Human Capital Index: Through a Mother’s Eyes

I was astounded when I looked at this page.

It presents the Human Capital Index, or HCI, developed by the World Bank. The index connects the quality of education and health with a person’s future productivity. It ranges from 0 to 1, with a higher score indicating a greater level of potential productivity.

Indonesia's HCI score is 0.54. 

But this is more than just a number. As a mother, I believe it reveals something serious that we need to anticipate.

A score of 0.54 means that a child born in Indonesia today is expected to achieve only 54% of their maximum potential productivity, compared with what they could achieve if they received a complete, high-quality education and enjoyed optimal health.

Is that worrying?

Indonesia ranks 96th out of 174 countries, while Singapore has the highest score at 0.88.

The index is calculated using several indicators:

• the probability of surviving to the age of five: 0.98
• expected years of schooling: 12.4 years
• harmonized test score: 395 out of 625
• the probability that a 15-year-old will survive to the age of 60: 0.85
• the proportion of children who are not stunted: 0.72

After the quality of learning is taken into account, the expected 12.4 years of schooling is considered equivalent to only around 7.8 years of high-quality education. It means that the amount of time spent in school does not necessarily reflect the knowledge and skills that children actually gain.

By 2045, Indonesia aims to increase its HCI score to 0.73. However, achieving this target will not be easy. We still have a great deal of work to do.

This data should open the eyes of policymakers and encourage them to pay closer attention to the quality of education and healthcare. The future potential of our children is at stake.

So, what should we prepare?

This number should be treated as an alarm—a call to improve the system. Spending many years in school is only the foundation. The real challenge is ensuring that every year of education results in meaningful learning.

Change can also begin at home. Simple, consistent actions are valuable: making reading a daily habit, providing proper nutrition, supporting children’s curiosity, and paying attention to their physical and emotional well-being.

At the government level, improving healthcare and ensuring equal access to high-quality learning should be among the highest priorities.

As a mother, the figure 0.54 feels like a slap in the face. It makes me think deeply about our children and the future they will inherit.

Their future is our responsibility.