Most Educated Countries in the World 2025: Where Does Indonesia Rank?

According to the Education at a Glance 2025 report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Canada stands as the nation with the highest proportion of highly educated adults globally, anchoring a comprehensive look at global human capital metrics that places Indonesia at number 44 out of 45 evaluated member and partner economies.

The OECD study tracks the percentage of working-age adults aged 25 to 64 who have successfully completed tertiary education, which spans undergraduate degrees, professional programs, and equivalent advanced qualifications. While advanced economies in North America and Europe continue to capture top spots in the percentage rankings, several major Asian nations feature prominently in the data when examining both proportional achievement and absolute population figures.

Following Canada, where 64.7 percent of the adult population holds tertiary credentials according to comparative tables in the data, Ireland reports 57.5 percent completion rates. Japan closely trails with 57 percent of its resident population aged 25 to 64 holding higher education degrees, securing the third spot globally and leading the Asian region in proportional terms, as outlined by the OECD data.

Global Rankings and Asian Representation in Tertiary Education

The OECD assessment maps out how distinct regions approach workforce preparation through higher learning. Beyond Japan’s 57 percent attainment rate, South Korea anchors the upper echelon of the global index with 56.2 percent of its working-age population possessing tertiary qualifications. South Korea maintains one of the world’s highest proportions of high school graduates advancing directly into university studies, driven by competitive academic pathways.

Israel also enters the top tier globally, registering 50.5 percent to 51 percent attainment according to the comparative metrics. Meanwhile, other economic powerhouses report lower proportional percentages while maintaining massive absolute numbers of degree holders. China records a 19 percent tertiary attainment rate among its adult population, placing it 44th globally, while India registers 14 percent, positioning it at number 46 in the percentage breakdown.

When evaluated by sheer volume rather than population percentages, the landscape shifts dramatically. According to calculations derived from the demographic data, China’s 19 percent attainment rate translates to 267.52 million citizens with higher education credentials based on population counts. India accounts for 203 million individuals holding advanced degrees.

Where Indonesia Stands in the 2025 OECD Metrics

Indonesia is positioned at number 44 out of 45 member and partner countries surveyed in the OECD Education at a Glance 2025 report, just ahead of South Africa. The data shows that 13.1 percent of Indonesia’s population aged 25 to 64 has completed tertiary education. Broken down further by educational attainment levels, 57.3 percent of the country’s working-age demographic sits below upper secondary education, while 29.7 percent have completed upper secondary schooling or diploma courses.

This percentage leaves Indonesia with 36.6 million adults possessing higher education credentials. In a separate national snapshot from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) referenced alongside workforce figures, about 12.8 percent of active workers hold diploma or university degrees, reflecting a labor market still largely dominated by workers with primary and secondary schooling backgrounds across formal and informal sectors.

Analysts point out that expanding university access, strengthening vocational training paths, and boosting regional equity in school quality remain core challenges for national competitiveness. The OECD report emphasizes that economies relying heavily on research-driven growth and technology skills require broader tertiary participation to meet future labor market demands.

Data Breakdown of Top Educational Attainment Countries

To understand the wider global distribution of higher learning achievements, the OECD metrics outline clear divisions between foundational schooling and university completion across participating nations. The structured figures highlight how different countries distribute their workforce credentials among the 25-to-64 age bracket:

• Canada: Ranks first globally, with 64.7 percent holding tertiary qualifications, 28.9 percent holding secondary or diploma credentials, and 6.4 percent below upper secondary level.
• Ireland: Reports 57.5 percent tertiary completion, alongside 31.7 percent secondary or diploma attainment, and 10.7 percent below upper secondary.
• South Korea: Records 56.2 percent tertiary attainment, with 37.3 percent finishing secondary or diploma levels, and 6.5 percent below upper secondary.
• Japan: Reaches 57 percent tertiary attainment, leading Asian nations in proportional metrics.
• Israel: Secures 50.5 percent to 51 percent tertiary attainment, placing within the top ten worldwide.
• Indonesia: Records 13.1 percent tertiary attainment, with 29.7 percent at the secondary or diploma level, and 57.3 percent below upper secondary.