Education Lifts Millions Out of Poverty

Vietnam has achieved one of the most remarkable reductions in poverty in modern history, cutting extreme poverty from over 45% in the early 1990s to about 1% by 2022, primarily through decades of sustained investment in education and rural development.

“I had no school education, but I want my children to go to school as long as I can afford it,” said one parent from a rural village. “With higher education, they will have more opportunities than I do.” Their sentiment echoes a national transformation driven by universal schooling, electrification, and health access that turned Vietnam into a model for inclusive growth.

Today, literacy rates exceed 96%, nearly every home has access to electricity, and students consistently outperform their peers from far wealthier countries. By prioritising children, teachers, and rural communities, Vietnam demonstrates that long-term, equitable investment — not quick fixes — can lift entire nations out of poverty and build a more educated, resilient future.