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Education & human capital

Schooling, literacy, learning outcomes, and human capital. Read the insight →
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Mean years of schooling

Years · adults aged 25+

HDR · 2023

SEA-11 · Singapore is regional context, outside the peer five

Shared order: mean years of schooling descending. Stock, learning and human capital are separate measures.

Mean years of schooling: source, year and as_of by country
CountryYears · adults aged 25+
015
YearSource & notes
SingaporeCeiling · not a peer12.02023
UNDP Human Development Report 2025 Statistical Annex Table 1 (2023 values) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Highest EYS and MYS in SEA-11; adults aged 25+

Original CSV value: 12.0.

Malaysia11.12023
UNDP Human Development Report 2025 Statistical Annex Table 1 (2023 values) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

adults aged 25+

Original CSV value: 11.1.

Philippines10.02023
UNDP Human Development Report 2025 Statistical Annex Table 1 (2023 values) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Adults aged 25+. PH is second among the peer five, behind Malaysia. The CSV note claiming highest peer mean years is inconsistent with its values; the original download is preserved.

Original CSV value: 10.0.

Brunei9.32023
UNDP Human Development Report 2025 Statistical Annex Table 1 (2023 values) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HDR footnote m on expected years; adults aged 25+

Original CSV value: 9.3.

Thailand9.02023
UNDP Human Development Report 2025 Statistical Annex Table 1 (2023 values) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HDR footnote e on expected years; adults aged 25+

Original CSV value: 9.0.

Vietnam9.02023
UNDP Human Development Report 2025 Statistical Annex Table 1 (2023 values) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

adults aged 25+

Original CSV value: 9.0.

Indonesia8.72023
UNDP Human Development Report 2025 Statistical Annex Table 1 (2023 values) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HDR footnote e on mean years; adults aged 25+

Original CSV value: 8.7.

Myanmar6.42023
UNDP Human Development Report 2025 Statistical Annex Table 1 (2023 values) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HDR footnotes s (eys) / z (mys); adults aged 25+

Original CSV value: 6.4.

Timor-Leste6.22023
UNDP Human Development Report 2025 Statistical Annex Table 1 (2023 values) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HDR footnote x on both schooling series; adults aged 25+

Original CSV value: 6.2.

Laos6.12023
UNDP Human Development Report 2025 Statistical Annex Table 1 (2023 values) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HDR footnote d on mean years; lowest expected years in SEA-11; adults aged 25+

Original CSV value: 6.1.

Cambodia5.22023
UNDP Human Development Report 2025 Statistical Annex Table 1 (2023 values) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

adults aged 25+

Original CSV value: 5.2.

Philippines highlighted. Bars start at zero; gaps have no bars. † marks older observations.

Adult literacy

% of people aged 15+

MIXED VINTAGES

SEA-11 · Singapore is regional context, outside the peer five

Shared order: mean years of schooling descending. Stock, learning and human capital are separate measures.

Adult literacy: source, year and as_of by country
Country% of people aged 15+
0100
YearSource & notes
SingaporeRegional context · not a peer97.72021
World Bank WDI SE.ADT.LITR.ZS (UNESCO UIS) · year 2021 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Adult literacy rate (% ages 15+). Vintage 2021.

Original CSV value: 97.650002.

Malaysia95.82022
World Bank WDI SE.ADT.LITR.ZS (UNESCO UIS) · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Adult literacy rate (% ages 15+). Vintage 2022.

Original CSV value: 95.769997.

Philippines98.52020
World Bank WDI SE.ADT.LITR.ZS (UNESCO UIS) · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Adult literacy rate (% ages 15+). Vintage 2020.

Original CSV value: 98.470001.

Brunei—GAP · not zero—
World Bank WDI SE.ADT.LITR.ZS (UNESCO UIS) · year not available · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

GAP: no WDI adult literacy observation after 2011 (last published 96.09% in 2011 — too stale for scoreboard).

Original CSV value: not supplied.

Thailand91.12022
World Bank WDI SE.ADT.LITR.ZS (UNESCO UIS) · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Adult literacy rate (% ages 15+). Vintage 2022.

Original CSV value: 91.099998.

Vietnam96.12022
World Bank WDI SE.ADT.LITR.ZS (UNESCO UIS) · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Adult literacy rate (% ages 15+). Vintage 2022.

Original CSV value: 96.129997.

Indonesia96.02020
World Bank WDI SE.ADT.LITR.ZS (UNESCO UIS) · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Adult literacy rate (% ages 15+). Vintage 2020.

Original CSV value: 96.0.

Myanmar93.52020
World Bank WDI SE.ADT.LITR.ZS (UNESCO UIS) · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Adult literacy rate (% ages 15+). Vintage 2020.

Original CSV value: 93.527396.

Timor-Leste69.42022
World Bank WDI SE.ADT.LITR.ZS (UNESCO UIS) · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Adult literacy rate (% ages 15+). Vintage 2022.

Original CSV value: 69.400002.

Laos75.62023
World Bank WDI SE.ADT.LITR.ZS (UNESCO UIS) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Adult literacy rate (% ages 15+). Vintage 2023.

Original CSV value: 75.639999.

Cambodia71.92021
World Bank WDI SE.ADT.LITR.ZS (UNESCO UIS) · year 2021 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Adult literacy rate (% ages 15+). Vintage 2021.

Original CSV value: 71.93.

Philippines highlighted. Bars start at zero; gaps have no bars. † marks older observations.

PISA mathematics

Mean score · PISA 2022

PISA · 2022

SEA-11 · Singapore is regional context, outside the peer five

Shared order: mean years of schooling descending. Stock, learning and human capital are separate measures.

PISA mathematics: source, year and as_of by country
CountryMean score · PISA 2022
0600
YearSource & notes
SingaporeCeiling · not a peer5752022
OECD PISA 2022 (via Ministry of Education Singapore Annex A) · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

PISA 2022 mean mathematics score (primary learning metric for this pack).

Original CSV value: 575.

Malaysia4092022
OECD PISA 2022 (via Ministry of Education Singapore Annex A) · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

PISA 2022 mean mathematics score (primary learning metric for this pack).

Original CSV value: 409.

Philippines3552022
OECD PISA 2022 (via Ministry of Education Singapore Annex A) · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

PISA 2022 mean mathematics score (primary learning metric for this pack).

Original CSV value: 355.

Brunei4422022
OECD PISA 2022 (via Ministry of Education Singapore Annex A) · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

PISA 2022 mean mathematics score (primary learning metric for this pack).

Original CSV value: 442.

Thailand3942022
OECD PISA 2022 (via Ministry of Education Singapore Annex A) · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

PISA 2022 mean mathematics score (primary learning metric for this pack).

Original CSV value: 394.

Vietnam4692022
OECD PISA 2022 (via Ministry of Education Singapore Annex A) · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

PISA 2022 mean mathematics score (primary learning metric for this pack).

Original CSV value: 469.

Indonesia3662022
OECD PISA 2022 (via Ministry of Education Singapore Annex A) · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

PISA 2022 mean mathematics score (primary learning metric for this pack).

Original CSV value: 366.

Myanmar—GAP · not zero—
OECD PISA 2022 (via Ministry of Education Singapore Annex A) · year not available · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

GAP: did not participate / no published PISA 2022 results (LAO, MMR, TLS out of PISA 2022).

Original CSV value: not supplied.

Timor-Leste—GAP · not zero—
OECD PISA 2022 (via Ministry of Education Singapore Annex A) · year not available · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

GAP: did not participate / no published PISA 2022 results (LAO, MMR, TLS out of PISA 2022).

Original CSV value: not supplied.

Laos—GAP · not zero—
OECD PISA 2022 (via Ministry of Education Singapore Annex A) · year not available · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

GAP: did not participate / no published PISA 2022 results (LAO, MMR, TLS out of PISA 2022).

Original CSV value: not supplied.

Cambodia3362022
OECD PISA 2022 (via Ministry of Education Singapore Annex A) · year 2022 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

PISA 2022 mean mathematics score (primary learning metric for this pack).

Original CSV value: 336.

Philippines highlighted. Bars start at zero; gaps have no bars. † marks older observations.

Human Capital Index

Index 0–1

HCI · 2020

SEA-11 · Singapore is regional context, outside the peer five

Shared order: mean years of schooling descending. Stock, learning and human capital are separate measures.

Human Capital Index: source, year and as_of by country
CountryIndex 0–1
01
YearSource & notes
SingaporeCeiling · not a peer0.8792020
World Bank Human Capital Index HD.HCI.OVRL (via WDI) · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HCI scale 0–1. Latest published HCI vintage is 2020 (World Bank HCI update).

Original CSV value: 0.879125714.

Malaysia0.6112020
World Bank Human Capital Index HD.HCI.OVRL (via WDI) · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HCI scale 0–1. Latest published HCI vintage is 2020 (World Bank HCI update).

Original CSV value: 0.61097616.

Philippines0.5162020
World Bank Human Capital Index HD.HCI.OVRL (via WDI) · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HCI scale 0–1. Latest published HCI vintage is 2020 (World Bank HCI update).

Original CSV value: 0.515962124.

Brunei0.6262020
World Bank Human Capital Index HD.HCI.OVRL (via WDI) · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HCI scale 0–1. Latest published HCI vintage is 2020 (World Bank HCI update).

Original CSV value: 0.626391351.

Thailand0.6092020
World Bank Human Capital Index HD.HCI.OVRL (via WDI) · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HCI scale 0–1. Latest published HCI vintage is 2020 (World Bank HCI update).

Original CSV value: 0.609310985.

Vietnam0.6902020
World Bank Human Capital Index HD.HCI.OVRL (via WDI) · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HCI scale 0–1. Latest published HCI vintage is 2020 (World Bank HCI update).

Original CSV value: 0.689964533.

Indonesia0.5402020
World Bank Human Capital Index HD.HCI.OVRL (via WDI) · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HCI scale 0–1. Latest published HCI vintage is 2020 (World Bank HCI update).

Original CSV value: 0.540038466.

Myanmar0.4782020
World Bank Human Capital Index HD.HCI.OVRL (via WDI) · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HCI scale 0–1. Latest published HCI vintage is 2020 (World Bank HCI update).

Original CSV value: 0.477652013.

Timor-Leste0.4542020
World Bank Human Capital Index HD.HCI.OVRL (via WDI) · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HCI scale 0–1. Latest published HCI vintage is 2020 (World Bank HCI update).

Original CSV value: 0.45431453.

Laos0.4572020
World Bank Human Capital Index HD.HCI.OVRL (via WDI) · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HCI scale 0–1. Latest published HCI vintage is 2020 (World Bank HCI update).

Original CSV value: 0.456665337.

Cambodia0.4922020
World Bank Human Capital Index HD.HCI.OVRL (via WDI) · year 2020 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

HCI scale 0–1. Latest published HCI vintage is 2020 (World Bank HCI update).

Original CSV value: 0.491589874.

Philippines highlighted. Bars start at zero; gaps have no bars. † marks older observations.

Tertiary enrolment

Gross enrolment %

MIXED VINTAGES

SEA-11 · Singapore is regional context, outside the peer five

Shared order: mean years of schooling descending. Stock, learning and human capital are separate measures.

Tertiary enrolment: source, year and as_of by country
CountryGross enrolment %
0100
YearSource & notes
SingaporeCeiling · not a peer97.32023
World Bank WDI SE.TER.ENRR (UNESCO UIS) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Gross tertiary enrolment (%). Vintage 2023.

Original CSV value: 97.288655.

Malaysia38.52024
World Bank WDI SE.TER.ENRR (UNESCO UIS) · year 2024 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Gross tertiary enrolment (%). Vintage 2024.

Original CSV value: 38.501395.

Philippines47.42024
World Bank WDI SE.TER.ENRR (UNESCO UIS) · year 2024 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Gross tertiary enrolment (%). Vintage 2024.

Original CSV value: 47.4135.

Brunei36.42023
World Bank WDI SE.TER.ENRR (UNESCO UIS) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Gross tertiary enrolment (%). Vintage 2023.

Original CSV value: 36.418273.

Thailand49.12025
World Bank WDI SE.TER.ENRR (UNESCO UIS) · year 2025 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Gross tertiary enrolment (%). Vintage 2025.

Original CSV value: 49.077644.

Vietnam37.62024
World Bank WDI SE.TER.ENRR (UNESCO UIS) · year 2024 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Gross tertiary enrolment (%). Vintage 2024.

Original CSV value: 37.592364.

Indonesia44.92023
World Bank WDI SE.TER.ENRR (UNESCO UIS) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Gross tertiary enrolment (%). Vintage 2023.

Original CSV value: 44.881303.

Myanmar20.4†2018 · OLDER
World Bank WDI SE.TER.ENRR (UNESCO UIS) · year 2018 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Gross tertiary enrolment (%). Vintage 2018. STALE vintage — badge year on chart.

Original CSV value: 20.37233.

Timor-Leste31.02023
World Bank WDI SE.TER.ENRR (UNESCO UIS) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Gross tertiary enrolment (%). Vintage 2023.

Original CSV value: 30.961111.

Laos14.92023
World Bank WDI SE.TER.ENRR (UNESCO UIS) · year 2023 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Gross tertiary enrolment (%). Vintage 2023.

Original CSV value: 14.88417.

Cambodia21.42024
World Bank WDI SE.TER.ENRR (UNESCO UIS) · year 2024 · as_of 2026-09-06
Observation notes

Gross tertiary enrolment (%). Vintage 2024.

Original CSV value: 21.443743.

Philippines highlighted. Bars start at zero; gaps have no bars. † marks older observations.

Key findings from this pack

  • PH schooling years trail Malaysia; tertiary enrolment trails Thailand among the five peers.
  • Schooling stock and literacy do not establish equivalent learning outcomes.
  • PH PISA mathematics and HCI are lowest among those peers.
  • HCI stays at its 2020 vintage; missing PISA observations are not zeros.

Methods & coverage

Schooling stock is not learning

Mean years of schooling measures completed schooling among adults aged 25 and over, using UNDP HDR’s observation vintage. Literacy is a separate measure for people aged 15 and over. PISA mathematics measures learning among participating students. Schooling quantity and literacy do not establish equivalent learning outcomes.

The peer five is PH / MY / TH / VN / ID. The Philippines trails Malaysia on mean years and Thailand on tertiary enrolment. Its lowest-peer PISA and HCI claims do not mean lowest in SEA-11. Singapore is a regional ceiling outside the peer group; the literacy panel treats it as regional context rather than a literacy leader.

PISA coverage and HCI vintage

PISA mathematics uses OECD PISA 2022 results as distributed through the Singapore Ministry of Education annex. Laos, Myanmar and Timor-Leste have no published observations in this pack. They remain gaps, not zeros. Every HCI observation is the World Bank’s 2020 vintage; no post-2020 HCI is estimated.

Enrolment and literacy years

Gross tertiary enrolment uses WDI / UNESCO UIS observations. Gross rates compare students of all ages with the official age-group population and can exceed 100%; they are not attainment rates. Myanmar retains a †2018 tertiary observation. Literacy is not annual: each country’s year stays visible, and Brunei’s stale series is withheld as a gap.

Precision and source notes

Schooling, literacy and enrolment labels use one decimal place; PISA uses integer scores; HCI uses three decimals. Bars retain original numeric precision and share a country order based on schooling years. The PH schooling note’s “highest” claim is corrected in the display because the supplied values put Malaysia first; the CSV download remains unchanged. Expected schooling years, secondary enrolment, PISA reading and science are available in the complete pack.

Original gaps & vintage notes · Pack definitions

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ASEAN in Data (2026). Education & human capital in Southeast Asia. /topics/education-human-capital

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