Israel ranks 2nd in 'world's most educated countries'

Study: 46% OF Israeli residents had a tertiary education versus 31% for the OECD 
By Viva Sarah Press
Israel ranked second in an international survey looking at the world’s Top 10 countries with the highest proportion of college-educated adult residents. Israel recorded 46 percent of its population completing a tertiary education, just five percent behind top-rated Canada.

Based on research conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 24/7 Wall St — a Delaware corporation set up to run a financial news and opinion operation with content delivered over the Internet – compiled a list of the 10 most educated countries in the world.

Canada was the only nation where more than half its residents – 51% — completed college degrees.

Israel slotted into an impressive second place on the list followed by Japan, United States, New Zealand, South Korea, United Kingdom, Finland, Australia and Ireland.

The list was based on the OECD’s Education at a Glance 2012 report which calculated the proportion of residents with a college or college equivalent degree in the group’s 34 member nations and other major economies.

The study showed that the best educated countries tended to spend the most on tertiary education as a percentage of gross domestic product.

The OECD revealed that in 2010 (the year Israel joined the organization) its GDP per capita was more than $7,000 below the group’s average. Yet, the country’s high school graduation rate was 92% in 2010 – far above the OECD’s 84% average.

Moreover, some 46% of Israeli residents had a tertiary education as opposed to 31% for the OECD average.

The report also showed that Israel spent 7.2% of GDP on educational institutions in 2009, the sixth most among all nations.
 
With spiking tuition costs, insurmountable loan balances, and the unemployment rate for recent college graduates hovering around 53%, it’s clear that a college education hasn’t gotten the best rap lately. Despite the ongoing financial woes across the globe, though, many think that college is still worth the investment. 

Snagging the number two most-educated spot was Israel, which trailed Canada by 5%. Japan, the U.S., 

New Zealand and South Korea all ranked with more than 40% of citizens having a higher-education degree. 

The top 10 most-educated countries are:

1. Canada
2. Israel
3. Japan
4. United States
5. New Zealand
6. South Korea
7. United Kingdom
8. Finland
9. Australia
10. Ireland