Bangladesh has secured the top position in South Asia for the attainment of postgraduate and higher education degrees, marking a significant milestone for the country’s regional academic standing.

According to the recently released "UNESCO World Education Statistics 2025" report, Bangladesh has outpaced its neighbors in the expansion of higher education over the last decade.

Analyzing data from 2015 to 2025, the UNESCO report reveals that the average rate of postgraduate degree holders among adults aged 25 and older in Bangladesh stands at 3.70%. This growth in higher education has allowed Bangladesh to surpass even its larger neighbors in global competitiveness.

UNESCO data places the Maldives second with 3.1%, followed closely by India at 3.05%. Other regional figures include Pakistan at 2.68%, Bhutan at 1.80%, and Nepal at 1.70%.

Interestingly, despite maintaining a high general literacy rate, Sri Lanka recorded the lowest percentage of postgraduate degree holders in the region at just 0.77%.

The report highlights that Bangladesh's success is the result of consistent progress. In 2015, the rate was 3.3%, which saw a significant jump to a peak of 4.3% in 2019.

While data for 2020 was unavailable, the country maintained its lead with 3.7% in 2022 and 3.6% in 2023.

Education analysts attribute this achievement to the increasing number of universities, the availability of specialized postgraduate courses, and a growing demand for advanced degrees in both the public and private job markets.

This UNESCO finding is expected to further bolster Bangladesh's influence in regional policy-making regarding skilled manpower and higher education.