,268

East & South Asia . . . . . 102,039

Europe. . . . . . . . . 39,467

Lesser Antilles . . . . . . 127

Middle East . . . . . . . 11,356

North & Central America . . . 109,501

Oceania . . . . . . . . 10,833

South America . . . . . . 53,343

Southeast Asia . . . . . . 26,400

A straight count of the number of tertiary level teachers by country without reference to levels of teacher training is a somewhat limited measure. However, it does provide a rudimentary measure of comparison. This list ranks countries by the total number of tertiary level teachers that are reported for each country. As is often the case with comparing international statistics, care must be taken in using these data since differences exist in the way these data were compiled by each country.

Differences worth noting include the fact that some countries list teachers equally whether they are full time or part time teachers. Teachers are listed without reference to whether or not they are assigned nonteaching duties. The level of training provided a teacher varies from country to country. Finally, the data reported by each country are for the most recent year available from that country. As a result, although the figure for Mongolia is for 1998, that presented for Angola is for 1992, clearly not a truly equal comparison but the best that can be made.

Countries are listed and ranked in descending order of the number of tertiary level teachers they have.

Source: UNESCO, Statistical Yearbook 1999, II/213-II/261.

Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio in Primary Level Education

Total Number of Countries Ranked: 144

Period: 1996

Average Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio in Primary Level Education by Region

Africa . . . . . . . . . . 41:1

East & South Asia . . . . . . 29:1

Europe . . . . . . . . . . 16:1

Lesser Antilles . . . . . . . 27:1

Middle East . . . . . . . . 20:1

North & Central America . . . . 26:1

Oceania . . . . . . . . . 24:1

South America . . . . . . . 24:1

Southeast Asia . . . . . . . 30:1

The pupil-to-teacher ratio is the average number of pupils per teacher at the particular level of education being measured. A rate of 20 means that on average a primary level teacher in that country instructs 20 students at any one time. This is a useful measure for assessing the quantity of oneon-one time that a student might expect to receive in a particular educational system. Although one of the more useful means of comparing education systems, several things must be kept in mind when using the data presented below. Because the number of teachers used to calculate the pupil-to-teacher ratio does not differentiate between full-time and part-time teachers, comparability of these ratios may be affected as the proportion of part-time teachers varies from one country to another.

Countries are listed in ascending order by pupil-to-teacher ratio, and ranked accordingly. Countries not included did not report pupil-to-teacher ratios for 1996.

Source: UNESCO, World Education Report 2000, pp. 152-155.