Education in North Sumatra, Indonesia: official figures
Adults aged 15 and over in North Sumatra had completed an average of 10.18 years of schooling in 2024 (8th highest of 38 provinces), compared with 9.22 years nationally (BPS Susenas).
How many years of school can a child expect in North Sumatra?
Children entering school today in North Sumatra can expect to complete 13.49 years of schooling in 2024 (15th highest 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 North Sumatra?
99.09% of people aged 15 and over in North Sumatra could read and write in 2024 (7th highest of 38 provinces; Indonesia overall: 96.67%). The rate was 99.50% for men and 98.68% for women.
Source: BPS-Statistics Indonesia, reproduced by the Ministry of Health · saved copyWhat percentage of children go to school in North Sumatra?
In North Sumatra, 99.50% of children aged 7 to 12 and 97.35% 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 North Sumatra?
78.59% of 16 to 18 year olds in North Sumatra were attending school in 2024 (12th highest 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 North Sumatra?
30.22% of 19 to 23 year olds in North Sumatra were still in education in 2024 (19th lowest of 38 provinces; Indonesia overall: 29.01%). The gross enrolment ratio for higher education was 31.63% (Indonesia: 32.00%).
Source: BPS-Statistics Indonesia, reproduced by the Ministry of Health · saved copyWhat is the school enrolment rate in North Sumatra?
The net enrolment rate in North Sumatra in 2024 was 97.68% at primary level, 82.15% at junior secondary level and 69.72% 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 North Sumatra?
The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education register lists 10,830 primary schools (SD and equivalent) and 4,070 junior secondary schools (SMP and equivalent) in North Sumatra.
Source: Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) · saved copyHow many high schools are there in North Sumatra?
North Sumatra has 1,814 senior secondary schools (SMA), 937 vocational schools (SMK) and 64 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 North Sumatra?
North Sumatra has 10,908 early childhood education units on the ministry register: 5,914 kindergartens (TK), 4,601 playgroups (KB), 49 daycare centres (TPA) and 344 child-unit programmes (SPS).
Source: Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) · saved copyHow many schools are there in North Sumatra?
Counting early childhood, primary, junior and senior secondary, vocational and special schools, North Sumatra has 28,623 education units on the ministry register, about 184 per 100,000 residents (13th lowest of 38 provinces; Indonesia overall: 188).
Source: Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) · saved copyHow much school funding does North Sumatra receive?
Schools in North Sumatra (province, regencies and cities together) received Rp 3.18 trillion in school operational assistance (BOS) from the central government in 2025, about Rp 204,261 per resident, and Rp 3.65 trillion in professional allowances for civil-servant teachers.
Source: Ministry of Finance, Directorate General of Fiscal Balance (DJPK) · saved copyHow North Sumatra compares with other provinces
Literacy rate, age 15 and over (2024)
North Sumatra ranks 7 of 38, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Literacy rate, age 15 and over |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | West Sumatra | 99.37% |
| 5 | Riau | 99.20% |
| 6 | Riau Islands | 99.20% |
| 7 | North Sumatra | 99.09% |
| 8 | East Kalimantan | 98.96% |
| 9 | Central Kalimantan | 98.83% |
| 10 | North Maluku | 98.80% |
Mean years of schooling, age 15 and over (2024)
North Sumatra ranks 8 of 38, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Mean years of schooling, age 15 and over |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Maluku | 10.44 |
| 6 | Special Region of Yogyakarta | 10.23 |
| 7 | East Kalimantan | 10.22 |
| 8 | North Sumatra | 10.18 |
| 9 | North Sulawesi | 10.02 |
| 10 | Aceh | 9.95 |
| 11 | Bali | 9.87 |
Share of 16-18 year olds in school (2024)
North Sumatra ranks 12 of 38, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of 16-18 year olds in school |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | DKI Jakarta | 79.95% |
| 10 | Bengkulu | 79.07% |
| 11 | North Kalimantan | 78.89% |
| 12 | North Sumatra | 78.59% |
| 13 | Riau | 78.49% |
| 14 | West Nusa Tenggara | 77.81% |
| 15 | Maluku | 77.70% |
More on North Sumatra: 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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