According to the Education at a Glance 2025 report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Indonesia ranks 47th out of 48 countries evaluated for its proportion of adults with higher education. The data reveals that 13 percent of Indonesian adults aged 25 to 64 have completed tertiary education, placing the nation just ahead of India in the international dataset.
Global Rankings and European Dominance
The OECD report measures educational attainment by tracking the percentage of the adult population aged 25 to 64 holding a tertiary qualification, such as a university degree or an equivalent professional program. Canada holds the top spot globally, with approximately 60 percent of its adult population possessing higher education credentials, as reported by Floresnews.id. Ireland follows closely in second place at 58 percent.
European nations maintain a strong presence near the top of the index. Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, and Sweden all report large proportions of highly educated adults, while the United States secures a position within the top ten globally. However, the evaluation remains limited to 48 participating countries where comprehensive data is available, meaning it does not capture every nation worldwide.
Top Six Countries in Asia for Higher Education
Within the Asian continent, several nations post high attainment rates that place them near the top of the global standings. According to Kamusmahasiswa.com, Japan leads Asia and ranks third worldwide, with 57 percent of its working-age population completing higher education.
South Korea stands directly behind Japan, ranking fifth globally with 56 percent of adults holding tertiary degrees. Israel follows as the third-ranked country in Asia and tenth globally at 51 percent. China and India record lower percentages of educated adults relative to their total populations, standing at 19 percent and 14 percent respectively.
The complete six-country regional breakdown from the OECD dataset includes:
- Japan: 57 percent (3rd globally)
- South Korea: 56 percent (5th globally)
- Israel: 51 percent (10th globally)
- China: 19 percent (44th globally)
- India: 14 percent (46th globally)
- Indonesia: 13 percent (47th globally)
Understanding Indonesia’s Position and Population Scale
Indonesia sits at the 47th position in the OECD compilation, positioned one spot ahead of India. While the 13 percent attainment rate indicates a low national proportion among adults aged 25 to 64, raw population numbers tell a different story regarding workforce volume.
When evaluated by total population size rather than percentage shares, populous nations yield massive pools of university graduates. China, with its 19 percent attainment rate, accounts for an estimated population of higher-education degree holders. India accounts for a large number of graduates. Indonesia features an estimated population of citizens who have completed higher education, highlighting that tens of millions of individuals hold advanced credentials despite the lower overall national percentage.
Keep reading
