What are the world’s most illiterate nations?
We’ve compiled a list of the 25 dumbest nations in the world to give you an idea of where your nation falls if you’re concerned about how your nation is seen internationally. Despite producing some of the world’s best minds in every subject, several nations nonetheless struggle with extreme poverty and debt. We’ll attempt to address this later in the essay.
One could first hope that their nation does not appear on the list because no one likes to be referred to as stupid. However, the data used in this article is taken from the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report. By the way, we’ve already written a piece about the world’s smartest nations. Read and spread our articles, please.
Four criteria guided our selection of the dumbest nations. Among these, one crucial element is how well the country is functioning in the fields of technology and research. The second factor might be the standard of math and science instruction the nation offers its population, and a third one could be the proportion of pupils enrolling in university education. The fourth condition was added last: having access to the internet.
We ranked nations based on the calibre of their maths and science education using WEF survey findings. UNESCO Institute for Statistics provided the WEF with the tertiary enrollment rate. We utilised the number of patent applications per million people to rank nations according to their progress in science and technology. The OECD provided data on patent applications, and the IMF provided data on the population. Finally, in order to rank nations based on internet availability, we utilised the percentage of people who use the internet. These statistics are from the International Telecommunication Union, according to WEF. The majority of the data we used were from 2014, although for countries without 2014 data, we used data from previous years.
Taking into account each country’s position in these four categories, we ranked them according to their average. Since 151 countries were represented in the WEF database, we expect some non-member nations to have relatively high rankings. Our estimates indicate that these countries are the dumbest in the world.
25. Pakistan
Pakistan is a nation in Asia with a rich cultural heritage. The nation does not rank in the top 10 in any of the categories listed below, yet its inclusion in each one propels it to position 25 on our ranking.
Education quality in math and science: 3.40
Score based on math and science instruction quality: 43
Enrollment in tertiary education: 9.52
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 27
Millions of patent applications: 0.0229
Ranking determined on patent applications: 30
Internet users as a percentage: 10.9
Internet access ranking: 25
Ranking score on average: 31.25
24.Uganda
Uganda is ranked number 24 on our list mostly as a result of its far below average enrollment rate in higher education.
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 29 Quality of math and science education: 3.10
enrolment in tertiary education: 9.1
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 24
0.0264 patent applications per million
Rank based on the number of patent applications: 32% of individuals
23.Honduras
Honduras is a nation in Central America that is not widely renowned for having advanced technology. In reality, there are 0 patent applications nationwide for every million citizens.
Education quality in math and science: 2.92 Rank depending on the calibre of math and science education: 24
higher learning
22.Rwanda
East Africa is the location of Rwanda. One of the issues the nation is dealing with is its lack of technological proficiency.
Science and math education standards: 4.13 Position according to the calibre of math and science education: 78
enrolment in tertiary education: 7.22
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 18
Millions of patent applications: 0
Ranking determined on patent applications: 1.
Internet users as a percentage: 8.7
Rank based on online availability: 22
Average ranking score: 29.75
21.Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso is another nation in Africa that made our list of the 25 dumbest nations in the world. Being a landlocked nation, it struggles greatly with the rate of enrollment in higher education.
Education quality in math and science: 3.84 rank based on education quality in math and science: 59
enrolment in tertiary education: 4.6
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 12.
Millions of patent applications: 0.0234
ranking determined on patent applications: 31
Internet users as a percentage: 4.4
Rank based on online availability: 13.
Ranking score on average: 28.75
20.Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste occupies our 20th rank despite having a low Internet penetration rate of just 1.1%.
Maths and science education quality: 2.10 Rank based on maths and science education quality: 4
enrolment in tertiary education: 17.74
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 47
Million applications for patents: 0.2976
Ranking based on patent applications: 1.1 out of 58.8% of internet users
19.Madagascar
Madagascar is a well-known island with stunning beaches, but the nation is actually having trouble keeping up with technological innovation.
Education quality in math and science: 3.75
Quality of math and science education ranking: 54
enrolment in tertiary education: 4.23
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 10.
Millions of patent applications: 0.0458
Order based on number of patent applications: 36
Internet users as a percentage: 2.2
Rank based on online availability: 7.
Ranking score on average: 26.75
18.Lesotho
If we take into account patent applications per million, Lesotho comes in first. Higher education is another area where the nation performs poorly.
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 57 Quality of math and science education: 3.81
enrolment in tertiary education: 10.8
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 32
Millions of patent applications: 0
Ranking determined on patent applications: 1.
Internet users as a percentage: 5
Internet access ranking: 15
Ranking score on average: 26.25
17.Cambodia
Asiatic Cambodia is the 17th nation on our list. This is due to the nation’s poor performance in terms of internet availability and cutting-edge technology development.
Science and math education standards: Rank, 3.25, depending on the calibre of math and science instruction: 35
enrolment in tertiary education: 15.8
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 43
Millions of patent applications: 0
Rank based on the number of patent applications: 1 Number of internet users: 6
Internet access ranking: 18
Ranking score on average: 24.25
16. Ethiopia
Ethiopia comes in at number 16 and is the sixth-lowest internet-access country in the world. When we also discuss technological development, it does not work well.
Education quality in math and science: 3.62
Quality of math and science education ranking: 53
enrolment in tertiary education: 5.4
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 15.
Millions of patent applications: 0.0019
Rank based on the number of patent applications: 1.9 out of 21% of users.
Internet access ranking: 6
Ranking score on average: 23.75
15.Angola
Angola has significant problems with maths instruction and quality. In terms of maths and science, it is ranked as the second-worst country.
Maths and science education quality: 1.91 Rank based on maths and science education quality: 2
enrolment in tertiary education: 7.5%
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 21
Millions of patent applications: 0.0127
Ranking determined on patent applications: 25
percentage of people utilising the internet: 19.7
Rank based on online availability: 44
Ranking score on average: 23
14.Liberia
Liberia, another African nation on our list of the 25 most illiterate nations in the world, suffers from a lack of Internet access and technology.
Education quality in math and science: 2.92
Rank according to the standard of math and science instruction: 25
enrolment in tertiary education: 19.1
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 51
Millions of patent applications: 0
Ranking determined on patent applications: 1.
Internet users as a percentage: 3.8
Internet access ranking: 11
Ranking score on average: 22
13.Gambia
The country lags in every other area although its math and scientific departments are slightly below average.
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 50 Quality of math and science education: 3.55
3.4% of people enrol in tertiary education.
According to enrollment in tertiary education, rank is 7
Patent applications per million: 0 Rank based on patent applications: 1 Internet users as a percentage: 14
Rank based on online accessibility: 30
22 is the average rating score.
12. Yemen
Yemen has very little access to the most recent technological advancements. The country also suffers from poor math and science education.
Science and math education standards: Rank based on the calibre of math and science instruction: 2.27
enrolment in tertiary education: 10.3
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 29
Millions of patent applications: 0
Ranking determined on patent applications: 1.
Internet users as a percentage: 20
Internet access ranking: 46
Ranking score on average: 20.25
11.Malawi
Malawi’s subpar performance in both the quality of math and scientific education and the enrollment rate in higher education is what pushes it to position 11 on our ranking.
Science and math education standards: 3
Rank according to the standard of math and science instruction: 27
enrolment in tertiary education: 0.8
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 1
Millions of patent applications: 0.0051
Ranking determined on patent applications: 22
Internet users as a percentage: 5.4
Internet access ranking: 16
Ranking score on average: 16.5
10.Guinea
The nation with the fewest patent applications per million is Guinea.
Science and math education standards: 3.09 Position according to the standard of math and science education: 31
enrolment in tertiary education: 9.9
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 28
Millions of patent applications: 0
ranking determined by patent applications: Internet usage as a percentage of people: 1.6 Access to the internet: 4
Ranking score on average: 16
9. Haiti
In Haiti, only 10.6% of the population has access to the Internet, making it difficult to obtain even a basic Internet connection. If you can’t live without Facebook, you should give visiting Haiti some serious thought.
Ranking based on quality of math and science education: 21 Quality of math and science education: 2.89
enrolment in tertiary education: N/A
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: N/A
Millions of patent applications: 0
According to patent applications, 10.6 percent of people use the internet.
Internet access ranking: 24
Ranking score: 15.3 on average
8. Mali
Mali is ranked eighth mostly due to advancements in technology and ease of access to the Internet.
Science and math education standards: 3.14 Position depending on math and science education standard: 32
enrolment in tertiary education: 7.5%
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 20
Millions of patent applications: 0
Rank based on the number of patent applications: 1 Percentage of internet users: 23
Rank based on online availability: 8.
15.25 is the average rating score.
7.Myanmar
With barely 1.2% of the population utilising the Internet, Myanmar is truly struggling to advance in the tech industry.
Science and math education standards: 2.70 Placed according to the calibre of math and science instruction:
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 41 Tertiary education enrollment%: 13.8
Rank based on the number of patent applications: 0 1.2 percent of people use the internet; 2 percent of people have access to the internet.
Ranking score on average: 15
6.Tanzania
Tanzania is well-known for its animals and stunning scenery, but the nation struggles with higher education enrollment and the quality of its math and scientific curricula.
Science and math education standards: Based on the standard of math and science education, this rank is 2.40: 8
Tertiary enrolment as a percentage: 3.9 Rank according to tertiary enrollment: 8
Millions of patent applications: 0.0170
Ranking determined on patent applications: 28
5.Burundi
Burundi ranks as the fifth most stupid country in the world because it does poorly in practically every category we have examined.
3.46 for educational quality in math and science; 47 for ranking based on educational quality in math and science.
Patent applications/million: 0 Tertiary education enrolment percentage: 3.2 Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 6
Ranking determined on patent applications: 1.
Internet users as a percentage: 1.3
Rank based on online availability: 3.
Ranking score on average: 14.25
4.Mauritania
When it comes to the quantity of patent applications per million, Mauritania comes out on top. The nation falls flat in other categories as well.
Science and math education standards: 2.90 Position according to the calibre of math and science education: 22
enrolment in tertiary education: 5.1 Position based on enrollment in tertiary education: 14
Millions of patent applications: 0
Rank based on the number of patent applications: 1% of internet users: 6.2 Internet access ranking: 19
Ranking score on average: 14
3.Sierra Leone
The biggest blow to Sierra Leone is its underperformance in the tech sector and its 2% enrollment in post-secondary education.
Education quality in math and science: 2.51; ranking based on education quality: 11.
enrolment in tertiary education: 2.0
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 3.
Millions of patent applications: 0.0426
ranking determined on patent applications: 34
Internet users as a percentage: 1.7
Rank based on online availability: 5.
Ranking score on average: 13.25
2.Mozambique
Mozambique’s low rating in the quality of math and science education and its slow adoption of cutting-edge technology are the reasons it is ranked second on our list.
Science and math education standards: Rank depending on the calibre of math and science instruction: 2.59 12
Tertiary enrollment percentage: 4.9 Position based on tertiary enrollment: 13
Millions of patent applications: 0
5.4 percent of people use the internet; 1 based on patent applications; 16 based on internet access.
Ranking score on average: 10.5
1. Chad
Chad is at the top of our list of the 25 dumbest nations in the world. is ranked eighth when it comes to nations with the fewest people utilising the internet and as one of the least technologically proficient nations in the world.
Science and math education standards: Rank depending on the calibre of math and science education: 2.82 Position: 18
enrolment in tertiary education: 2.25
Rank based on enrollment in tertiary education: 4.
Millions of patent applications: 0
Rank determined by patent applications: 2.3 percent of people use the internet.
FAQs
Which nation in the world is the worst?
Top 10 Worst Places to Live in the World in 2020, according to the Hanke Misery Index
Sudan ranked 193.9, Lebanon 177.1, Suriname 145.3, Libya 105.7, Argentina 95.0, Iran 92.1, Angola 60.6, Madagascar 60.4, and Madagascar 60.4.
What nation is the least popular in the world?
Profiles of the Most Hated Countries in the World
Russia. The most despised nation in the world, according to many, is China, not Russia. China may be the most despised nation in the world, followed by the United States, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Israel, Pakistan, and Iran.
Which nation ranks first worldwide?
The overall Best Countries rankings evaluate various worldwide performance indicators. The finest nation in the world for 2022 is Switzerland.
In which nation is it safe to live?
Countries Known for Their Safety
In a global study, respondents connected high levels of safety with Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. One of the nine criteria used to create a quality of life subranking that enters the U.S. News rankings of the best countries for 2022 is safety.
Which nation has the top students?
Top countries in the world for education 1 United Kingdom 78.2 2 United States 72 3 Australia 70.5 4 Netherlands 70.3
Which nation is the greatest for studying?
The Best International Study Destinations
the United States. The United Kingdom is ranked first in study abroad rankings. France is ranked #2 in the study abroad rankings. Italy is ranked #3 in the study abroad rankings. Spain is ranked #4 in the study abroad rankings. Japan is ranked #5 in the study abroad rankings. Canada is ranked #6 in the study abroad rankings. Germany is ranked #7 in the study abroad rankings.
Which nation is the finest place to live?
Sweden is ranked first in terms of quality of life and fifth in terms of best countries overall. Rank two for quality of life. Canada is the tenth best country overall. Switzerland is ranked third for quality of life. Norway is ranked #4 for Quality of Life. #5 in Life Quality is Finland. Germany ranks #6 in “Quality of Life.” Netherlands ranks #7 in “Quality of Life.” Quality of Life: 8th place.
Who are the seven superpowers?
Germany and Japan have also been referred to as middle powers, along with China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Joshua Baron lists China, France, Russia, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States as the contemporary great powers in his 2014 book Great Power Peace and American Primacy.
Which nation is among the ten strongest?
Russia is the 17th best country overall and is ranked #2 in terms of power. Germany is the third-strongest nation and the 36th-best country overall. United Kingdom ranks #2 overall and #4 in terms of power. South Korea is the eighth-best country overall and the fifth-best power. France is ranked #6 in Power. 7th in Power: Japan Power 8th.
Which nation ranks third in the world?
Canada, the second-largest nation in the globe by land mass, is ranked third overall, down from first place in 2021 where it was ranked first. Canada, the second-largest nation in the globe by land mass, is ranked third overall, down from first place in 2021 where it was ranked first.
Which nation is the most secure for girls?
The following nations are the best for women in 2022.
Sweden.
Norway.\sFinland.\sDenmark.\sSwitzerland.\sCanada.
Which nation has the lowest cost of living?
Vietnam is one of the world’s least expensive places to live.
African nation.
Ecuador.
Costa Rica
Malaysia.
Mexico.
Indonesia.
Bulgaria.
Chinese safety?
Crime rates vary greatly across regions in China. Even though this country doesn’t have many violent crimes, there are some places to avoid. It is not uncommon for small-time theft to occur around tourist attractions, the Beijing International Airport, expat clubs at night, or street markets.
What nation has the most power in the world?
America’s United States
The United States is the world’s most powerful nation, according to the 2020 report (published in 2021). With a GDP of $20.93 trillion in 2020, the United States will have the greatest economy in the world. It will also have the highest military spending, at $778 billion.
What nation is the world’s smartest?
The following nations have the highest IQ scores:
China scored 104.1, Hong Kong 105.37, South Korea 102.35, Singapore 105.89.
Germany is ranked 100.74, Liechtenstein is 101.07, Finland is 101.2, and Belarus is 101.6.
Why is Togo the most depressing nation?
Slave trade in Africa used to be centred on Togo. Although this little country won its independence from France in 1960, its democratic institutions have only just begun to take shape. People are living in extreme poverty as a result of power struggles between the nation’s leaders.
How many nations are there on earth?
Today, there are 195 nations in the world. This number includes the Holy See and the State of Palestine, two non-member observer nations, together with the 193 United Nations member states.
Who are the seven superpowers?
Germany and Japan have also been referred to as middle powers, along with China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Joshua Baron lists China, France, Russia, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States as the contemporary great powers in his 2014 book Great Power Peace and American Primacy.
Which nation has the most stunning scenery?
Greece. New Zealand. #1 Scenic. #11 Best Countries Overall. Italy is the second most scenic country and the 25th best country overall. Switzerland ranks third for scenery and fourteenth overall for the best countries. Fourth in Scenic, first in Best Countries Overall: Spain. Norway is #5 in Scenic and #16 in the list of the best nations overall. Australia is ranked #6 in Scenic. #7 in Scenic, followed by #8 by Ireland.
Who are the world’s five superpowers?
China. A potential superpower or an emerging superpower is China, according to the European Union. Many academics, including those in India, view the European Union (EU) as an ascendant superpower. India might become a global superpower, along with Russia.
futuristic superpower
Which nation excels in mathematics?
Despite holding the top spot in 2021, the Russian Federation moved up from third to second, trading places with the United States. The United States was followed in the rankings by Taiwan, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Romania, Hong Kong, and Iran.
Who among Asians is the smartest?
The World’s Smartest Nations 1 South Korea 104.6, Hong Kong 105.7, China 105.8, and Singapore 107.1
Which nation has the best maths skills?
SINGAPORE, first
Singapore scored as the top nation for kids achieving their best in maths and science, according to an international benchmarking survey.
Which nation is the happiest?
The Top Happiest Countries in the World for 2021 (plus a commendable honourable mention):
Finland. According to the 2021 study, Finland is the happiest nation in the world, scoring 7.842 out of a possible 10.
Denmark, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.
Bhutan is an Honourable Mention.
Which country is the least happy?
Afghanistan receives the lowest score of 2.523 out of 146 nations evaluated for the report, making it the least “happy” nation in the world as of 2022.
Which Asian nation is the most depressing?
Cambodia is the most depressing nation in the area, with 42% of respondents reporting having felt depressed and 58% responding “no.” Philippines is in second position, with 35% voting “yes” and 64% saying “no,” and is in front of it.
How many nations are named from A to Z?
From A to Z: Countries and Regions of the World
There are currently 195 independent sovereign nations in the globe (excluding Taiwan, which is disputable but de facto independent), along with about 60 dependent areas and a number of disputed territories, including Kosovo.
Which nation has the longest sun?
Norway is referred to as the land of the eternal sun. Because of Norway’s high altitude and the lengthy period of refracted sunlight, there are seasonal fluctuations in the amount of daylight. In this nation, the sun never sets for roughly 20 hours during a period of 76 days between late May and late July.
