Global Education Rankings Place East Asian Systems at the Top
China ranks first globally in the latest international student assessments, leading in student performance according to PISA 2025. Detikcom reported that the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025 evaluated more than 760,000 students across 91 countries, representing roughly 33 million 15-year-olds worldwide. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) administers the triennial assessment, focusing primarily on science literacy, mathematics, and reading comprehension. According to data published by Visual Capitalist, Chinese students participating from Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang achieved an average score of 578.7. Singapore follows in second place with an average score of 552.7, leading Southeast Asian nations and securing the top spot specifically in reading proficiency, as detailed by CNBC Indonesia. Taiwan, Macao, Japan, and South Korea round out the top six positions, maintaining East Asia’s dominance in academic metrics.
Test Scores and Assessment Criteria
PISA evaluates problem-solving abilities rather than rote memorization. The assessment tests whether students can design scientific investigations, evaluate empirical evidence, interpret mathematical models in diverse contexts, and analyze complex texts.
The evaluation scale ranges from 0 to 1,000 points. China recorded scores of 597 in science, 612 in mathematics, and 527 in reading. Singapore registered 560 in science, 563 in mathematics, and 535 in reading.
Western nations lagged behind the top Asian jurisdictions. CNBC Indonesia noted that Canada placed 11th with 495 points, while the United States ranked 16th with an average score of 485, driven by lower mathematics performance averaging 463 points. Brookings Institution analyses cited by CNBC Indonesia point to test score declines in the United States dating back to the 2010s, which accelerated during pandemic-related disruptions.
Indonesia Performance and Regional Standing
Indonesia placed 72nd out of 91 participating countries in the 2025 assessment, recording an overall average score of 372.7, according to figures reported by detikcom.
Indonesia trails several regional neighbors. Malaysia recorded an average score of 403, Thailand reached 410.3, Vietnam achieved 430.7, and Brunei scored 433.3. Within this group, Indonesia recorded the lowest domain scores: 389 in science, 364 in mathematics, and 365 in reading.
IDN Times noted that Indonesia’s ranking highlights an ongoing need to develop digital and computational skills that extend beyond basic device operation. Students require structured opportunities to analyze problems, recognize patterns, and evaluate logical outcomes.
Classroom Conditions and Learning Attitudes
Data regarding student motivation and school environments present a complex picture of Indonesian education. Dream.co.id reported survey findings showing that 80 percent of Indonesian students express curiosity about multiple subjects, exceeding the OECD average of 73 percent. Additionally, 74 percent report trying harder when tasks grow difficult, compared to an OECD average of 60 percent.
Infrastructure limitations and support structures present significant hurdles. Dream.co.id noted that 37 percent of Indonesian students attend schools experiencing shortages of books, IT equipment, or laboratory materials, while 39 percent face physical infrastructure constraints. Reports of bullying rose to affect 24 percent of students, and cyberbullying victims lost an average of 18 science points. Furthermore, only 30 percent of Indonesian students believe intelligence can be developed through effort and feedback, sitting well below the OECD average of 69 percent.
UNESCO data cited by CNBC Indonesia emphasizes that system-wide challenges across developing regions include inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, uneven educational access, and poverty. Gender disparities also persist, with female students in certain regions facing barriers such as early marriage and domestic responsibilities that limit educational completion.
Global Education Metrics and International Perspectives
In PISA 2025, Estonia emerged as the European country with the smartest students, recording an average score of 511.3 with 527 in science, 508 in mathematics, and 499 in reading. New Zealand also featured in the global rankings with an average score of 495.3, comprising 509 in science, 480 in mathematics, and 497 in reading. In North America, Canada secured the 11th position with 495 points, while the United States claimed the 16th spot with 485 points. US students achieved 502 points in science and 490 in reading, alongside their mathematics score of 463. Singapore maintained the highest standing compared to all other nations in Southeast Asia. Regarding survey data on instructional quality, 82 percent of students stated that teachers care about every student’s learning, surpassing the OECD figure of 69 percent, while 85 percent reported that teachers continue instructing until students understand, compared to the OECD benchmark of 66 percent. Officials from the Ministry of Education emphasized ongoing efforts to elevate educational standards so that domestic students can compete internationally, stating: We continue to strive to improve the quality of education in Indonesia, so that our students can compete at the international level,
as noted in reporting from international assessment updates.
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