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UNDP Human Development Reports: Education Index

A global education index from 1980 - 2013 calculated using mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling. Data in the tables are those available to the UNDP Human Development Report Office as of 15 November 2013, unless otherwise specified.

UNDP Human Development Reports Office (HDRO)

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A global education index from 1980 - 2013 calculated using mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling.

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Source United Nations Development Programme
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Time Period of the Dataset [?] January 01, 1980-December 31, 2013
Modified [?] 30 October 2018
Dataset Added on HDX [?] 7 January 2016
Expected Update Frequency Never
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The United Nations Statistics Division is the primary agency responsible at the international level for collecting official national statistics related to population size and density. These have been collected and disseminated on an annual basis through the Demographic Yearbook system since 1948.

  • Introduction

Standards and methods

  • Demographic Yearbook data collection system

The United Nations Statistics Division collects data on literacy, educational attainment and school attendance from national statistical offices around the world and disseminates them in tabular form in special issues of the United Nations Demographic Yearbook . These official statistics provided by countries are derived from population censuses. In addition, the Statistics Division compiles and makes available online some statistics and indicators on illiteracy and education, derived from both population censuses and administrative systems, through its Social Indicators website and Statistics and indicators on women and men website. The major sources of these statistics and indicators are the United Nations Statistics Division and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) the statistical branch of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) .

International statistics on learning and education derived from administrative systems are collected by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics from national education ministries. Much of these statistics are available online on the UIS website.

Demographic Yearbook Special Topics

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Statistics and indicators on women and men

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  • Table 1 Population by literacy, sex, age, urban/rural residence and percentage: each census, 1985-2003
  • Table 2 Population by school attendance, age, sex, urban/rural residence and percentage: each census, 1985-2003
  • Table 3 Population by education attainment, age and sex: each census, 1985-2003

Social indicators - Latest available data

  • Illiteracy - html
  • Education - html
  • Table 4a Primary education - html
  • Table 4b Secondary education - html
  • Table 4c Illiteracy - html
  • Table 4d Tertiary education - html
  • Table 4e Teaching staff - html

The United Nations Statistics Division issues standards and methods approved by the Statistical Commission to assist national statistical authorities and other producers of statistics in the collection, compilation and dissemination of data.

Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses, Revision 2

International Standard Classification of Education 1997, (ISCED) , (ICD-10) Custodian: WHO

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is the main international agency responsible for the development of conceptual and methodological frameworks for the collection of internationally comparable statistics and indicators on education.

Concepts and definitions

Source: Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses, Rev 1

  • A. Literacy
  • B. School attendance
  • C. Educational attainment
  • D. Field of education and educational qualifications

A. Literacy (paras. 2.145.- 2.149.)

A literate person is one who can, with understanding, both read and write a short, simple statement on his or her everyday life. An illiterate person is one who cannot, with understanding, both read and write such a simple statement. Hence, a person capable of reading and writing only figures and his or her own name should be considered illiterate, as should a person who can read but not write as well as one who can read and write only a ritual phrase that has been memorized.

B. School attendance (paras. 2.150.- 2.152.)

School attendance is defined as attendance at any regular accredited educational institution or programme, public or private, for organized learning at any level of education at the time of the census or, if the census is taken during the vacation period at the end of the school year, during the last school year.

For the purposes of 1997 rev of ISCED (UNESCO) and based on the revised definition, education is taken to comprise all deliberate and systematic activities designed to meet learning needs. Instruction in particular skills, which is not part of the recognized educational structure of the country (for example, in-service training courses in factories), is not normally considered "school attendance" for census purposes.

C. Educational attainment (paras. 2.153.- 2.157.)

Educational attainment is defined as the highest grade completed within the most advanced level attended in the educational system of the country where the education was received. If required, data on educational attainment can take into account education and training received in all types of organized educational institutions and programmes, particularly those measurable in terms of grade and level of education or their equivalent such as programmes in adult education, even if the education and training were provided outside of the regular school and university system. For international purposes, a "grade" is a stage of instruction usually covered in the course of a school year.

  • ISCED level 0: Pre-primary education
  • ISCED level 1: Primary education
  • ISCED level 2: Lower secondary education
  • ISCED level 3: (Upper) secondary education
  • ISCED level 4: Post-secondary education
  • ISCED level 5: First stage of tertiary education (not leading directly to an advanced research qualification)
  • ISCED level 6: ISCED level 6: Second stage of tertiary education (leading to an advanced research qualification)

D. Field of education and educational qualifications (paras. 2.158.- 2.164.)

(i) field of education.

  • 0 1 Basic programmes
  • 0 8 Literacy and numeracy
  • 0 9 Personal development
  • 1 4 Teacher training and education science
  • 2 2 Humanities
  • 3 1 Social and behavioural science
  • 3 2 Journalism and information
  • 3 4 Business and administration
  • 4 2 Life sciences
  • 4 4 Physical sciences
  • 4 6 Mathematics and statistics
  • 4 8 Computing
  • 5 2 Engineering and engineering trades
  • 5 4 Manufacturing and processing
  • 5 8 Architecture and building
  • 6 2 Agriculture, forestry and fishery
  • 6 4 Veterinary
  • 7 6 Social services
  • 8 1 Personal services
  • 8 4 Transport services
  • 8 5 Environmental protection
  • 8 6 Security services
  • 9         99 Not known or unspecified

(ii) Educational qualifications

Qualifications are the degrees, diplomas, certificates, professional titles and so forth that an individual has acquired, whether by full-time study, part-time study or private study, whether conferred in the home country or abroad, and whether conferred by educational authorities, special examining bodies or professional bodies. The acquisition of an educational qualification therefore implies the successful completion of a course of study or training programme.

According to national needs, information on qualifications may be collected from persons who have reached a certain minimum age or level of educational attainment. Such information should refer to the title of the highest certificate, diploma or degree received.

Collection and dissemination of data through the Demographic Yearbook system

The United Nations Statistics Division collects data on educational attainment, literacy and school attendance through the Demographic Yearbook Population Census Questionnaire .

  • Table 10. Population 10 years of age and over by literacy, age and sex
  • Table 11. Population 15 years of age and over by educational attainment, age and sex
  • Table 12. Population 5 to 24 years of age by school attendance, age and sex

These tables are disseminated through the Demographic Yearbook . Nine issues of the Demographic Yearbook covering the special topic of censuses included information on literacy, educational attainment and school attendance. These were the 1993, 1988, 1983, 1979, 1973, 1971, 1964, 1963 and 1956 issues. Print copies of the Demographic Yearbook can be purchased through the UN Publications Order Form.

Work Programme

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Quick Links

  • Standards and Methods

The United Nations Statistics Division is committed to the advancement of the global statistical system. We compile and disseminate global statistical information, develop standards and norms for statistical activities, and support countries' efforts to strengthen their national statistical systems. We facilitate the coordination of international statistical activities and support the functioning of the United Nations Statistical Commission as the apex entity of the global statistical system.

UNSD Work Programme

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United Nations Sustainable Development Logo

  • Progress towards quality education was already slower than required before the pandemic, but COVID-19 has had devastating impacts on education, causing learning losses in four out of five of the 104 countries studied.

Without additional measures, an estimated 84 million children and young people will stay out of school by 2030 and approximately 300 million students will lack the basic numeracy and literacy skills necessary for success in life.

In addition to free primary and secondary schooling for all boys and girls by 2030, the aim is to provide equal access to affordable vocational training, eliminate gender and wealth disparities, and achieve universal access to quality higher education.

Education is the key that will allow many other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved. When people are able to get quality education they can break from the cycle of poverty.

Education helps to reduce inequalities and to reach gender equality. It also empowers people everywhere to live more healthy and sustainable lives. Education is also crucial to fostering tolerance between people and contributes to more peaceful societies.

  • To deliver on Goal 4, education financing must become a national investment priority. Furthermore, measures such as making education free and compulsory, increasing the number of teachers, improving basic school infrastructure and embracing digital transformation are essential.

What progress have we made so far?

While progress has been made towards the 2030 education targets set by the United Nations, continued efforts are required to address persistent challenges and ensure that quality education is accessible to all, leaving no one behind.

Between 2015 and 2021, there was an increase in worldwide primary school completion, lower secondary completion, and upper secondary completion. Nevertheless, the progress made during this period was notably slower compared to the 15 years prior.

What challenges remain?

According to national education targets, the percentage of students attaining basic reading skills by the end of primary school is projected to rise from 51 per cent in 2015 to 67 per cent by 2030. However, an estimated 300 million children and young people will still lack basic numeracy and literacy skills by 2030.

Economic constraints, coupled with issues of learning outcomes and dropout rates, persist in marginalized areas, underscoring the need for continued global commitment to ensuring inclusive and equitable education for all. Low levels of information and communications technology (ICT) skills are also a major barrier to achieving universal and meaningful connectivity.

Where are people struggling the most to have access to education?

Sub-Saharan Africa faces the biggest challenges in providing schools with basic resources. The situation is extreme at the primary and lower secondary levels, where less than one-half of schools in sub-Saharan Africa have access to drinking water, electricity, computers and the Internet.

Inequalities will also worsen unless the digital divide – the gap between under-connected and highly digitalized countries – is not addressed .

Are there groups that have more difficult access to education?

Yes, women and girls are one of these groups. About 40 per cent of countries have not achieved gender parity in primary education. These disadvantages in education also translate into lack of access to skills and limited opportunities in the labour market for young women.

What can we do?  

Ask our governments to place education as a priority in both policy and practice. Lobby our governments to make firm commitments to provide free primary school education to all, including vulnerable or marginalized groups.

education index un

Facts and figures

Goal 4 targets.

  • Without additional measures, only one in six countries will achieve the universal secondary school completion target by 2030, an estimated 84 million children and young people will still be out of school, and approximately 300 million students will lack the basic numeracy and literacy skills necessary for success in life.
  • To achieve national Goal 4 benchmarks, which are reduced in ambition compared with the original Goal 4 targets, 79 low- and lower-middle- income countries still face an average annual financing gap of $97 billion.

Source: The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023

4.1  By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and Goal-4 effective learning outcomes

4.2  By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and preprimary education so that they are ready for primary education

4.3  By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university

4.4  By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship

4.5  By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations

4.6  By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy

4.7  By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development

4.A  Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, nonviolent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all

4.B  By 2020, substantially expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and African countries, for enrolment in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications technology, technical, engineering and scientific programmes, in developed countries and other developing countries

4.C  By 2030, substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing states

UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

UN Children’s Fund

UN Development Programme

Global Education First Initiative

UN Population Fund: Comprehensive sexuality education

UN Office of the Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth

Fast Facts: Quality Education

education index un

Infographic: Quality Education

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  • Education Statistics

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Education Index

The Education Index is measured by combining average years of schooling for adults with expected years of schooling for children, each receiving 50% weighting. The Education Index is a component of the Human Development Index.

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  • Human Development Report 2023-24
  • Towards 2025 Human Development Report
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Human Development Data

Global, regional, and country/territory-level data on key dimensions of human development, with interactive insights and publications. The human development data are globally comparable, linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and sourced from international data agencies with the mandate, resources, and expertise to collect national data on specific indicators unless otherwise noted.

What's inside

Human development index (hdi), thematic dashboards, related news and blogs.

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Announcement: 2021/22 Human Development Report set to be released on 8 September 2022

gender_equality.jpg

Two steps forward, one step back - where are we heading with gender equality?

Global Education Monitoring Report

Statistical Tables

2023 - technology in education: a tool on whose terms.

Most data in the statistical tables come from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). Where the statistical tables include data from other sources, these are mentioned in footnotes. The most recent UIS data on pupils, students, teachers and education expenditure presented in the tables are from the March 2023 release and refer to the school year or financial year ending in 2021.2 These statistics refer to formal education, both public and private, by level of education. The statistical tables list 209 countries and territories, all of which are UNESCO Member States or associate members. Most report their data to the UIS using standard questionnaires issued by the UIS itself. For 46 countries, education data are collected by the UIS via the UIS/OECD/Eurostat (UOE) questionnaires.

Statistical Tables ( PDF ) ( Excel )

2021 - Non-state actors: Who chooses? Who loses?

Most data in the statistical tables come from the UIS. Where the statistical tables include data from other sources, these are mentioned in footnotes. The most recent UIS data on pupils, students, teachers and education expenditure presented in the tables are from the February 2021 release and refer to the school year or financial year ending in 2019. These statistics refer to formal education, both public and private, by level of education. The statistical tables list 209 countries and territories, all of which are UNESCO member States or associate members. most report their data to the UIS using standard questionnaires issued by the UIS itself. For 46 countries, education data are collected by the UIS via the UIS/OECD/Eurostat (UOE) questionnaires.

2020 - Inclusion and education: All means all

Most data in the statistical tables come from the UIS. Where the statistical tables include data from other sources, these are mentioned in footnotes. The most recent UIS data on pupils, students, teachers and education expenditure presented in the tables are from the September 2019 release and refer to the school year or financial year ending in 2018.4They are based on results reported to and processed by the UIS before July 2019. For a limited number of indicators and countries, the UIS updated its database in February 2020 and these updates are also reflected. These statistics refer to formal education, both public and private, by level of education. The statistical tables list 209 countries and territories, all of which are UNESCO Member States or associate members. Most report their data to the UIS using standard questionnaires issued by the UIS itself. For 46 countries, education data are collected by the UIS via the UIS/OECD/Eurostat (UOE) questionnaires.

Statistical Tables (EXCEL)

2019 - Migration, displacement and education: Building Bridges, not walls

The most recent UIS data on pupils, students, teachers and education expenditure presented in the tables are from the September 2018 education data release and refer to the school or financial year ending in 2017. They are based on results reported to and processed by the UIS before July 2018. These statistics refer to formal education, both public and private, by level of education. The statistical tables list 209 countries and territories, all of which are UNESCO member states or associate members. Most report their data to the UIS using standard questionnaires issued by the UIS itself. For 49 countries, education data are collected by the UIS via the UIS/OECD/Eurostat (UOE) questionnaires.

2017/8 - Accountability in Education: Meeting our commitments 

The most recent UIS data on pupils, students, teachers and education expenditure presented in the tables are for the school year or financial year ending in 2015. They are based on results reported to and processed by the UIS before the end of March 2017. A small number of countries submitted data for the school year ending in 2016, presented in bold in the tables. These statistics refer to all formal education, both public and private, by level of education.

Statistical Tables  (ZIP EXCEL)

2016 - Education for people and planet: Creating Sustainable Futures For All

The most recent data on pupils, students, teachers and education expenditure presented in these statistical tables are the reference school and financial years ending in 2014.  They are based on survey results reported to and processed by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) before the end of March 2014. Data received and processed after that date are published on the UIS website and will be used in the 2016 Global Education Monitoring Report.

Statistical Tables for year ending 2014 - long version

Introduction  - Introduction Table

Metadata for literacy statistics related to Statistical Table 10 . Information per country on the source of literacy data, the most recent year statistics are available, and the definition of literacy as used by each country.

2015 - Education for All 2000-2015: achievements and challenges

Statistical Tables for year ending 2012 - long version  |  français

Full introduction

Metadata  for literacy statistics related to Statistical Table 2. Information per country on the source of literacy data, the most recent year statistics are available, and the definition of literacy as used by each country.

2013/4 - Teaching and Learning

Statistical Tables - long version  |  français  (ZIP EXCEL)

Introduction

2012 - Youth, Skills & Work

Metadata  for literacy statistics related to Statistical Table 2.  Information per country on the source of literacy data, the most recent year statistics are available, and the definition of literacy as used by each country.

2011 - Conflict

2010 - marginalization.

Metadata  for literacy statistics related to Statistical Table 2A. Information per country on the source of literacy data, the most recent year statistics are available, and the definition of literacy as used by each country.

2009 - Governance

Metadata  for literacy statistics related to Statistical Table 2A.  Information per country on the source of literacy data, the most recent year statistics are available, and the definition of literacy as used by each country. -  français

GMR 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2003/4 | 2002

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  • Introduction
  • Best Education

Education Rankings by Country

education index un

Education Levels Across the Globe

The education level of a country's citizens is a key determinant of its economic prosperity. Higher education levels often lead to enhanced growth and development in a nation. However, comparing education systems across countries is challenging due to differences in teaching methods and resource availability. To address this, indexes have been developed to assess the education levels of citizens.

In our report, we utilize the 'Education Index', which is a part of the 'knowledge' component of the United Nations' Human Development Index. Currently we are leveraging the data from the 2022 Index. This index evaluates factors such as expected and actual years of schooling, and educational achievements at all levels. A country scores better on this index and ranks higher as it approaches a score of 1.

Our initial analysis of recent data on world education rankings reveals several trends:

  • Nordic countries, including Iceland, Norway, Denmark, and Finland, consistently score high on the education index, and are considered to have some of the best education systems in the world.
  • Nations previously under Soviet influence, like Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, have made significant strides in improving their education systems.
  • Economic powerhouses such as the UK, Australia, Canada, and the US have high rankings, yet disparities exist. For example, the US education ranking comes in 13th place, with a score of 0.883, and falls behind countries like Germany and New Zealand, in 2nd and 3rd place respectively.
  • Developing and underdeveloped countries, mainly in African and South Asian regions, are at the lower end of the rankings.
  • Asian nations display varying results. Countries like South Korea and Japan excel with their competitive education systems, while others, such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, face challenges due to political instability and limited resources.

Countries with the Best Education

Iceland has the best rated education in the world with an index score of 0.938. Following close behind is Germany, the second best education ranking with a score of 0.917. New Zealand is just a few percentage points behind with a score of 0.914, making it the 3rd best educated country.

Next, we have two Nordic countries, Norway and Denmark, ranking fourth and fifth respectively. Norway has an index score of 0.912, while Denmark scored 0.909. Another Nordic country, Finland, scored 0.907 and is in sixth place.

Switzerland, known for its high-quality education system, ranks seventh best with a score of 0.902. Holding the eighth best education system is the United Kingdom with a score of 0.901. Slovenia, too, ranks impressively with a score of 0.898, grabbing the ninth spot.

Lastly, Australia rounds out the top ten with a score of 0.896.

10 Countries with Best World Education Rank:

( Score of 1 is the highest possible score)

1. Iceland - 0.938

2. Germany - 0.917

3. New Zealand - 0.914

4. Norway - 0.912

5. Denmark - 0.909

6. Finland - 0.907

7. Switzerland - 0.902

8. United Kingdom - 0.901

9. Slovenia - 0.898

10. Australia - 0.896

Education Rank by Country

Full data set.

To sort the data in the table, click on the column headers.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what country has the best education.

Iceland has the best rated education in the world with an Education Index score of 0.938.

2. Where does the US rank in education?

The United States ranks 13th in education with an Education Index score of 0.883.

Year  - 2022

Source  -  United Nation's Human Development Index

Methodology  - The 'Education Index' is derived from the 'knowledge' component of the United Nations Human Development Index. This Education Index evaluates two main factors: expected and actual years of schooling and educational achievements at all levels. A country scores better on this index and ranks higher as it approaches a score of 1.

Related Rankings

High school graduation rates by state, student loan debt by state, required school days by state, most educated states, common core states, public school rankings by state.

Subnational HDI (v7.0)

Human development, asia/pacific, education component of shdi.

Education Component of SHDI. The educational dimension is measured with two indicators. The first one, mean years of schooling of adults aged 25+ (MYS), reflects the current situation with regard to education in a society. The second one, expected years of schooling (EYS), indicates the future level of education of the population. EYS is defined as the number of years of schooling a child of school entrance age can expect to receive, if prevailing patterns of age-specific enrolment rates persist throughout the child’s schooling life. When computing the dimension index for education, the values of MYS and EYS are weighted equally.

For most Low- and Middle Income Countries (LMICs), both variables could be directly obtained from the Global Data Lab Area Database.

To create the dimension indices and SHDI on the basis of the four indicators (mean years of schooling of adults aged 25+, expected years of schooling, life expectancy, and gross national income per capita) the same procedures were used as are used by the UNDP to compute the regular HDI. To obtain the dimension index for education, the geometric mean of the separate indices for expected years of schooling and mean years of schooling is taken.

For a complete list of sources and surveys used, please refer to the Area Database's Data Sources page.

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The future of education

January 23, 2024.

Young man in suit stands in front of white board

Young people are the key to meeting Sustainable Development Goal 4 - to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities to all.

education index un

Zubair Junjunia

Generation17 Young Leader and founder of ZNotes

We have passed the midpoint of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) facing a stark reality, the world is falling short of meeting most of the goals by 2030. SDG4 is all about ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all. And yet with the current trends, only  six in ten young people will be finishing secondary school in 2030 . 

Geopolitical tensions and conflicts contribute significantly to this setback, affecting  a quarter of the global population . Such conflicts disrupt education for an entire generation. In this context, education becomes not just a personal transformational tool but a key for sustainable peacebuilding and breaking cycles of inequality.  UNESCO research indicates that global poverty could be cut in half if every young person completed secondary school.

I have devoted the past decade to fighting educational inequality and one thing continues to baffle me. In our many interventions to improve equity in education, we miss out on the value of the most important person - the learner. We consider them passive beneficiaries and do not realize what an important role they play as part of the solution.

Walk into any classroom and I can assure you that there will be students who will be ready to help others who didn’t fully understand the concept being taught. There will be a tradition of handing down notes and advice from the older students to the younger. There will be peer tutoring initiatives, study groups, and mentorship sessions covering everything from academic topics to life skills. Across generations, these practices persist. Young people are adaptive, they’re resilient and they build solutions when the system doesn't serve them. 

I started  ZNotes , a student’s notes blog, at 16. It has transformed into a community-powered learning platform that has reached the lives of five million in over 190 countries. In this year alone, over 800,000 new students and educators used it.

We are laser-focused on ensuring that every young person has an even playing field when they enter high-stakes exams. And our approach centres on empowering the learner.

Our open personalized learning platform allows any student to benefit from free, high-quality resources that align precisely with the curriculum they are completing at school or independently. But it is unique in that every single resource, from notes and videos to quizzes, is created by a high-achieving student and is peer-reviewed. The result is that  91 percent of our learners are more confident entering exams . 

Three students look at a laptop

ZNotes provides a peer learning community that allows students to continue improving their understanding by learning and teaching.

This is combined with a global peer learning community that allows students to continue improving their understanding by learning and teaching. It is here we see more than just academic improvement, but also developing authentic connections across the world.  Ninety one percent of our community members engaged with individuals from different nationalities, religions, ethnicities or races . Increasing  global citizenship education has been described as a central element of peacebuilding education and needed critically in post-conflict and divided societies. 

“I had an awesome time being part of such a diverse community that has helped me with multiple aspects of my education as well as personality development. All this time, I had amazing support from my peers, as well as forming terrific friendships along the way.”

Making an impact is in the very DNA of ZNotes and the social mission pulsates in everything we do. You come across it in every way; a user on the website notices they’re learning from another student’s notes, or a community member forges a friendship across continents. This exposure transcends formal education and has proven it changes the very mindset of young people and their urge to give back to society. Eighty two percent of our contributors have engaged with more community initiatives. And  one in five of our interns have launched their own or joined an initiative tackling a social problem.

“In only six months ZNotes has empowered me to make a difference on a global scale and that’s something I’m truly grateful for. It’s taught me how to interact with people from all over the world and opened my mind to different perspectives.”

ZNotes ensures every student has a level playing field when it comes to high-stakes exams. But it does much more than that. It inspires and empowers young people to become leaders and changemakers.

The challenges in achieving educational equity are daunting, but the commitment of young people fuels hope. We received 800 applications to join our volunteer programmes in 2023, surpassing all past years combined; a testament to the sheer demand of young people wanting to give back.

Online graphics

The ZNotes Impact Report is built on tens of thousands of responses, testimonials and video case studies.

ZNotes is one of many examples of youth-led initiatives tackling social inequalities and educating the next generations. This month, we published the  2023 ZNotes Impact Report built on tens of thousands of responses across pre- and post-surveys, testimonials, and video case studies. The report has a singular objective; to witness the scale of impact when young people are empowered.

Man in suit standing at podium

The challenges in achieving educational equity are daunting but the commitment of young people fuels hope.

The future of education is youth-led. Young people are central to building an equitable education system. And if we don’t invite them along, they’ll get on with it, and build it themselves. I rest my case.

Generation17 supports a group of inspiring young leaders dedicated to innovating for humanity and mobilizing global communities. To learn more about this initiative and meet the Generation17 young leaders, the visionaries, advocates and entrepreneurs building a better future, visit generation17.undp.org. 

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Education Index

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Human Development Report (HDR)

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Education Index is published in the context of the Human Development Report (HDR), and it is one of the three components of the Human Development Index (HDI).

The new Education Index (since the 2010 HDR) is calculated as the simple geometric average of two indicators: mean years of schooling and the expected years of schooling (UNDP 2010 , 2011 ). Past versions of the Education Index differed from the current one in all three key issues: indicators, weights, and functional form (UNDP 2009 ).

Description

Since its introduction in the first HDR in 1990, the HDI has attracted great interest in policy and academic circles, as well as in the media and national audiences around the world (UNDP 1990 ). The HDI popularity can be attributed to the simplicity of its characterization of development – an average of achievements in health, education, and income – and to its underlying message that...

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Barro, R. J., & Lee J. W. (2010). A new data set of educational attainment in the world, 1950–2010 . NBER Working Paper, N° 15902.

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Bosworth, B., & Collins, S. (2003). The empirics of growth: An update. Brookings Papers on Economic Activity Fall, 4 , 136–147.

Durlauf, S., Johnson, P., & Temple, J. (2005). Growth econometrics. In P. Aghion & S. Durlauf (Eds.), Handbook of economic growth (pp. 555–677). Amsterdam: North Holland.

Klugman, J., Rodríguez, F., & Choi, H-J. (2011). The HDI 2010:New controversies , old critiques . Human Development Research Paper 2011/01.

UNDP. (1990). Human development report 1990. Concept and measurement of human development . New York: Oxford University Press.

UNDP. (2009). Human development report 2009. Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development . New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

UNDP. (2010). Human development report 2010. The real wealth of nations: Pathways to human development . New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

UNDP. (2011). Human development report 2011. Sustainability and equity: A better future for all . New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

UNESCO Institute for Statistics. (2011). School-life expectancy . http://www.uis.unesco.org/i_pages/indspec/tecspe_sle.htm . Accessed 2 May 2012.

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Econometrics and Applied Statistics, Joint Research Centre, European Commission, Ispra, Italy

Michaela Saisana

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Dipartimento di Scienze Statistiche, Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma, Roma, Italy

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Department of Political Science, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy

Mara Tognetti

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Saisana, M. (2023). Education Index. In: Maggino, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17299-1_840

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  • Education Index - comparison of selected countries 2022

Iceland had the highest inequality adjusted education index score worldwide, amounting to 0.94 out of one on the index. Germany followed with an index score of 0.92. The inequality-adjusted education index is the education index in the Human Development Index adjusted for inequality.

Education index including inequality* of selected countries in 2022

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Statistics on " Education worldwide "

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  • Share of population in OECD countries with secondary education 2022
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  • Share of population not in education or employment globally2023, by gender and region
  • Pre-education participation rate worldwide 2022, by region
  • Number of pupils in primary education worldwide 2000-2020
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  • Primary school completion rate worldwide 2000-2020
  • Number of pupils in secondary education worldwide 2000-2020
  • Net enrollment rate in secondary school worldwide 2000-2018
  • Secondary school net enrollment rate globally 2020, by level and country development
  • Lower secondary completion rate worldwide 2000-2019
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  • Global adult literacy rate 2000-2022, by gender
  • Global youth literacy rate 2000-2022, by gender
  • Global youth literacy rate as gender parity index 2009-2022
  • Number of countries with closed schools worldwide 2021, by status
  • Number of students in countries with closed schools worldwide 2021, by status
  • Students and teachers affected by the coronavirus pandemic worldwide 2020
  • Number of students at risk of not returning to education institutions worldwide 2020
  • Share of students at risk of not returning to education institutions worldwide 2020
  • Number of students at risk of not returning to school worldwide 2020, by region

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  • Premium Statistic Education Index - comparison of selected countries 2022
  • Premium Statistic Share of population not in education or employment globally2023, by gender and region
  • Basic Statistic Pre-education participation rate worldwide 2022, by region

Primary education

  • Basic Statistic Number of pupils in primary education worldwide 2000-2020
  • Basic Statistic Net enrollment rate in primary school worldwide 2000-2018
  • Basic Statistic Lower secondary education net enrollment rate globally 2020, by country development
  • Basic Statistic Primary school completion rate worldwide 2000-2020

Secondary education

  • Basic Statistic Number of pupils in secondary education worldwide 2000-2020
  • Basic Statistic Net enrollment rate in secondary school worldwide 2000-2018
  • Basic Statistic Secondary school net enrollment rate globally 2020, by level and country development
  • Basic Statistic Lower secondary completion rate worldwide 2000-2019
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Higher education

  • Premium Statistic Number of universities worldwide in 2023, by country
  • Basic Statistic World university rankings by Times Higher Education 2023/2024
  • Basic Statistic Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2023
  • Basic Statistic World university rankings by reputation score, by Times Higher Education 2022
  • Premium Statistic Top host destination of international students worldwide 2022
  • Premium Statistic International student share of higher-ed population worldwide in 2022, by country
  • Premium Statistic Field of study of international students worldwide 2022, by country

Literacy rates

  • Basic Statistic Global adult literacy rate 2000-2022, by gender
  • Basic Statistic Global youth literacy rate 2000-2022, by gender
  • Basic Statistic Global youth literacy rate as gender parity index 2009-2022
  • Basic Statistic Illiteracy rates by world region 2022

Impact of COVID-19

  • Basic Statistic Number of countries with closed schools worldwide 2021, by status
  • Basic Statistic Number of students in countries with closed schools worldwide 2021, by status
  • Basic Statistic Students and teachers affected by the coronavirus pandemic worldwide 2020
  • Basic Statistic Number of students at risk of not returning to education institutions worldwide 2020
  • Basic Statistic Share of students at risk of not returning to education institutions worldwide 2020
  • Basic Statistic Number of students at risk of not returning to school worldwide 2020, by region

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  • Premium Statistic Share of school leavers with better than than NCEA Level 2 New Zealand 2012-2017
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Education Rankings by Country 2024

There is a correlation between a country's educational system quality and its economic status, with developed nations offering higher quality education.

The U.S., despite ranking high in educational system surveys, falls behind in math and science scores compared to many other countries.

Educational system adequacy varies globally, with some countries struggling due to internal conflicts, economic challenges, or underfunded programs.

While education levels vary from country to country, there is a clear correlation between the quality of a country's educational system and its general economic status and overall well-being. In general, developing nations tend to offer their citizens a higher quality of education than the least developed nations do, and fully developed nations offer the best quality of education of all. Education is clearly a vital contributor to any country's overall health.

According to the Global Partnership for Education , education is considered to be a human right and plays a crucial role in human, social, and economic development . Education promotes gender equality, fosters peace, and increases a person's chances of having more and better life and career opportunities.

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." — Nelson Mandela

The annual Best Countries Report , conducted by US News and World Report, BAV Group, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania , reserves an entire section for education. The report surveys thousands of people across 78 countries, then ranks those countries based upon the survey's responses. The education portion of the survey compiles scores from three equally-weighted attributes: a well-developed public education system, would consider attending university there, and provides top-quality education. As of 2023, the top ten countries based on education rankings are:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Countries with the Best Educational Systems - 2021 Best Countries Report*

Ironically, despite the United States having the best-surveyed education system on the globe, U.S students consistently score lower in math and science than students from many other countries. According to a Business Insider report in 2018, the U.S. ranked 38th in math scores and 24th in science. Discussions about why the United States' education rankings have fallen by international standards over the past three decades frequently point out that government spending on education has failed to keep up with inflation.

It's also worthwhile to note that while the Best Countries study is certainly respectable, other studies use different methodologies or emphasize different criteria, which often leads to different results. For example, the Global Citizens for Human Rights' annual study measures ten levels of education from early childhood enrollment rates to adult literacy. Its final 2020 rankings look a bit different:

Education Rates of Children Around the World

Most findings and ranking regarding education worldwide involve adult literacy rates and levels of education completed. However, some studies look at current students and their abilities in different subjects.

One of the most-reviewed studies regarding education around the world involved 470,000 fifteen-year-old students. Each student was administered tests in math, science, and reading similar to the SAT or ACT exams (standardized tests used for college admissions in the U.S.) These exam scores were later compiled to determine each country's average score for each of the three subjects. Based on this study, China received the highest scores , followed by Korea, Finland , Hong Kong , Singapore , Canada , New Zealand , Japan , Australia and the Netherlands .

On the down side, there are many nations whose educational systems are considered inadequate. This could be due to internal conflict, economic problems, or underfunded programs. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization's Education for All Global Monitoring Report ranks the following countries as having the world's worst educational systems:

Countries with the Lowest Adult Literacy Rates

27%
31%
34%
35%
37%
37%
38%
41%
45%
47%
  • Education rankings are sourced from both the annual UN News Best Countries report and the nonprofit organization World Top 20

Download Table Data

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41%2022203
35%2018202
100%2016201
81%2022200
88%2020198
86%2015197
72%2022196
54%2022195
86%2022194
62%2016193
90%202219287
62%2018191
0%190
83%2015189
0%18877
91%2015187
95%2015186
89%2015185
81%2021184
0%183
99%2021182
0%181
95%2020180
52%2017179
89%2021178
92%2021177
68%2022176
98%2022175
95%201917471597069
97%2015173
92%2021172
90%2022171
98%2000170
99%2005169
0%168
98%2012167
100%202116648434038
98%2020165
98%202216428282728
99%202116347
45%2021162
37%2020161
27%2022160
63%2021159
59%2022158
0%157
81%2022156
31%2020155
58%2022154
98%2011153
62%2022152
76%2022151
48%2017150
82%2022149
77%2022148
38%2022147
37%2021146
94%202114532353630
100%2021144
34%2022143
77%2018142
78%20201418578
100%2014140
67%2021139
61%2018138
0%137
58%2019136
90%2019135
98%202113451574943
76%2021133
89%201913276
70%2015131
47%2022130
82%2022129
95%2021128
98%202112753545853
84%202212686857873
49%2022125
0%124
64%2015123
75%20201228480
67%2019121
84%2022120837375
94%2022119
91%2022118
77%1999117
96%201911675766056
89%2015115
90%202111441363332
77%202211356585757
90%20201128274
98%2022111
0%110
89%201910974797671
100%2021108
94%202110744484648
80%20201067769
89%2020105
84%202210472756763
99%2019103616656
88%2022102
74%201810134343234
0%100
99%20219943454740
100%202098
0%97
95%20219669726960
94%202095
0%94
96%202093
0%92
94%20179133394137
83%20229070716868
95%20198939403839
72%202288
100%201087
100%20198666616561
81%200185
75%20228437373942
0%83
98%2018825960
89%2021818174
99%202180
0%79
92%202178
94%20207768646459
99%20217646444333
99%200175
96%20207454565149
81%2018736767
0%72
96%20197152505552
100%202270
70%202069
99%20196857686358
96%20206758525455
99%202266
97%198065
100%201964
100%202263808472
0%62
0%6179816667
98%202160
0%59
97%20225863706262
100%20195764535251
71%202156
95%202155
94%20225473657365
96%20195365625964
99%202052
96%202051
99%202150
99%201849
100%201848
98%202147
99%201446
98%20204538323546
98%20214462636154
100%20204378827170
0%422221
0%4150474544
97%20224049514835
95%20203940413736
99%20183835333429
97%20193730313131
99%20183614131416
0%3516171613
99%2011343130
98%20183329292826
99%201432
0%311111
99%202130363830
100%20212960464245
0%287666
0%2715141114
100%20212642424447
100%20212555495050
97%20212424242520
100%20212325272623
100%20212227252321
92%19832126262425
99%20202017181718
0%194443
0%18
0%178987
0%165555
0%159898
0%14
97%20201323232224
0%122222
97%20201120222119
0%10212020
0%913121312
0%812151515
0%73334
0%667711
100%2001545555341
0%4181618
0%31110109
0%210111210
0%119191922
97%2006
100%2000
99%2021
100%2015
97%1980
73.12%

Which country ranks first in education?

Which country ranks last in education, frequently asked questions.

  • Best Countries for Education - 2023 - US News
  • Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) - World Bank
  • World Best Education Systems - Global Citizens for Human Rights
  • UNESCO - Global Education Monitoring Reports
  • World’s 10 Worst Countries for Education - Global Citizen
  • International Education Database - World Top 20

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COMMENTS

  1. Education Index

    World map indicating Education Index over time (1990‍-‍2019) An Education index is a component of the Human Development Index published every year by the United Nations Development Programme.Alongside the Economical indicators and Life Expectancy Index, it helps measure the educational attainment. GNI (PPP) per capita and life expectancy are also used with the education index to get the ...

  2. Education Index by Country 2024

    However, accurately measuring and tracking the average level of education from country to country can be challenging, The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) regularly publishes a Human Development Index (HDI) that includes an Education Index. The purpose of the Education Index is to lend insight into the comparative educational ...

  3. UNDP Human Development Reports: Education Index

    A global education index from 1980 - 2013 calculated using mean years of schooling and expected years of schooling. Data in the tables are those available to the UNDP Human Development Report Office as of 15 November 2013, unless otherwise specified. 1400+ Downloads. This dataset updates: Never.

  4. Human Development Index

    Download latest HDI dataset. The Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable and having a decent standard of living. The HDI is the geometric mean of normalized indices for each of the three dimensions.

  5. UNSD

    The United Nations Statistics Division collects data on educational attainment, literacy and school attendance through the Demographic Yearbook Population Census Questionnaire. Three tables relevant to learning and education are collected through this questionnaire: Table 10. Population 10 years of age and over by literacy, age and sex

  6. SDG 4 data book: global education indicators 2019

    It complements the UIS Quick Guide to Education Indicators for SDG 4, which provides more detailed information on the development, interpretation and use of the indicators. The indicators presented in this publication are based on UIS data for the 2017 reference year (released in February 2019). Three major data sources are used to calculate ...

  7. Education

    4.1 By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and Goal-4 effective learning outcomes 4.2 By 2030, ensure that ...

  8. Education Index

    The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Education Index is published in the context of the Human Development Report (HDR), and it is one of the three components of the Human Development Index (HDI).. The new Education Index (since the 2010 HDR) is calculated as the simple geometric average of two indicators: mean years of schooling and the expected years of schooling (UNDP, 2010, 2011).

  9. Global Knowledge Index 2020

    December 10, 2020. The Global Knowledge Index (GKI), produced annually since 2017, is a summary measure for tracking the knowledge performance of countries at the level of seven areas, namely pre-university education, technical and vocational education and training, higher education, research, development and innovation, information and ...

  10. Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2020

    The 2020 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report urges countries to focus on those left behind as schools reopen so as to foster more resilient and equal societies. To rise to the challenges of our time, a move towards more inclusive education is imperative. Rethinking the future of education is all the more important following the Covid-19 ...

  11. Education Statistics

    EdStats (Education Statistics) provides data and analysis on a wide range of education topics such as access, quality, learning outcomes, teachers, education expenditures, and education equality. Toggle navigation. Who we are. Leadership, organization, and history. X; The World Bank is a unique global partnership that finances development and ...

  12. Education Statistics

    Every child learns. The Sustainable Development Goals are interdependent and achieving SDG4 - ensuring inclusive and equitable education for all by 2030 - will have transformative effects on other goals. SDG4 spans a spectrum of education levels, from pre-primary to youth and adult education. It emphasizes learning outcomes, skills acquisition, and equity in both development and emergency ...

  13. Education Data Release 2023

    Education Data Release - September 2023 New education data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) released this week track country progress towards Sustainable Development Goal objectives for education (SDG 4). The UIS has been reporting education data since its founding in 1999. As the custodian agency for SDG 4, the UIS provides high quality and reliable education

  14. Education Index

    The Education Index is measured by combining average years of schooling for adults with expected years of schooling for children, each receiving 50% weighting. ... United Nations Development Programme. GeoHub. Home Data Data upload Maps Tools Support Licenses . Dashboard. Dashboards Electricity Dashboard .

  15. PDF SDG 4 Data Book

    The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is the official statistical office of UNESCO and the UN depository for global statistics in the fields of education, science, culture and communication. The UIS is the custodian agency for data used to monitor progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal on education and

  16. Data Center

    Country Insights. An interactive data visualization summary of achievements in human development for 193 countries and territories, across human development indices including the HDI and complementary measures that estimate gender gaps, inequality, planetary pressures, and poverty (covering developing countries). View Data by Country.

  17. Statistical Tables

    The statistical tables list 209 countries and territories, all of which are UNESCO member States or associate members. most report their data to the UIS using standard questionnaires issued by the UIS itself. For 46 countries, education data are collected by the UIS via the UIS/OECD/Eurostat (UOE) questionnaires.

  18. Education Rankings by Country 2024

    Norway has an index score of 0.912, while Denmark scored 0.909. Another Nordic country, Finland, scored 0.907 and is in sixth place. Switzerland, known for its high-quality education system, ranks seventh best with a score of 0.902. Holding the eighth best education system is the United Kingdom with a score of 0.901.

  19. Educational index

    EYS is defined as the number of years of schooling a child of school entrance age can expect to receive, if prevailing patterns of age-specific enrolment rates persist throughout the child's schooling life. When computing the dimension index for education, the values of MYS and EYS are weighted equally. For most Low- and Middle Income ...

  20. World Inequality Database on Education

    It draws attention to unacceptable levels of education inequality across countries and between groups within countries, with the aim of helping to inform policy design and public debate. The World Inequality Database on Education (WIDE) brings together data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS ...

  21. The future of education

    We have passed the midpoint of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) facing a stark reality, the world is falling short of meeting most of the goals by 2030. SDG4 is all about ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all. And yet with the current trends, only six in ten young people will be finishing secondary school in 2030.

  22. Education Index

    The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Education Index is published in the context of the Human Development Report (HDR), and it is one of the three components of the Human Development Index (HDI).. The new Education Index (since the 2010 HDR) is calculated as the simple geometric average of two indicators: mean years of schooling and the expected years of schooling (UNDP 2010, 2011).

  23. Education Index: comparison of selected countries

    Iceland had the highest inequality adjusted education index score worldwide, amounting to 0.94 out of one on the index. Germany followed with an index score of 0.92. The inequality-adjusted ...

  24. Education Rankings by Country 2024

    Countries with the Best Educational Systems - 2021 Best Countries Report* Ironically, despite the United States having the best-surveyed education system on the globe, U.S students consistently score lower in math and science than students from many other countries. According to a Business Insider report in 2018, the U.S. ranked 38th in math scores and 24th in science.

  25. Google for Education

    Spend less time on administrative tasks and more time making an impact on student education. Equip your teachers with tools, resources, and professional development so they can focus on their students. Discover K-12 solutions; Connect with a partner; Read customer stories; IT Admins.

  26. Adobe Creative Cloud for students and teachers

    Students and Teachers. Introductory Pricing Terms and Conditions Creative Cloud Introductory Pricing Eligible students 13 and older and teachers can purchase an annual membership to Adobe® Creative Cloud™ for a reduced price of for the first year. At the end of your offer term, your subscription will be automatically billed at the standard subscription rate, currently at (plus applicable ...