The line graph illustrates the proportion of university students aged 18 to 25 in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand between 1961 and 2011.
Overall, it can be seen that the percentage of young people in higher education rose in all countries, yet the growth in Singapore and Thailand was significant, while Malaysia had the lowest proportion by the end of the period.
In 1961, 15% of young Singaporeans attended university, and this figure doubled over the next decade. Despite some fluctuations over the given period, the numbers rose intensively after 2001, reaching the highest level, 45%, in 2011. Thailand started at around 24%, declined slightly to approximately 20% in 30 years; however, it then saw a steady rise to more than 40% by the close of the period.
Malaysia had the lowest proportion at the beginning, with approximately 2% in 1961. This figure steadily rose to 15% in 1991, and remained stable until 2011. The Philippines started at relatively 7%, climbed gradually to 15% in 1991, and reached about 20% towards the end of the period.