Ghana ranks seventh among the most educated politicians, according to two studies by researchers from global universities.
The ranking is derived from a Global Legislators Database that examined 56 countries with populations over two million. Ukraine is at the top of the list, followed by Poland and the Czech Republic. Taiwan ranks fourth, South Korea fifth, the United States sixth, Ghana seventh, and Slovenia eighth. The study found that on average, 78% of parliamentarians held at least a bachelor’s degree, and 40% had postgraduate degrees. Ukraine had the highest proportion of legislators with postgraduate degrees, with nearly a quarter holding a doctorate. Other countries with highly credentialed legislators include South Korea and the United States. Countries like Italy, Norway, and the United Kingdom have a high proportion of parliamentarians with only secondary education.
However, there is little empirical evidence to support the idea that education does translate to performance. A 2015 study found that those with college degrees did not serve longer, pass more legislation, or win reelection more often than those without degrees. Countries that fill their parliaments with lawyers do not necessarily enjoy significantly stronger rule of law. The most educated politicians lose elections at about the same rate as candidates with less formal education.
