Where does the US rank in education spending?

The U.S. ranks high in absolute spending and per-pupil costs but lower as a percentage of GDP compared to some peers, often placing around 5th to 6th among OECD countries in spending as a share of GDP, yet spending significantly more per student than the OECD average, particularly at higher education levels, though this doesn't always translate to top academic performance.

Which country has the highest spending on education?

Public spending on education, percent of GDP, 2021:

The average for 2021 based on 158 countries was 4.48 percent. The highest value was in Kiribati: 14.2 percent and the lowest value was in Nigeria: 0.38 percent. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2023.

What country is #1 in education?

There's no single "No. 1" country, as rankings vary by focus (e.g., higher ed, PISA scores), but the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany consistently rank top for overall education and research by sources like U.S. News & World Report, while countries like Finland, Singapore, and Japan often lead in student performance (PISA) and specific areas like STEM, highlighting different strengths in education systems globally. 

Does the US spend more on education than other countries?

At the postsecondary level, the United States spent $37,400 per FTE student, which was more than double the average of OECD countries ($18,400; in constant 2021 U.S. dollars).

What is the United States ranked in education?

The U.S. education ranking is mixed: it excels in higher education, often ranking first globally, but performs less strongly in K-12, showing average to below-average scores in math and above-average in science and reading on international PISA tests, with recent declines noted. Rankings vary by source, but consistently show top states like Massachusetts and New Jersey for overall education quality, while national K-12 performance is inconsistent, with scores dropping in recent years. 

Teaching in the US vs. the rest of the world

How does the US rank in education compared to other countries?

The U.S. ranks eighth out of 41 countries in the portion of people with at least a secondary, or high school, education, with 92% of its people aged 25 to 65 holding a high school diploma. On the average number of years students spend in formal education, the U.S. ranks 23rd out of 41.

What is the US ranked in education spending?

Notably, eight states exceeded $25,000 per student in 2023: New York, New Jersey, Vermont ($29,169 per student), Connecticut ($28,975), Pennsylvania ($26,242), California ($25,941), Rhode Island ($25,709), and Hawaii ($25,485). The lowest-spending state, Idaho, was the only state spending less than $12,000 per student.

What is the biggest expense of the US government?

The biggest expense for the U.S. government is mandatory spending, primarily driven by Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, which provide retirement, health, and income support, with Social Security often being the single largest program. National defense is another major area, while interest on the national debt is a rapidly growing expense, nearing other top categories. 

Is US education improving or declining?

US education shows significant signs of decline, with recent national test scores (NAEP, ACT) dropping to multi-decade lows in reading and math, widening achievement gaps, and low public satisfaction, a trend that began before the pandemic but was worsened by it, suggesting deeper systemic issues beyond COVID disruptions, though some post-high school attainment rates have improved. 

Which country ranks lowest in education?

30 Least Educated Countries in the World

• Ethiopia. ...
• Sierra Leone. ...
• Liberia. ...
• Benin. ...
• Guinea. ...
• Somalia. Literacy Rate Among Population Aged 15 and Above: 41% ...
• Niger. Literacy Rate Among Population Aged 15 and Above: 38.1% ...
• Central African Republic. Literacy Rate Among Population Aged 15 and Above: 37.5%

What is the US literacy rate?

The U.S. adult literacy rate is complex, with roughly 79% considered literate, but a significant portion, about 21% (43 million adults), having low literacy skills, struggling with tasks below a 6th-grade level, according to recent data from sources like the National Literacy Institute and NCES (National Center for Education Statistics). While overall rates seem high (around 99% in some older stats), the key issue is functional literacy, with declines noted in proficiency since 2017, impacting societal participation and costing the U.S. significantly.
 

How do US teachers compare globally?

U.S. teachers bring experience from outside the classroom

Nearly 80% of U.S. teachers in 2024 had work experience outside of teaching. That figure is 22 percentage points more than the OECD average, and more than 16% of U.S. teachers came to teaching as a second career. The rest of the world seems to be catching up.

Does China spend more on education than the US?

Highest household education expenditures in the world.

China's families spend 7.9% of their total annual household expenditures on education, surpassing any other country. Japan, Mexico, and the U.S., for example, typically allocate 1–2% of household expenditures toward education.

What is the biggest expense that most Americans have?

Breakdown of Main Household Expenses

1. Housing. Housing is the largest expense for people across every demographic, taking up an average 33% of monthly household spending from 2021 to 2023. ...
2. Transportation. ...
3. Food. ...
4. Personal Insurance and Pensions. ...
5. Healthcare. ...
6. 6. Entertainment.

What are 5 of the major expenses of the United States government?

The 10 largest budget functions make up 97 percent of federal spending

• Social Security. 22%
• Health. 13%
• Net. interest. 13%
• Medicare. 13%
• National. Defense. 13%
• Income Security. 10%
• Veterans Benefits and Services. 5%
• Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services. 5%

Where does most of the US budget go?

Generally, Congress allocates over half of the discretionary budget towards national defense and the rest to fund the administration of other agencies and programs. These programs range from transportation, education, housing, and social service programs, as well as science and environmental organizations.

What is the #1 educated state?

There isn't one single "number 1" state for education, as rankings vary by focus (K-12 vs. Higher Ed) and source, but Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Florida consistently rank at the top, with Massachusetts often leading K-12, New Jersey for overall education (blending K-12 & Higher Ed), and Florida excelling in higher education affordability and access. For example, U.S. News ranks New Jersey #1 overall for education but Florida #1 for higher education, while WalletHub places Massachusetts #1 for K-12.
 

How is the US education system compared to the world?

Key Takeaways

America's education system ranks above that of many countries in literacy, mathematics and science achievement. However, it's far lower than one would expect considering the nation's standing in the world. Other developed countries' education systems are outperforming that of the United States.

What is the #1 school in the world?

There isn't one single "top 1 school" as rankings vary by methodology, but the University of Oxford and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) consistently lead global university rankings for 2025-2026, with Oxford often #1 in Times Higher Education (THE) and MIT often #1 in QS rankings, alongside strong showings from Harvard, Cambridge, and Stanford. Oxford is top for THE (2026), focusing on research/teaching, while MIT leads QS (2026) for overall reputation, followed by MIT, Stanford, Oxford, and Cambridge in various top spots across different lists.
 

What is the #1 country for education?

There's no single "No. 1" country, as rankings vary by focus (e.g., higher ed, PISA scores), but the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany consistently rank top for overall education and research by sources like U.S. News & World Report, while countries like Finland, Singapore, and Japan often lead in student performance (PISA) and specific areas like STEM, highlighting different strengths in education systems globally. 

How much money does the US spend on education vs other countries?

At 5.59%, the United States spends a larger percentage of its GDP on education than several other North American and European nations, which average 4.61% of GDP in educational spending.

Are US public schools underfunded?

According to The Century Foundation, we are underfunding our, “K-12 public schools by nearly $150 billion annually, robbing more than 30 million school children of the resources they need to succeed in the classroom.” The schools that are being robbed of much needed funding are most often those where Black and Latinx ...