Norway

Norway’s HDI value for 2017 is 0.953— which put the country in the very high human development
category—positioning it at 1 out of 189 countries and territories. Between 1990 and 2017, Norway’s HDI
value increased from 0.850 to 0.953, an increase of 12.1 percent. Norway ranks highly on the HDI in part
because of the revenues that it receives from North Sea oil and gas.

Education

1. KINDERGARTENS- Children who reach the age of one in September, October or November are entitled
to a place in a kindergarten from the month they reach the age of one.

2. PRIMARY AND LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION- Primary and lower secondary school covers
education for children aged 6 to 15 from 1st to 10th grade.

3. UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION- normally provides three years of general education or four years of
vocational training after the 10-year compulsory education.

4. POST SECONDARY VOCATIONAL EDUCATION- Post-secondary vocational education comprise shorter

vocational education building on completion of upper secondary education, but not defined as higher
education. The duration is a minimum of six months and a maximum of two years.

5. HIGHER EDUCATION- Higher education is based on general admission, normally completed secondary
education. The main structure is a 3+2+3 model; a three-year bachelor‘s degree, two year master‘s
degree and three-year doctoral programme.

6. ADULT EDUCATION

PRIMARY AND LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION- Persons who have not completed sufficient primary and
lower secondary education are entitled to schooling at these levels.

UPPER SECONDARY- Adults who have completed primary and lower secondary education or the
equivalent, but not upper secondary education, have the right to such education upon application. This
right is applicable from the year of their 25th birthday.

STUDY ASSOCIATION- consists of two or more voluntary organisations and offers a selection of courses,
ranging from basic education/training to work training and studies at university level. Study associations
offer courses in most municipalities and can apply for government funding.

FOLK HIGHSCHOOLS- are free, and are general education schools that also have a clear integrative goal.
Folk high schools do not have a curriculum or examinations. Folk high schools offer both short courses
lasting at least two days and a maximum of 94 days, and long courses with a duration of 4-10 months.

WEB BASED SCHOOLS- offer a high degree of flexibility as teachers and students may communicate with
each other regardless of time and place.

LIFE EXPECTANCY
In 2017 the life expectancy in Norway increased to 82.3 years. That year, the life expectancy for women
was 84.3 years and for men 81 years. Norway's position improvened with respect to the 189 countries
we publish life expectancy, dropping from the 13th in 2016 to 11th in 2017.

Switzerland

Switzerland’s HDI value for 2017 is 0.944— which put the country in the very high human development
category—positioning it at 2 out of 189 countries and territories. Between 1990 and 2017, Switzerland’s
HDI value increased from 0.832 to 0.944, an increase of 13.5 percent. Herein perhaps lies one of the top
reasons behind Swiss wealth – an ability to take raw products and turn them into something incredibly
valuable, be that luxury chocolates, a beautiful diamond bracelet or a complicated new drug. In other
words, what's behind its wealth is an ability to innovate.

Education

Pre-school

Pre-school education is not compulsory in all the cantons but most of the children attend a Kindergarten
for two years before starting primary school. Usually, students are enrolled in pre-school at four years
old.

Primary school

Primary school is compulsory for all Swiss children starting at the age of six. Depending on the canton,
primary school can last between four and six years. The average length of primary school is usually five
years.

Secondary school

After primary school, students are separated according to the type of careers they want. They can
choose between an academically- or a vocationally-oriented school. Academically-oriented students
enter high school and take a Matura (high school diploma) examination at the end. The Matura is
necessary for university entrance. Vocational courses lead to a vocational diploma.

Life Expectancy

In 2017 the life expectancy in Switzerland remains unchanged in 83.5 years. That year, the life
expectancy for women was 85.6 years and for men 81.6 years.

Australia

Australia's HDI value for 2017 is 0.939— which put the country in the very high human development
category—positioning it at 3 out of 189 countries and territories. Between 1990 and 2017, Australia's
HDI value increased from 0.866 to 0.939, an increase of 8.4 percent. Australia is considered a wealthy
nation with a market-based economy that has a comparatively high gross domestic product and per
capita income. Its economy is driven by the service sector and the export of commodities.

Education

The Australian education system provides primary, secondary and tertiary education.

School education (Primary and Secondary)

School education is similar across all of Australia with only minor variations between states and
territories. School education (primary and secondary) is compulsory between the ages of six and sixteen
(Year 1 to Year 9 or 10). School education is 13 years and divided into:

Primary school - Runs for seven or eight years, starting at Kindergarten/Preparatory through to Year 6 or
7.

Secondary school - Runs for three or four years, from Years 7 to 10 or 8 to 10.

Senior secondary school - Runs for two years, Years 11 and 12.

Tertiary education

Tertiary education includes both higher education (including universities) and vocational education and
training (VET).

Life Expetancy

In 2017 the life expectancy in Australia increased to 83.1 years. That year, the life expectancy for women
was 84.7 years and for men 80.4 years

Ireland

Ireland's HDI value for 2017 is 0.938— which put the country in the very high human development
category—positioning it at 4 out of 189 countries and territories. Between 1990 and 2017, Ireland's HDI
value increased from 0.763 to 0.938, an increase of 23.0 percent.The main reason for the particularly
high Irish GDP growth rates lies in the fact that in recent years, attracted in large part by low corporation
tax rates, a number of large multinational corporations have relocated their economic activities, and
more specifically their underlying intellectual property, to Ireland.

Education

Education in Ireland mandates that children attend school from age 6 to 16. But, most children attend
free childcare/pre-school services between the ages of 4 and 5. Then students move on to primary
school and then secondary school.
Secondary schools are privately run and therefore are expensive or have a religious affiliation, typically.
The secondary school system includes three years in the junior cycle of ages 12 to 14 and the senior
cycle of two or three years for 15 to 18-year-old students. In order to move on from the junior cycle and
into the senior cycle, students must pass a test that includes all of their coursework from their three
years in secondary school.

Once in the senior cycle, students must choose three tracks and at the end of their schooling, they take a
test corresponding to the track they chose. There is the Traditional Leaving Certificate which is for
students who plan to continue their education at a university, and the Leaving Certificate Vocational
Programme which applies to technical jobs and the Leaving Certificate Applied.

Life Expectancy

In 2017 the life expectancy in Ireland increased to 81.6 years. That year, the life expectancy for women
was 84 years and for men 80.4 years.

Germany

Germany's HDI value for 2017 is 0.936— which put the country in the very high human development
category—positioning it at 5 out of 189 countries and territories. Between 1990 and 2017, Germany's
HDI value increased from 0.801 to 0.936, an increase of 16.9 percent. Germany has a mixed economy. It
allows a free market economy in consumer goods and business services. But the government imposes
regulations even in those areas to protect its citizens. Germany has a command economy in defense
since everyone receives the benefit, while those with higher incomes pay more in taxes.

Education

Once your children are six years old, they are required to go to school, since school attendance is
compulsory in Germany. Most German schools are run by the state and there is no charge for your
children to attend. In addition, of course, there are private and international schools, which charge fees.

The individual states are responsible for education policy. This means that the school system will to some
extent depend on the region where you and your family are living. Children do not always have the same
curriculum in every state, and textbooks may differ as well. Individual states also have different types of
schools. Basically, however, the German school system is structured as follows:

Grundschule (primary school): Normally, six-year-olds begin their school careers at primary school, which
covers the first four grades. Only in Berlin and Brandenburg does primary school continue to the sixth
grade. At the end of primary school, you and your child's teachers will decide, depending on your child's
performance, which secondary school your child will attend.
Weiterführende Schulen (secondary schools) - the most common types are:

Hauptschule (secondary general school for grades five through nine or ten)

Realschule (more practical secondary school for grades five through ten)

Gymnasium (more academic secondary school for grades five through twelve/thirteen)

Gesamtschule (comprehensive school for grades five through twelve/thirteen).

Life Expectancy

In 2017 the life expectancy in Germany increased to 81.2 years. That year, the life expectancy for women
was 83.4 years and for men 78.7 years.

Iceland

Iceland's HDI value for 2017 is 0.935— which put the country in the very high human development
category—positioning it at 6 out of 189 countries and territories. Between 1990 and 2017, Iceland's HDI
value increased from 0.802 to 0.935, an increase of 16.6

Iceland's economy combines a capitalist structure and free-market principles with an extensive welfare
system. Except for a brief period during the 2008 crisis, Iceland has in recent years achieved high growth,
low unemployment, and a remarkably even distribution of income. Iceland's economy has been
diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, particularly within the fields of
tourism, software production, and biotechnology. Abundant geothermal and hydropower sources have
attracted substantial foreign investment in the aluminum sector, boosted economic growth, and sparked
some interest from high-tech firms looking to establish data centers using cheap green energy. Tourism,
aluminum smelting, and fishing are the pillars of the economy. For decades the Icelandic economy
depended heavily on fisheries, but tourism has now surpassed fishing and aluminum as Iceland’s main
export industry.

Education

Education in Iceland is a four-level system.

Preschool is the first level of education, which children attend between one and six years of age. There
are fees for preschool, but they are largely subsidized.

Compulsory education follows preschool education. Compulsory education is free and mandatory for
children between the ages of six and 16. Unlike in the United States, homeschooling is not an option.
Upper secondary education is the third level. It is available to anyone who has completed compulsory
education, and is mostly compromised of students 16 to 20 years of age. The upper secondary level is
essentially the equivalent of high school in the United States and is free with the exception of one
private school.

The fourth tier is education at a university, otherwise known as higher education. To apply for university,
a student must first have completed upper secondary education. For the most part, universities in
Iceland are required to accept all students with an upper secondary degree. Public universities in Iceland
are tuition-free; the only costs associated with higher education are registration fees.

Life Expectancy

In 2017, the life expectancy in Iceland was 80.6 years for men and 83.9 years for women.

Hongkong,China

Hong Kong, China (SAR)'s HDI value for 2017 is 0.933— which put the country in the very high human
development category—positioning it at 7 out of 189 countries and territories. Hong Kong has a diverse
economy, exporting machines like broadcasting equipment as well as precious metals and minerals like
gold, silver, and diamonds.

Education

Education in Hong Kong is free, and school is compulsory from between ages 6 to 15 (primary and junior
secondary schools). Children in public schools in Hong Kong attend primary schools for six years,
followed by three years of junior secondary education, and another three years of senior secondary
education.

Life Expectancy

In 2017 the life expectancy in Hong Kong increased to 84.1 years. That year, the life expectancy for
women was 87.6 years and for men 81.9 years

Sweden

Sweden's 2017 HDI of 0.933 is above the average of 0.894 for countries in the very high human
development group and above the average of 0.895 for countries in OECD.Sweden is an export-oriented
mixed economy featuring a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications,
and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy
heavily oriented toward foreign trade.

Education

Children in Sweden start school when they are seven years old. Primary school is divided into three
stages, consisting of elementary school, middle school and high school. Primary school is followed by
upper secondary school (gymnasieskola) which is not compulsory. However, most children do fulfil
secondary education to be able to get good jobs in the future.

Life expectancy

In 2017 the life expectancy in Sweden increased to 82.6 years. That year, the life expectancy for women
was 84.1 years and for men 80.8 years.

Singapore

Singapore's HDI value for 2017 is 0.932— which put the country in the very high human development
category—positioning it at 9 out of 189 countries and territories. Between 1990 and 2017, Singapore's
HDI value increased from 0.718 to 0.932, an increase of 29.8 percent.most stable in the world, with no
foreign debt, high government revenue and a consistently positive surplus. The Singapore economy is
mainly driven by exports in electronics manufacturing and machinery, financial services, tourism, and the
world's busiest cargo seaport.

Education

Pre-school is offered from age three, in Singapore, with primary schooling from the age of around seven.
After primary school, children move onto secondary school, which runs for students aged from around
12, to 16 or 17. To go to university, teenagers must attend a two or three year preparation course, which
is optional, with places awarded on merit. Schooling in Singapore is structured in a fairly complex way,
with many different school types, although the Ministry of Education does provide a handy road map to
explain your options.

Life Expectancy

Singapore topped the world in life expectancy in 2017 with an expected lifespan at birth of 83.2 years.

Netherlands

Netherlands' HDI value for 2017 is 0.931— which put the country in the very high human development
category—positioning it at 10 out of 189 countries and territories. Between 1990 and 2017, Netherlands'
HDI value increased from 0.829 to 0.931, an increase of 12.3 percent.The Netherlands is the second
largest exporter of agricultural goods in the world after the United States and has one of the most
advanced food industries on the planet

Education

Children in the Netherlands get 8 years of primary education, 4, 5 or 6 years of secondary education
(depending on the type of school). After secondary school they can go on to vocational education or
higher education.
Life expectancy

In 2017 the life expectancy in Netherlands increased to 82 years. That year, the life expectancy for
women was 83.4 years and for men 80.2 years.