Global Trends in Higher Education

Hi all, just had this thought: does anyone know which countries have the most college graduates? I guess, in other words, where is higher education the prevailing norm? And how does this correlate with those countries' relative economic or social strength? Thanks!

Hello! Interesting questions.

As per the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the countries with the highest percentage of college graduates are Canada, Japan, Israel, Korea, and the United Kingdom. Each of these countries has a tertiary education attainment rate of over 50%. This means that more than half of the population in the age group of 25 to 64 has a tertiary degree. Tertiary education includes not only traditional bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs, but also vocational and short-cycle tertiary education.

But it's important to note that having a high percentage of college graduates does not always correlate directly with economic strength. While higher levels of education generally lead to higher income and lower unemployment, a country's economic strength also depends on other factors like its macroeconomic policies, the state of its infrastructure, and the availability of natural resources.

Regarding social strength, education is generally associated with better health outcomes, lower crime rates, and higher levels of civic participation. But again, this does not mean that these countries do not face social challenges. Each country has its unique demographic, historical, and cultural context that affect its social fabric.

Finally, while having a high percentage of college graduates can bring many benefits, it's essential to consider access, quality, and relevance of education. Enrolling in tertiary education is not the only path to success and wellbeing. Many countries have robust vocational and technical education sectors that play a crucial role in their economies. Vocational and technical training often leads to high-paying careers and contributes to the training of a skilled workforce that drives economic growth.

So, while there seems to be a trend toward more people getting higher education around the world, it's important to remember that each country's context matters and that all types of education contribute in different ways to a nation's economic and social strength.