|
November 10, 2005
Table 1:
|
International Adult Literacy Scores, 1994-98 |
|
|
(Ranked in descending order by mean score) |
|
Rank |
Country |
Mean Score |
5th percentile |
95th Percentile |
95th/5th ratio |
|
1 |
Sweden |
304 |
216 |
386 |
1.79 |
|
2 |
Norway |
294 |
207 |
363 |
1.75 |
|
3 |
Denmark |
289 |
213 |
353 |
1.66 |
|
4 |
Finland |
288 |
195 |
363 |
1.86 |
|
5 |
Netherlands |
286 |
202 |
355 |
1.76 |
|
6 |
Germany |
285 |
208 |
359 |
1.73 |
|
7 |
Canada |
280 |
145 |
372 |
2.57 |
|
8 |
Belgium |
277 |
163 |
359 |
2.20 |
|
9 |
Australia |
274 |
146 |
359 |
2.46 |
|
10 |
New Zealand |
272 |
158 |
361 |
2.28 |
|
11 |
United States |
272 |
133 |
371 |
2.79 |
|
12 |
Switzerland |
271 |
143 |
352 |
2.46 |
|
13 |
United Kingdom |
267 |
145 |
360 |
2.48 |
|
14 |
Ireland |
263 |
151 |
353 |
2.34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Source: Michael J. Handel, "Worker Skills and
Job Requirements: Is There a Mismatch?",
Economic Policy |
|
Institute, 2005. Table 4. http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/book_worker_skills |
Table 2:
|
Immigrant and Native-born Literacy Scores
|
|
Demographic Group |
U.S. |
17-High Income Countries |
Difference (U.S.-Other Countries) |
|
Native born |
284 |
276 |
8 |
|
Foreign born |
210 |
226 |
-16 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Native born |
|
|
|
|
High School dropout |
225 |
243 |
-18 |
|
High School grad or higher |
295 |
294 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign born |
|
|
|
|
High School dropout |
149 |
177 |
-28 |
|
High School grad or higher |
243 |
258 |
-15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Source: Andrew M. Sum et el., "The
Twin Challenges of Mediocrity and Inequality:
Literacy in the U.S. From an International
Perspective," Educational Testing Service, 2002.
Table 12, page 21. |
|
|
|
(International Adult Literacy Survey scores.) |
|
|
Edwin S. Rubenstein (email
him) is President of
ESR Research Economic Consultants in Indianapolis. |
|
