Half of the World's Schoolchildren Study Shakespeare

Here's a startling statistic! New research by the RSC and British Council has revealed that approximately 50% of all schoolchildren in the world study Shakespeare each year ... Wow!

Let's just take a moment to let that sink in. That's more than 64 million kids each year.

A staggering 65% of the World's countries have Shakespeare as a named author on their curriculum.

What's great about this statistic is the reason why they study Shakespeare. Half of the survey's respondents believe that Shakespeare should be taught because it is relevant to the issues that face young people today. Their contemporary issues and dilemmas are reflected in the plays.

So what are the top plays by Shakespeare in education systems around the world? Here's a little taster:

1. China: The Merchant of Venice
2. Kuwaiti: Henry V
3. Vietnam: Romeo and Juliet
4. Namibia: King Lear
5. Russia: Romeo and Juliet / King Lear
6. Oman: Hamlet / The Merchant of Venice
7. UK: Romeo and Juliet / Macbeth