Education
branch Percentages of top performers in science
In PISA 2006
  2006
Finland 20.9   20.90 
New Zealand 17.6   17.60 
Japan 15.1   15.10 
Australia 14.6   14.60 
Canada 14.4   14.40 
United Kingdom 13.7   13.70 
Netherlands 13.1   13.10 
Slovenia 12.9   12.90 
Germany 11.8   11.80 
Czech Republic 11.6   11.60 
Estonia 11.5   11.50 
Switzerland 10.5   10.50 
Korea 10.3   10.30 
Belgium 10.1   10.10 
Austria 10.0   10.00 
Ireland 9.4   9.40 
United States 9.1   9.10 
OECD average 9.0   9.00 
France 8.0   8.00 
Sweden 7.9   7.90 
Hungary 6.9   6.90 
Denmark 6.8   6.80 
Poland 6.8   6.80 
Iceland 6.3   6.30 
Norway 6.1   6.10 
Luxembourg 5.9   5.90 
Slovak Republic 5.8   5.80 
Israel 5.2   5.20 
Spain 4.9   4.90 
Italy 4.6   4.60 
Russian Federation 4.2   4.20 
Greece 3.4   3.40 
Portugal 3.1   3.10 
Chile 1.9   1.90 
Turkey 0.9   0.90 
Brazil 0.6   0.60 
Mexico 0.3   0.30 
Indonesia ..    

Definition

Achievement scores are based on assessments administered as part of the OECD PISA programme, which were carried out in 2006 (with a special focus on students' abilities in science). “Students” refers here to 15-year-olds enrolled in secondary education. “Top performers” refers to students who attain Levels 5 and 6 on the PISA science scale, Level 5 on the reading scale, and Levels 5 and 6 on the mathematics scale.

For more statistics on economic, environmental and social issues visit online the OECD Factbook 2010.