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Countries with the Best Education

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If you're relocating with children — or value educational quality — this ranking is essential. We score 95 countries on the OECD PISA 2025 results: the combined mean of mathematics, reading and science mapped to 0–100 and normalized across the ranking (the top group shares a capped score). Countries that did not sit PISA 2025 carry an estimated mean and are marked. The subject scores behind the top 10 are shown on this page.

Updated September 2026

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Data refreshed 2026-09-23 · Primary source for the education dimension: OECD PISA 2025 (combined mean of mathematics, reading and science; estimated for non-participants). Monthly $ figures are our price-index model (a broad consumption basket scaled by each country’s cost index) — researched city budgets in our guides can run leaner. Full methodology · sources index.

Quick answer

The top 3 countries with the best education in 2026 are Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan. The ranking is based on the education dimension specifically, drawn from WhereNext's normalized 7-dimension framework across 95 countries. Underlying data is public-domain (World Bank ICP, UNDP HDI, IEP Global Peace Index, OECD PISA, EF EPI). Ranking content last changed 2026-09-23; CC BY 4.0 — free to cite with attribution.

Filter the full education ranking by region, persona, or budget at https://getwherenext.com/find — live 2026 World Bank + UNDP + IEP data.

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Download CSV — 95 countries by education, CC BY 4.0

Key facts

  • #1: Singapore score 100/100 on this dimension across 95 countries.
  • #2: Taiwan score 100/100 — close runner-up.
  • $1,550/mo cheapest single-person cost in the top 10 (Taiwan).
  • 95 countries ranked using public-domain institutional datasets (ranking content last changed 2026-09-23).
  • Top 20 visible full table below with sub-scores and confidence rating per country.

Retirement readiness — Singapore vs Taiwan vs Japan

Seven dimensions scored 0-10 from primary-source data. Composite = weighted mean (visa 20% · healthcare 20% · tax 15% · safety 15% · climate 10% · language 10% · cost 10%).

Updated · WhereNext corridor registry (visa pathway + claim confidence) · WHO 2024 UHC service-coverage index + JCI accreditation directory · US Treasury bilateral income-tax treaties index · IEP Global Peace Index 2025 · Köppen-Geiger climate classification + WHO air-quality database · EF English Proficiency Index 2025 · Numbeo Cost of Living Index 2026-Q1

Retirement readiness scores for Singapore vs Taiwan vs Japan — 7 dimensions weighted to composite
DimensionWeightSingaporeTaiwanJapanSource
Visa ease20%4.07.06.0WhereNext corridor registry (visa pathway + claim confidence)
Healthcare access20%9.09.09.0WHO 2024 UHC service-coverage index + JCI accreditation directory
Tax complexity15%8.07.05.0US Treasury bilateral income-tax treaties index
Safety15%9.08.09.0IEP Global Peace Index 2025
Climate10%6.06.07.0Köppen-Geiger climate classification + WHO air-quality database
Language10%9.05.04.0EF English Proficiency Index 2025
Cost of living10%2.07.06.0Numbeo Cost of Living Index 2026-Q1
Composite1.006.97.36.8Weighted mean (see weights column)

Countries with the best education in 2026

The best-education countries in 2026 are ranked on the OECD PISA 2025 combined mean of mathematics, reading and science, mapped to a 0–100 score and normalized across the ranking; non-participants carry a marked estimate. The subject scores behind the top 10 are listed on the page. Best for families relocating with school-age children.

  1. #1🇸🇬 Singapore100/100 · ~$2,250/mo
  2. #2🇹🇼 Taiwan100/100 · ~$1,550/mo
  3. #3🇯🇵 Japan100/100 · ~$2,700/mo
  4. #4🇰🇷 South Korea100/100 · ~$2,250/mo
  5. #5🇪🇪 Estonia100/100 · ~$1,950/mo
Related: International school costs 2026 · Best countries for American families abroad · International school finder.
Looking for the full dataset? View PISA 2025 subject-level evidence with mathematics, reading, science, derived combined values, and clearly flagged estimates.

Top 20 Countries

The top 20 countries with the best education in 2026 are led by Singapore (score 100/100), Taiwan (100/100), and Japan (100/100), based on WhereNext's analysis of 95 countries using institutional public-domain datasets. Estimated monthly cost in Singapore: ~$2,250.

Sorted by education score. Data from institutional public-domain datasets. 5 countries share the top score of 100/100 here — the scale compresses at the top, so the leaders are genuinely close rather than ordered by a visible gap. Where the underlying metric still separates them we use it; where it does not, the order is by data confidence and then alphabetical, not by any hidden judgement.

1
🇸🇬

Singapore

Southeast Asia

100
/100
2
🇹🇼

Taiwan

East Asia

100
/100
3
🇯🇵

Japan

East Asia

100
/100
4
🇰🇷

South Korea

East Asia

100
/100
5
🇪🇪

Estonia

Northern Europe

100
/100
6
🇭🇰

Hong Kong

East Asia

93
/100
7
🇬🇧

United Kingdom

Northern Europe

93
/100
8
🇨🇦

Canada

North America

91
/100
9
🇳🇿

New Zealand

Oceania

91
/100
10
🇦🇺

Australia

Oceania

90
/100
11
🇮🇪

Ireland

Western Europe

90
/100
12
🇨🇭

Switzerland

Central Europe

88
/100
13
🇵🇱

Poland

Central Europe

87
/100
14
🇺🇸

United States

North America

85
/100
15
🇨🇳

China

East Asia

85
/100
16
🇫🇮

Finland

Northern Europe

84
/100
17
🇦🇹

Austria

Central Europe

82
/100
18
🇧🇪

Belgium

Western Europe

82
/100
19
🇨🇿

Czechia

Central Europe

82
/100
20
🇹🇷

Turkey

Eurasia

81
/100
Explore All 95 Countries

Which countries have the best education systems? PISA 2025 scores behind the top 10

Singapore (score 100; PISA 2025 mean 553 — mathematics 563, reading 535, science 560) leads WhereNext's education ranking, ahead of Taiwan (score 100; PISA 2025 mean 531 — mathematics 546, reading 508, science 540) and Japan (score 100; PISA 2025 mean 522 — mathematics 525, reading 503, science 538). The ranking's score compresses at the top — 5 countries show the capped score of 100 — so their order follows the PISA 2025 mean.

#CountryScorePISA mean
1Singapore100553
2Taiwan100531
3Japan100522
4South Korea100516
5Estonia100511
6Hong Kong93499
7United Kingdom93498
8Canada91495
9New Zealand91495
10Australia90493

The score shown is the ranking's normalized education score: each country's OECD PISA 2025 combined mean of mathematics, reading and science is first mapped to 0–100 (a mean of 300 scores 0, 575 scores 100) and then normalized across the 95 countries, with the top group capped at the same score — which is why several leaders can show 100 while their PISA means differ. 74 of the 95 countries ranked here sat PISA 2025; 21 did not and carry an estimated mean, marked "est." in the table. Source: OECD PISA 2025 Results (Volume I), Table I.1, released 2026-09-08; the next assessment cycle is PISA 2029.

Which country has the best education system in 2025?

Singapore (score 100; PISA 2025 mean 553 — mathematics 563, reading 535, science 560) leads WhereNext's education ranking, ahead of Taiwan (score 100; PISA 2025 mean 531 — mathematics 546, reading 508, science 540) and Japan (score 100; PISA 2025 mean 522 — mathematics 525, reading 503, science 538). The ranking's score compresses at the top — 5 countries show the capped score of 100 — so their order follows the PISA 2025 mean. “Best” here means the strongest PISA 2025 results across the three subjects, not school fees or university rankings — international school costs have their own pages linked below.

How is the education score calculated?

The score shown is the ranking's normalized education score: each country's OECD PISA 2025 combined mean of mathematics, reading and science is first mapped to 0–100 (a mean of 300 scores 0, 575 scores 100) and then normalized across the 95 countries, with the top group capped at the same score — which is why several leaders can show 100 while their PISA means differ. 74 of the 95 countries ranked here sat PISA 2025; 21 did not and carry an estimated mean, marked "est." in the table. Source: OECD PISA 2025 Results (Volume I), Table I.1, released 2026-09-08; the next assessment cycle is PISA 2029.

Which countries are ranked by education in the OECD's PISA 2025 results?

Singapore posted the highest PISA 2025 score of any of the 74 measured countries, leading by the widest margin in reading at 535, for a combined three-subject mean of 553.

This table shows each country's raw OECD PISA 2025 subject scores — not the ranking's normalized score shown above. Source: OECD PISA 2025, released 2026-09-08.

#CountryMathematicsReadingScienceCombined mean
1Singapore563535560553
2Taiwan546508540531
3Japan525503538522
4South Korea522501526516
5Estonia508499527511
6Hong Kong522480496499
7United Kingdom488494511498
8Canada485490510495
9New Zealand480497509495
10Australia478491509493
11Ireland480500500493
12Switzerland499470501490
13Poland484482495487
14United States463490502485
15Finland469474504482
16Austria477467497480
17Belgium480466490479
18Czechia477468490478
19Turkey462472494476
20Italy468474483475
21Lithuania470464488474
22Germany464465486472
23Sweden464466485472
24Denmark471460478470
25Netherlands483441485470
26Portugal460462482468
27France458456483466
28Hungary459452480464
29Slovakia469448475464
30Slovenia460445484463
31Spain457451477462
32Croatia455453476461
33Luxembourg458443474458
34Norway452453470458
35Latvia460430468453
36United Arab Emirates453433458448
37Iceland450422441438
38Israel433436442437
39Malta439415453436
40Vietnam443392457431
41Chile403436442427
42Greece424423434427
43Albania433408435425
44Uruguay405423445424
45Qatar416418434423
46Montenegro411418435421
47Serbia417415429420
48Romania419413425419
49Mauritius407405438417
50Moldova410404422412
51Thailand407392432410
52Costa Rica387416424409
53Georgia416384422407
54Mongolia419374424406
55Bulgaria405387421404
56Malaysia397393419403
57Mexico388408414403
58Cyprus412379411401
59Brazil377408409398
60Colombia381399414398
61Saudi Arabia390387413397
62Peru382390406393
63Jordan388363407386
64Argentina367389393383
65Ecuador366385393381
66Indonesia364365389373
67North Macedonia380357378372
68Philippines371367373370
69Cambodia366347382365
70Dominican Republic339346361349
71Morocco355321358345
72Guatemala334337351341
73Kenya326320335327
74Rwanda312301317310

The score shown is the ranking's normalized education score: each country's OECD PISA 2025 combined mean of mathematics, reading and science is first mapped to 0–100 (a mean of 300 scores 0, 575 scores 100) and then normalized across the 95 countries, with the top group capped at the same score — which is why several leaders can show 100 while their PISA means differ. 74 of the 95 countries ranked here sat PISA 2025; 21 did not and carry an estimated mean, marked "est." in the table. Source: OECD PISA 2025 Results (Volume I), Table I.1, released 2026-09-08; the next assessment cycle is PISA 2029.

Participant subject scores verified against OECD PISA 2025 Results (Volume I) Table I.1, which reports Annex B1 Tables I.B1.2a.1 (science), I.B1.2a.2 (reading), and I.B1.2a.3 (mathematics), and cross-checked against Skolverket's Swedish national PISA 2025 report (fixture: __fixtures__/pisa-2025-table-i1.json). Non-measured values cover 21 WhereNext countries absent from PISA 2025; Panama and Jamaica carry their PISA 2022 combined averages. PISA 2029 is the next assessment cycle, so PISA 2025 stays the latest available results until the OECD publishes it.

OECD (2026), PISA 2025 Results (Volume I): Future-Ready Students, Table I.1 'Snapshot of performance in science, reading, mathematics and computational problem-solving' (pp. 28-29), sourced from PISA 2025 Database Annex B1 Tables I.B1.2a.1 (science), I.B1.2a.2 (reading) and I.B1.2a.3 (mathematics). OECD Publishing, Paris, published 8 September 2026. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/pisa-2025-results-volume-i_73451bc5-en.html (PDF: https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2026/09/pisa-2025-results-volume-i_5265bfb1/73451bc5-en.pdf)

Which countries are ranked by education, from PISA 2025 data?

74 WhereNext countries sat the OECD's PISA 2025 assessment, listed above by combined three-subject mean from Singapore (553) down to Rwanda (310).

Is there a full list of world education rankings by country for 2025?

The table above is the full PISA 2025 measured list of WhereNext countries; the next assessment cycle is PISA 2029, so this stays the latest available results until the OECD publishes it.

What is the difference between a measured and an estimated education ranking of countries?

The score shown is the ranking's normalized education score: each country's OECD PISA 2025 combined mean of mathematics, reading and science is first mapped to 0–100 (a mean of 300 scores 0, 575 scores 100) and then normalized across the 95 countries, with the top group capped at the same score — which is why several leaders can show 100 while their PISA means differ. 74 of the 95 countries ranked here sat PISA 2025; 21 did not and carry an estimated mean, marked "est." in the table. Source: OECD PISA 2025 Results (Volume I), Table I.1, released 2026-09-08; the next assessment cycle is PISA 2029.

#1 for Best Education
🇸🇬

Singapore

Southeast Asia

100/100
🎓 Education Score
71.52/100
Overall Score
$2,250
Est. Monthly
View Full Country Profile
Considering Singapore?See how it scores for your situation — free case →

Understanding the Education Rankings

Our education rankings sort 95 countries by their education score, computed from institutional data sources including the World Bank, OECD, and UNDP datasets.

Singapore leads with a score of 100/100, followed by Taiwan (100) and Japan (100).

What It Costs to Live There

The top-ranked countries for education have an average estimated monthly cost of $2,140. Taiwan is the most affordable among the top 5 at ~$1,550/month, making it an attractive option for those seeking strong education on a budget.

These cost estimates cover rent, groceries, transportation, utilities, and basic healthcare for a single person living a moderate lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the countries with the best education ranking. WhereNext scores 95 countries across 7 dimensions using data from the World Bank, WHO, OECD, Global Peace Index, and 23 other institutional sources (ranking content last changed 2026-09-23).

What education data do you use?

The OECD PISA 2025 results (Volume I, Table I.1): each country's combined mean of mathematics, reading and science, mapped to a 0–100 score where a mean of 300 scores 0 and 575 scores 100, then normalized across the 95 countries with the top group capped at the same score. Countries that did not participate carry an estimated mean and are marked as estimates; the next cycle is PISA 2029.

Are international schools included?

The education score reflects system-wide quality, not just international school availability. City-level profiles discuss international school options and costs.

Is this relevant for university education?

No — PISA assesses 15-year-olds, so this ranking measures school-system quality, which is what families relocating with school-age children need. University quality is not part of the score.

Other Rankings

WhereNext publishes 10 country rankings for 2026 covering cost of living, safety, healthcare, education, career opportunity, lifestyle, and infrastructure — each scored independently from institutional public-domain datasets across 95 countries.

💰

Cheapest Countries to Live In

🛡️

Safest Countries to Live In

🏥

Countries with the Best Healthcare

📈

Best Countries for Career & Economy

🌴

Best Countries for Lifestyle & Quality of Life

📡

Best Countries for Digital Infrastructure

☀️

Countries with the Best Climate

🗣️

Most English-Friendly Countries

🛂

Countries with the Easiest Visas

Browse by Budget

💰 Under $1,000/mo💰 Under $1,500/mo💰 Under $2,000/mo💰 Under $3,000/mo💰 Under $5,000/mo
🇪🇺 Europe🌏 Asia🌎 Americas🌍 Africa🕌 Middle East🏝️ Oceania
💻 Digital Nomad Country Rankings 2026🏖️ Retirement Country Rankings 2026👨‍👩‍👧 Families💼 Career Relocation🚀 Entrepreneurs🏛️ Low-Tax🏠 Remote Workers 2026

In-depth guides: Education countries

Deep dives on visas, cost of living, healthcare, taxes, and where to live for each top-ranked destination.

🇸🇬Moving to Singapore🇹🇼Moving to Taiwan🇯🇵Moving to Japan🇰🇷Moving to South Korea🇪🇪Moving to Estonia🇭🇰Moving to Hong Kong🇬🇧Moving to United Kingdom🇨🇦Moving to Canada🇳🇿Moving to New Zealand🇦🇺Moving to Australia

Suggested citation

CC BY 4.0

This dataset is free to redistribute, quote, and embed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. The composite form below preserves source lineage so AI assistants can cite both WhereNext and the underlying institutional publishers.

WhereNext composite (lineage)
WhereNext composite — WhereNext Education Ranking 2026 (2026-09-23). Derived from: World Bank ICP; WHO Global Health Observatory; OECD PISA + UNESCO UIS; Yale EPI; IEP Global Peace Index; EF EPI; World Bank WGI. Available at https://getwherenext.com/rankings/best-education?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
APA
WhereNext. (2026). WhereNext Education Ranking 2026. Retrieved from https://getwherenext.com/rankings/best-education?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
MLA
WhereNext. "WhereNext Education Ranking 2026." WhereNext, 23 Sept 2026, https://getwherenext.com/rankings/best-education?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. Accessed via https://getwherenext.com/rankings/best-education?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
BibTeX
@misc{wherenext_getwherenext_com_rankings_best_education,
  author = {{WhereNext}},
  title = {WhereNext Education Ranking 2026},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://getwherenext.com/rankings/best-education?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation},
  note = {CC BY 4.0}
}
HTML link
<a href="https://getwherenext.com/rankings/best-education?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation">WhereNext &mdash; WhereNext Education Ranking 2026</a>

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