Americans do not know how to count either. I do not have statistics on hand, but my observations indicate that the same 54% of Americans you write about are lacking fundamental financial literacy. If they did, they would read more.
I disagree that the government can force education on people who do not value it. Why Americans do not value knowledge? Why they do not try to get smarter? Could you write an article answering these questions? Our publication on Medium, www.virtualagora.us is interested.