Another addition to our “dumbest countries” series is the 20 dumbest countries in Asia. Before we share the details and facts & figures, let’s first go over a few details about the continent itself. According to 2014 estimate, it is home to 2.427 billion people and covers an enormous area of 17.21 million square miles. Asia is the largest and the most populous continent on Earth – of course, who can compete with it when it has the likes of India and China. Asia has almost every religion of the world, and everything about this great continent is diverse, be it culture, people, traditional, environments, history, etc.
Mark Carrel/Shutterstock.com
It is not easy to properly manage this large family (provided that you have limited resources) which accounts for more than 60% of the world’s population. Yes, you have guessed it right – Asia, despite having some progressive nations also has some of the dumbest countries in the world too that are surrounded with problems. If you are interested in knowing how dumb are other countries on the different continent check out our article on 20 Dumbest Countries in Europe.
The main problem that we have come across assembling our list of the 20 dumbest countries in Asia is the fact no direct study or research has been carried out that can label a country as dumb. Other than that no one really likes being called dumb. So, what we have done is we have picked 4 categories and identified the countries that performed least effectively in these categories to come up with our original ranking. Our research is backed up and based primarily on facts and figures included in the World Economic Forum’s comprehensive Global Competitiveness 2014 – 2015 Report.
The countries mentioned below have the least average score in “quality of math and science education”, “tertiary education enrollment rate”, “Patent application/million”, and “Internet access” among the countries in Asia.
20. Thailand
Thailand is more famous for tourism and its beaches but not so much when one talks about the quality of math and science education and higher education enrollment rate.
Quality of math and science education: 3.9
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 66
Tertiary education enrollment %: 51.2
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 97
Patent applications/million: 1.23
Rank based on patent applications: 79
Percent of individuals using internet: 28.9
Rank based on internet access: 53
Average ranking score: 73.8
SantiPhotoSS/Shutterstock.com
19. Sri Lanka
Despite having high literacy rate, Sri Lanka struggles when it comes to people opting for higher studies.
Quality of math and science education: 4.8
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 121
Tertiary education enrollment %: 17
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 46
Patent applications/million: 0.62
Rank based on patent applications: 70
Percent of individuals using internet: 22
Rank based on internet access: 49
Average ranking score: 71.5
SurangaSL/Shutterstock.com
18. Philippines
The country hasn’t really performed poorly in any department but its below average presence in each makes it stand on number 18 on our list.
Quality of math and science education: 4.1
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 79
Tertiary education enrollment %: 28.2
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 67
Patent applications/million: 0.32
Rank based on patent applications: 60
Percent of individuals using internet: 37
Rank based on internet access: 59
Average ranking score: 66.25
saiko3p / shutterstock.com
17. Indonesia
Indonesia is really finding it hard to advance in the field of technology. Availability of Internet access is also a big problem in the country.
Quality of math and science education: 4.6
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 114
Tertiary education enrollment %: 31.5
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 72
Patent applications/million: 0.07
Rank based on patent applications: 39
Percent of individuals using internet: 15.82
Rank based on internet access: 36
Average ranking score: 65.25
TCHAIJIT / shutterstock.com
16. Azerbaijan
A Muslim state which got its independence in 1918 is also finding it tough to advance in the field of technology.
Quality of math and science education: 3.3
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 39
Tertiary education enrollment %: 20.44
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 55
Patent applications/million: 0.62
Rank based on patent applications: 71
Percent of individuals using internet: 58.7
Rank based on internet access: 95
Average ranking score: 65
liseykina/Shutterstock.com
15. India
The biggest democracy of the world is not so famous when it comes to technological department. With only 15 percent of population having access to Internet, India finds itself at number 15.
Quality of math and science education: 4.2
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 82
Tertiary education enrollment %: 24.8
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 59
Patent applications/million: 1.54
Rank based on patent applications: 85
Percent of individuals using internet: 15.1
Rank based on internet access: 33
Average ranking score: 64.75
14. Georgia
Quality of math and science education and higher education enrollment are the main problems being faced by Georgia.
Quality of math and science education: 3.37
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 42
Tertiary education enrollment %: 27.9
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 65
Patent applications/million: 1.27
Rank based on patent applications: 81
Percent of individuals using internet: 43.1
Rank based on internet access: 70
Average ranking score: 64.5
vvvita/Shutterstock.com
13. Syria
The country really struggles in the field of tech and also has to deal with the political unrest throughout the year.
Quality of math and science education: 4.12
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 77
Tertiary education enrollment %: 27.4
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 64
Patent applications/million: N/A
Rank based on patent applications: N/A
Percent of individuals using internet: 20.7
Rank based on internet access: 47
Average ranking score: 62.7
12. Vietnam
Vietnam might be famous for its bravery but fails to perform in education and technology department.
Quality of math and science education: 3.9
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 65
Tertiary education enrollment %: 24.6
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 58
Patent applications/million: 0.22
Rank based on patent applications: 53
Percent of individuals using internet: 43.9
Rank based on internet access: 73
Average ranking score: 62.25
Perfect Lazybones / shutterstock.com
11. Kyrgyz Republic
Number 11 on our list of 20 dumbest countries in Asia we have Kyrgyz Republic. Like Vietnam, Kyrgyz Republic also finds itself lacking in education and technology.
Quality of math and science education: 2.95
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 26
Tertiary education enrollment %: 41.3
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 86
Patent applications/million: 0.14
Rank based on patent applications: 47
Percent of individuals using internet: 23.4
Rank based on internet access: 51
Average ranking score: 52.5
Pikoso.kz/Shutterstock.com
10. Bhutan
The main reason why Bhutan is in our list is because of its poor performance when it comes to higher education enrollment rate.
Quality of math and science education: 3.9
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 63
Tertiary education enrollment %: 9.4
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 26
Patent applications/million: 0.40
Rank based on patent applications: 63
Percent of individuals using internet: 29.9
Rank based on internet access: 54
Average ranking score: 51.5
9. Lao PDR
Lao PDR being the 27th least performing state when it comes to availability of Internet, finds itself at number 9th spot in our list.
Quality of math and science education: 3.9
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 64
Tertiary education enrollment %: 16.7
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 45
Patent applications/million: 0.02
Rank based on patent applications: 29
Percent of individuals using internet: 12.5
Rank based on internet access: 27
Average ranking score: 41.25
CHAIYA/Shutterstock.com
8. Nepal
Home of the Everest, Nepal struggles in education and technology department.
Quality of math and science education: 3.8
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 60
Tertiary education enrollment %: 14.5
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 42
Patent applications/million: 0.01
Rank based on patent applications: 26
Percent of individuals using internet: 13.3
Rank based on internet access: 28
Average ranking score: 39
7. Tajikistan
A country known for its rugged mountains is also known for performing poorly in technology and education.
Quality of math and science education: 3.8
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 55
Tertiary education enrollment %: 22.5
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 57
Patent applications/million: 0
Rank based on patent applications: 1
Percent of individuals using internet: 16
Rank based on internet access: 37
Average ranking score: 37.5
Michal Knitl/Shutterstock.com
6. Bangladesh
Bangladesh got its independence in 1971 and still has a lot to prove. As for now, the country fails to improve, especially in higher education enrollment department.
Quality of math and science education: 3.3
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 41
Tertiary education enrollment %: 13.15
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 40
Patent applications/million: 0.01
Rank based on patent applications: 24
Percent of individuals using internet: 6.5
Rank based on internet access: 21
Average ranking score: 31.5
Michal Knitl/Shutterstock.com
5. Pakistan
Despite the political unrest, quality of education and advancement in technology is really hurting Pakistan badly.
Quality of math and science education: 3.4
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 43
Tertiary education enrollment %: 9.5
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 27
Patent applications/million: 0.02
Rank based on patent applications: 30
Percent of individuals using internet: 10.9
Rank based on internet access: 25
Average ranking score: 31.25
4. Timor Leste
At number 4 we have Timor-Leste, a country where finding Internet connection is like winning a gold-medal as only 1 percent of the population has access to it.
Quality of math and science education: 2.1
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 4
Tertiary education enrollment %: 17.7
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 47
Patent applications/million: 0.29
Rank based on patent applications: 58
Percent of individuals using internet: 1.1
Rank based on internet access: 1
Average ranking score: 27.5
3. Cambodia
With zero patent application per million, Cambodia finds itself at number 3 in our list.
Quality of math and science education: 3.2
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 35
Tertiary education enrollment %: 15.8
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 43
Patent applications/million: 0
Rank based on patent applications: 1
Percent of individuals using internet: 6
Rank based on internet access: 18
Average ranking score: 24.25
2. Yemen
Things are pretty much the same with Yemen as they are with Cambodia. The country also has poor quality of math and science education.
Quality of math and science education: 2.3
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 5
Tertiary education enrollment %: 10.3
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 29
Patent applications/million: 0
Rank based on patent applications: 1
Percent of individuals using internet: 20
Rank based on internet access: 46
Average ranking score: 20.25
javarman/Shutterstock.ocm
1. Myanmar
At number 1 on our list of 20 dumbest countries in Asia, we have Myanmar. The country fails to perform in almost every category.
Quality of math and science education: 2.7
Rank based on quality of math and science education: 16
Tertiary education enrollment %: 13.8
Rank based on tertiary education enrollment: 41
Patent applications/million: 0
Rank based on patent applications: 1
Percent of individuals using internet: 1.2
Rank based on internet access: 2
Average ranking score: 15
