America Is Below Average, But Not the Dumbest Country!

America Is Below Average, But Not the Dumbest Country!

We placed higher than France, Spain, or Italy. Those were the bottom three countries among the developed nations. (Is there something wrong with the water in the Mediterranean? In addition to those three nations, Cyprus also scored poorly and Greece was not rated.)

Japan rated best. Finland was the best in Europe. Australia placed quite high (higher than Norway and Sweden).

The survey itself (linked from the article), in comparing the highest and lowest performers, notes that Japanese high school graduates have about the same level of literacy and numeracy as Italian college graduates.

Other findings, quoted from The New York Times:

"Among 55- to 65-year-olds, the United States fared better, on the whole, than its counterparts. But in the 45-to-54 age group, American performance was average, and among younger people, it was behind."

In our defense, we are still excellent at blowing shit up!