Education in South Papua, Indonesia: official figures
Adults aged 15 and over in South Papua had completed an average of 8.99 years of schooling in 2024 (13th lowest of 38 provinces), compared with 9.22 years nationally (BPS Susenas).
How many years of school can a child expect in South Papua?
Children entering school today in South Papua can expect to complete 12.67 years of schooling in 2024 (5th lowest of 38 provinces; Indonesia overall: 13.21 years; BPS expected years of schooling).
Source: BPS-Statistics Indonesia, reproduced by the Ministry of Health · saved copyWhat is the literacy rate in South Papua?
94.21% of people aged 15 and over in South Papua could read and write in 2024 (6th lowest of 38 provinces; Indonesia overall: 96.67%). The rate was 95.48% for men and 92.88% for women.
Source: BPS-Statistics Indonesia, reproduced by the Ministry of Health · saved copyWhat percentage of children go to school in South Papua?
In South Papua, 90.47% of children aged 7 to 12 and 85.51% of those aged 13 to 15 were attending school in 2024 (school participation rate; Indonesia overall: 99.19% and 96.17%).
Source: BPS-Statistics Indonesia, reproduced by the Ministry of Health · saved copyHow many teenagers go to senior high school in South Papua?
71.68% of 16 to 18 year olds in South Papua were attending school in 2024 (8th lowest of 38 provinces; Indonesia overall: 74.64%).
Source: BPS-Statistics Indonesia, reproduced by the Ministry of Health · saved copyWhat percentage of young people go to university in South Papua?
31.73% of 19 to 23 year olds in South Papua were still in education in 2024 (15th highest of 38 provinces; Indonesia overall: 29.01%). The gross enrolment ratio for higher education was 25.07% (Indonesia: 32.00%).
Source: BPS-Statistics Indonesia, reproduced by the Ministry of Health · saved copyWhat is the school enrolment rate in South Papua?
The net enrolment rate in South Papua in 2024 was 85.86% at primary level, 52.03% at junior secondary level and 44.79% at senior secondary level (the share of each age group enrolled at the right level; Indonesia: 97.94%, 81.73% and 64.32%).
Source: BPS-Statistics Indonesia, reproduced by the Ministry of Health · saved copyHow many primary and junior high schools are there in South Papua?
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education register lists 643 primary schools (SD and equivalent) and 153 junior secondary schools (SMP and equivalent) in South Papua.
Source: Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) · saved copyHow many high schools are there in South Papua?
South Papua has 60 senior secondary schools (SMA), 27 vocational schools (SMK) and 2 special-needs schools (SLB) on the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education register.
Source: Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) · saved copyHow many kindergartens are there in South Papua?
South Papua has 343 early childhood education units on the ministry register: 214 kindergartens (TK), 115 playgroups (KB), 0 daycare centres (TPA) and 14 child-unit programmes (SPS).
Source: Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) · saved copyHow many schools are there in South Papua?
Counting early childhood, primary, junior and senior secondary, vocational and special schools, South Papua has 1,228 education units on the ministry register, about 227 per 100,000 residents (15th highest of 38 provinces; Indonesia overall: 188).
Source: Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) · saved copyHow much school funding does South Papua receive?
Schools in South Papua (province, regencies and cities together) received Rp 244.6 billion in school operational assistance (BOS) from the central government in 2025, about Rp 451,190 per resident, and Rp 134.0 billion in professional allowances for civil-servant teachers.
Source: Ministry of Finance, Directorate General of Fiscal Balance (DJPK) · saved copyHow South Papua compares with other special autonomy provinces
Literacy rate, age 15 and over (2024)
South Papua ranks 33 of 38, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Literacy rate, age 15 and over |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | West Kalimantan | 95.03% |
| 31 | West Sulawesi | 95.00% |
| 32 | Central Java | 94.50% |
| 33 | South Papua | 94.21% |
| 34 | East Java | 94.13% |
| 35 | South Sulawesi | 94.11% |
| 36 | West Nusa Tenggara | 89.83% |
Mean years of schooling, age 15 and over (2024)
South Papua ranks 26 of 38, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Mean years of schooling, age 15 and over |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | South Sulawesi | 9.22 |
| 24 | Central Kalimantan | 9.17 |
| 25 | South Kalimantan | 9.02 |
| 26 | South Papua | 8.99 |
| 27 | South Sumatra | 8.98 |
| 28 | Lampung | 8.80 |
| 29 | Bangka Belitung Islands | 8.78 |
Share of 16-18 year olds in school (2024)
South Papua ranks 31 of 38, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of 16-18 year olds in school |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | West Sulawesi | 72.09% |
| 29 | Jambi | 71.97% |
| 30 | Banten | 71.91% |
| 31 | South Papua | 71.68% |
| 32 | Central Java | 71.60% |
| 33 | West Java | 71.15% |
| 34 | South Sumatra | 70.80% |
More on South Papua: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · Indonesia
Sources
- BPS-Statistics Indonesia, reproduced by the Ministry of Health: Profil Kesehatan Indonesia 2024, Lampiran 3.g, 3.h, 3.i, 3.k and 3.l: mean years of schooling, literacy and school participation by province, 2024 (BPS Susenas), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8157f6d47b4b…)
- Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen): Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education reference data: number of primary and junior secondary education units by province (all statuses, formal route), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ac359f193df5…)
- Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen): Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education reference data: number of senior secondary, vocational and special education units by province (all statuses, formal route), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 02de29ed74c1…)
- Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen): Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education reference data: number of early childhood education units by province (all statuses, formal route), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 9f23469cd02f…)
- Ministry of Finance, Directorate General of Fiscal Balance (DJPK): Transfers to regions and village funds (TKDD): budget and realisation for the province with its regencies and cities, 2024 and 2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cc13a587f861…)
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