We always hear “Knowledge is power” and “Knowledge is the pathway from slavery to success”. However, first of all, we have to learn reading and writing, so that we could catch up with the world and finally get an access to the tremendous world of knowledge. Though the overall literacy rate around the world is rising from generation to generation, in Asia, being literate is not taken for granted. Plenty of developing localities in Asia region remain low in the overall literacy rate, according to Unesco Institute of Statistics. (Figure 1)

World map of countries by literacy rate, Robinson Projection

(Figure 1. World map of countries by literacy rate, Robinson Projection)

Editorial Photo: Literacy (student writing on blackboard)

For example, the literacy of people in Bhutan (64.9%), Nepal (64.7%) and Pakistan (56.4%) falls below 70% of the general population, while some localities are slightly better, such as Laos (79.9%) and Bangladesh (72.87%), though some of the Asian localities are already considered advanced such as Thailand (96.7%), Singapore (96.8%) and Taiwan (98.7%). It could be explained that the older population in developing localities may not have had the same opportunity to get an education as those in the developed ones.

(This video shows the localities with the top literacy rates.)

As we should look forward to the future, we’d care more about the younger generation. If we look at the youth literacy (Statista 2015), especially those localities of the low literate populations, we see a totally different picture. Unexpectedly high literacy rates are found among the younger populations in these localities, such as Bhutan (92.04%), Nepal (89.85%), Pakistan (73.71%), Laos (90.3%) and Bangladesh (83.2%). Comparing the youth literacy over the general population literacy tells the youth literacy advantage, which is included in Youth Mobility Index report by DotAsia.

It also reveals a ranking of localities according to the youth literacy advantage and turns out we found this interesting order: Bhutan (#1), Nepal (#2), Bangladesh (#3) and Pakistan (#4). According to the report, in these developing localities, the younger workforce has the advantage to be more mobile. In the coming decade, we will need more jobs with satisfying salaries for these young people. Otherwise, they will leave and keep travelling between localities for better opportunities until they got great ones.

Youth Advantage, Youth Mobility Index report by DotAsia

(Figure 2. Youth Advantage, Youth Mobility Index report by DotAsia)

Japan is an exception. Though it has a high youth literacy rate, it has a low youth literacy advantage because its general population is similarly literate. However, the Japanese youth still got an advantage over the entire race since they have great employment stability, youth migrant force advantage and digital native advantage (Figure 2).

Editorial photo: Literacy (student contemplating over book)

Facing the challenge, localities like Nepal and Bangladesh have to create more job opportunities or provide them with more adequate training. Otherwise, the workforce will turn to go out of the countries. The unemployment rate of these literate youth not only damages economies but also disrupts social structures. On the contrary, it might be good news for some developed countries that they could attract those cheap and literate labours by implementing certain overseas employment policies.

To discover what moves young Asians, learn more about the Youth Mobility Index (YMi.asia) at www.ymi.asia

To discover what moves young Asians, learn more about the Youth Mobility Index (YMi.asia) at www.ymi.asia

YMI 2018 Reports
PDF HTML YMI 2018 REPORT
PDF ALL LOCALES
PDF HTML BANGLADESH
PDF HTML BHUTAN
PDF HTML CHINA
PDF HTML HONG KONG
PDF HTML INDONESIA
PDF HTML INDIA
PDF HTML JAPAN
PDF HTML CAMBODIA
PDF HTML KOREA
PDF HTML LAOS
PDF HTML SRI LANKA
PDF HTML MYANMAR
PDF HTML MALAYSIA
PDF HTML NEPAL
PDF HTML PHILIPPINES
PDF HTML PAKISTAN
PDF HTML SINGAPORE
PDF HTML THAILAND
PDF HTML TAIWAN
PDF HTML VIETNAM
The fate of the Vietnamese youth

The fate of the Vietnamese youth

Following the end of Vietnam War in the 1970s, the local Vietnamese experienced the unprecedented large-scale outbound mobility as they fled Vietnam by taking refugee boats heading to neighbourhood localities such as Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and British Hong Kong. The mobility continued in the following decades …

read more
A look into the WeChat universe

A look into the WeChat universe

It was my own experience in China. During a recent business trip, when I entered a small eatery for a quick dinner, I was the only person who asked for a menu and food ordering service. Later on, again, I was the only one who asked for a bill as the other simply walked out of the restaurant right after finishing their dishes.

read more
5 reasons you should move to Thailand

5 reasons you should move to Thailand

If you feel tired of your current working and living environment, you should probably be moving forward. Getting out of a comfort zone has never been easy for anyone and that is why it is common to see people around you grumble and work reluctantly at the same time. However,  a determined mind with a passionate heart to follow your dream life could possibly pull you out of the state of inertia. Moreover, an appealing location out of your locality is even a strong force of attraction. What about Thailand?

read more