List of countries by literacy rate
This article needs to be updated.(March 2022) |
This is a list of countries by literacy rate.
The global literacy rate for all people aged 15 and above is 86.3%. The global literacy rate for all males is 90.0%, and the rate for all females is 82.7%. The rate varies throughout the world, with developed nations having a rate of 99.2% (2013), South and West Asia having 70.2% (2015), and sub-Saharan Africa at 64.0% (2015).[1] Over 75% of the world's 781 million illiterate adults are found in South Asia, West Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, and women represent almost two-thirds of all illiterate adults globally.[2]
List of UN member states by age group and gender disparity
[edit]Data published by UNESCO using the following definitions:[3]
Youth: Percentage of people aged 15 to 24 years who can both read and write, with understanding, a short simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, "literacy" also encompasses "numeracy", the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations.
Adult: Percentage of the population aged 25 years and over who can both read and write, with understanding, a short simple statement on his/her everyday life. Generally, "literacy" also encompasses "numeracy", the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations.
Elderly: Percentage of the population aged 65 years and over who can both read and write, with understanding, a short simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, "literacy" also encompasses "numeracy", the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations.
Gender Parity Index (GPI): The gender parity index (GPI) of the youth literacy rate is the ratio of the female to male literacy rates of the population aged 15 to 24 years. A GPI value between 0.97 and 1.03 is usually interpreted to indicate gender parity.
"*" indicates "Literacy in country or territory" or "Education in country or territory" links.
Country | Youth (15 to 24) |
Adult (25+) |
Elderly (65+) |
Youth Gender Parity Index | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rate | Year | Rate | Year | Rate | Year | Rate | Year | |
Afghanistan * | 65.0 | 2020[4] | 31.7 | 2011 | 20.3 | 2011 | 0.5 | 2011 |
Albania * | 99.2 | 2012 | 97.2 | 2012 | 86.9 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
Algeria * | 93.8 | 2008 | 75.1 | 2008 | 19.5 | 2008 | 1.0 | 2008 |
American Samoa * | 97.7 | 1980 | 97.3 | 1980 | 92.7 | 1980 | 1.0 | 1980 |
Andorra * | ||||||||
Angola * | 77.4 | 2014 | 66.0 | 2014 | 27.0 | 2014 | 0.8 | 2014 |
Anguilla * | 99.1 | 1984 | 95.4 | 1984 | 88.0 | 1984 | 1.0 | 1984 |
Antigua and Barbuda * | 98.9 | 2015 | ||||||
Argentina * | 99.5 | 2016 | 99.1 | 2016 | 97.9 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Armenia * | 99.8 | 2011 | 99.7 | 2011 | 98.9 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Aruba * | 99.1 | 2010 | 96.8 | 2010 | 88.9 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
Australia * | 96.6 | |||||||
Austria * | ||||||||
Azerbaijan * | 99.9 | 2016 | 99.8 | 2016 | 98.4 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Bahamas | ||||||||
Bahrain * | 97.0 | 2001 | 86.5 | 2001 | 42.3 | 2001 | 1.0 | 2001 |
Bangladesh * | 94.9 | 2019 | 74.7 | 2019 | 39.4 | 2019 | 1.03 | 2019 |
Barbados * | 99.9 | 2014 | 99.6 | 2014 | 98.5 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Belarus * | 99.8 | 2009 | 99.6 | 2009 | 98.6 | 2009 | 1.0 | 2009 |
Belgium * | ||||||||
Belize * | 77.6 | 1991 | 70.3 | 1991 | 44.8 | 1991 | 1.0 | 1991 |
Benin * | 52.5 | 2012 | 32.9 | 2012 | 7.0 | 2012 | 0.6 | 2012 |
Bermuda * | ||||||||
Bhutan * | 87.3 | 2012 | 57.0 | 2012 | 14.9 | 2012 | 0.9 | 2012 |
Bolivia * | 99.4 | 2015 | 92.5 | 2015 | 67.5 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
Bonaire | ||||||||
Bosnia and Herzegovina * | 99.7 | 2013 | 97.0 | 2013 | 86.0 | 2013 | 1.0 | 2013 |
Botswana * | 97.7 | 2014 | 87.7 | 2014 | 40.7 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Brazil * | 99.7 | 2020 | 92.0 | 2015 | 74.3 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
British Virgin Islands * | ||||||||
Brunei * | 99.4 | 2011 | 96.1 | 2011 | 61.6 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Bulgaria * | 97.9 | 2011 | 98.4 | 2011 | 97.5 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Burkina Faso * | 50.1 | 2014 | 34.6 | 2014 | 8.4 | 2014 | 0.8 | 2014 |
Burundi * | 79.6 | 2014 | 61.6 | 2014 | 24.9 | 2014 | 0.9 | 2014 |
Cape Verde * | 98.1 | 2015 | 86.8 | 2015 | 36.8 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
Cambodia * | 92.2 | 2015 | 80.5 | 2015 | 53.1 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
Cameroon * | 80.6 | 2010 | 71.3 | 2010 | 26.1 | 2010 | 0.9 | 2010 |
Canada * | ||||||||
Cayman Islands * | 98.9 | 2007 | 98.9 | 2007 | 94.7 | 2007 | 1.0 | 2007 |
Central African Republic * | 36.4 | 2010 | 36.8 | 2010 | 35.7 | 2010 | 0.6 | 2010 |
Chad * | 30.8 | 2016 | 22.3 | 2016 | 7.0 | 2016 | 0.6 | 2016 |
Chile * | 99.4 | 2015 | 96.9 | 2015 | 89.9 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
China * | 99.8[5] | 2018 | 96.8[6] | 2018 | 73.9 | 2010 | 1.0[7] | 2018 |
Hong Kong * | ||||||||
Macau * | 99.8 | 2016 | 96.5 | 2016 | 81.2 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Colombia * | 98.7 | 2016 | 94.7 | 2016 | 81.4 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Comoros * | 71.6 | 2012 | 49.2 | 2012 | 12.8 | 2012 | 0.9 | 2012 |
Congo * | 80.9 | 2011 | 79.3 | 2011 | 73.1 | 2011 | 0.9 | 2011 |
DR Congo * | 85.0 | 2016 | 77.0 | 2016 | 48.0 | 2016 | 0.9 | 2016 |
Cook Islands * | ||||||||
Costa Rica * | 99.1 | 2011 | 97.4 | 2011 | 90.4 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Ivory Coast * | 53.0 | 2014 | 43.9 | 2014 | 18.0 | 2014 | 0.8 | 2014 |
Croatia * | 99.7 | 2011 | 99.1 | 2011 | 97.1 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Cuba * | 99.9 | 2012 | 99.8 | 2012 | 99.2 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
Curaçao | ||||||||
Cyprus * | 99.8 | 2011 | 98.7 | 2011 | 93.8 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Czech Republic * | ||||||||
Denmark * | ||||||||
Djibouti * | ||||||||
Dominica * | ||||||||
Dominican Republic * | 98.8 | 2016 | 93.8 | 2016 | 79.8 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Ecuador * | 99.1 | 2016 | 94.4 | 2016 | 77.7 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Egypt * | 93.9 | 2017 | 71.2 | 2017 | 43.2 | 2013 | 1.0 | 2017 |
El Salvador * | 98.0 | 2016 | 88.5 | 2017 | 65.7 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Equatorial Guinea * | 98.2 | 2014 | 95.0 | 2014 | 67.2 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Eritrea * | 87.0 | 2008 | 64.7 | 2008 | 20.9 | 2008 | 0.9 | 2008 |
Estonia * | 99.9 | 2011 | 99.9 | 2011 | 99.7 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Eswatini * | 93.5 | 2010 | 83.1 | 2010 | 45.2 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
Ethiopia * | 55.0 | 2007 | 39.0 | 2007 | 13.6 | 2007 | 0.7 | 2007 |
Faroe Islands * | ||||||||
Falkland Islands * | ||||||||
Fiji * | ||||||||
Finland * | ||||||||
France * | ||||||||
French Guiana * | 91.3 | 1982 | 82.9 | 1982 | 69.7 | 1982 | ||
French Polynesia * | ||||||||
Gabon * | 88.5 | 2012 | 82.3 | 2012 | 60.6 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
Gambia * | 60.8 | 2013 | 42.0 | 2013 | 10.4 | 2013 | 0.9 | 2013 |
Georgia * | 99.7 | 2014 | 99.6 | 2014 | 99.1 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Germany * | ||||||||
Ghana * | 85.7 | 2010 | 71.5 | 2010 | 34.9 | 2010 | 0.9 | 2010 |
Gibraltar * | ||||||||
Greece * | 98.8 | 2011 | 97.4 | 2011 | 92.5 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Greenland *[8] | 100.0 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 | ||||
Grenada * | 99.2 | 2014 | 98.6 | 2014 | 96.2 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Guadeloupe * | 99.8 | 2014 | 96.0 | 2014 | 82.9 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Guam * | 99.9 | 1990 | 99.4 | 1990 | 95.9 | 1990 | 1.0 | 1990 |
Guatemala * | 94.4 | 2014 | 81.3 | 2014 | 50.7 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Guinea * | 46.3 | 2014 | 32.0 | 2014 | 13.1 | 2014 | 0.7 | 2014 |
Guinea-Bissau * | 60.4 | 2014 | 45.6 | 2014 | 19.5 | 2014 | 0.7 | 2014 |
Guyana * | 96.7 | 2014 | 85.6 | 2014 | 49.9 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Haiti * | 72.3 | 2006 | 48.7 | 2006 | 8.5 | 2006 | 0.9 | 2006 |
Holy See | ||||||||
Honduras * | 96.1 | 2016 | 89.0 | 2016 | 66.3 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Hungary * | 98.8 | 2014 | 99.1 | 2014 | 99.1 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Iceland * | ||||||||
India * | 95.7 | 2018 | 75.4 | 2018 | 45.4 | 2018 | 0.97 | 2018 |
Indonesia * | 99.7 | 2016 | 95.4 | 2016 | 70.1 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Iran * | 98.1 | 2016 | 85.5 | 2016 | 36.8 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Iraq * | 93.5 | 2017 | 85.6 | 2017 | 20.4 | 2013 | 0.9 | 2013 |
Ireland * | ||||||||
Isle of Man * | ||||||||
Israel * | 98.6 | 1983 | 91.8 | 1983 | 79.8 | 1983 | 1.0 | 1983 |
Italy * | 99.9 | 2011 | 98.8 | 2011 | 96.7 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Jamaica * | 96.3 | 2014 | 88.1 | 2014 | 66.6 | 2014 | 1.1 | 2014 |
Japan * | ||||||||
Jordan * | 99.1 | 2012 | 97.9 | 2012 | 87.7 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
Kazakhstan * | 99.9 | 2010 | 99.8 | 2010 | 99.5 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
Kenya * | 86.5 | 2014 | 78.7 | 2014 | 54.0 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Kiribati * | ||||||||
North Korea * | 100.0 | 2008 | 100.0 | 2008 | 100.0 | 2008 | 1.0 | 2008 |
South Korea * | ||||||||
Kuwait * | 99.2 | 2017 | 96.1 | 2018 | 69.5 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2017 |
Kyrgyzstan * | 99.8 | 2009 | 99.2 | 2009 | 92.5 | 2009 | 1.0 | 2009 |
Laos * | 92.5 | 2015 | 84.7 | 2015 | 58.6 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
Latvia * | 99.8 | 2011 | 99.9 | 2011 | 99.9 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Lebanon * | 99.2 | 2009 | 91.2 | 2009 | 60.2 | 2009 | 1.0 | 2009 |
Lesotho * | 86.6 | 2014 | 76.6 | 2014 | 51.4 | 2014 | 1.2 | 2014 |
Liberia * | 49.1 | 2007 | 42.9 | 2007 | 32.8 | 2007 | 0.6 | 2007 |
Libya * | 99.6 | 2004 | 86.1 | 2004 | 24.2 | 2004 | 1.0 | 2004 |
Liechtenstein * | ||||||||
Lithuania * | 99.9 | 2011 | 99.8 | 2011 | 99.8 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Luxembourg * | ||||||||
Madagascar * | 76.8 | 2012 | 71.6 | 2012 | 49.4 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
Malawi * | 72.9 | 2015 | 62.1 | 2015 | 35.1 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
Malaysia * | 98.2 | 2001 | 89.5 | 2001 | 47.1 | 2001 | 1.0 | 2001 |
Maldives * | 99.3 | 2014 | 98.6 | 2014 | 92.8 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Mali * | 49.4 | 2015 | 33.1 | 2015 | 13.6 | 2015 | 0.6 | 2015 |
Malta * | 98.9 | 2011 | 93.3 | 2011 | 85.8 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Marshall Islands * | 98.5 | 2011 | 98.3 | 2011 | 89.4 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Martinique | 99.8 | 2014 | 96.9 | 2014 | 88.1 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Mauritania * | 56.1 | 2007 | 45.5 | 2007 | 26.6 | 2007 | 0.7 | 2007 |
Mauritius * | 98.1 | 2011 | 93.2 | 2016 | 64.6 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Mayotte | ||||||||
Mexico * | 99.1 | 2016 | 94.9 | 2016 | 78.9 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Micronesia * | ||||||||
Monaco * | ||||||||
Mongolia * | 98.5 | 2010 | 98.3 | 2010 | 94.6 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
Montenegro * | 99.2 | 2011 | 98.4 | 2011 | 93.9 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Montserrat * | ||||||||
Morocco * | 97.7[9] | 2018 | 73.8[9] | 2018 | 34.1[9] | 2018 | 0.99[10] | 2018 |
Mozambique * | 70.5 | 2015 | 56.0 | 2015 | 26.0 | 2015 | 0.8 | 2015 |
Myanmar * | 84.8 | 2016 | 75.6 | 2016 | 58.2 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Namibia * | 94.4 | 2011 | 88.3 | 2011 | 56.7 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Nauru * | ||||||||
Nepal * | 84.8 | 2011 | 68 | 2018 | 20.8 | 2011 | 0.9 | 2011 |
Netherlands * | ||||||||
New Caledonia | 99.2 | 2014 | 97.8 | 2014 | 90.6 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
New Zealand * | ||||||||
Nicaragua * | 87.0 | 2005 | 78.0 | 2005 | 49.2 | 2005 | 1.0 | 2005 |
Niger * | 39.8 | 2012 | 30.6 | 2012 | 13.7 | 2012 | 0.7 | 2012 |
Nigeria * | 66.4 | 2008 | 51.1 | 2008 | 21.6 | 2008 | 0.8 | 2008 |
Niue * | ||||||||
North Macedonia * | 98.7 | 2002 | 96.1 | 2002 | 82.5 | 2002 | 1.0 | 2002 |
Northern Mariana Islands * | ||||||||
Norway * | ||||||||
Oman * | 98.7 | 2017 | 96.1 | 2017 | 41.9 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2017 |
Pakistan * | 74.5 | 2017 | 59.1 | 2017 | 27.1 | 2017 | 0.83 | 2017 |
Palau * | 98.7 | 2015 | 96.6 | 2015 | 84.7 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
Palestine * | 99[11] | 2020 | 97[11] | 2019 | 63.9 | 2016 | 1.13[11] | 2016 |
Panama * | 97.6 | 2010 | 94.1 | 2010 | 80.9 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
Papua New Guinea * | 67.9 | 2010 | 61.6 | 2010 | 33.0 | 2010 | 1.1 | 2010 |
Paraguay * | 98.5 | 2016 | 94.7 | 2016 | 77.8 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Peru * | 98.9 | 2016 | 94.1 | 2017 | 77.7 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Philippines * | 98.1 | 2013 | 96.4 | 2013 | 90.1 | 2013 | 1.0 | 2013 |
Pitcairn Islands | ||||||||
Poland * | 99.8 | 2008 | 98.7 | 2008 | 93.0 | 2008 | 1.0 | 2008 |
Portugal * | 99.4 | 2011 | 94.5 | 2011 | 80.5 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Puerto Rico * | 98.8 | 2010 | 92.4 | 2017 | 84.5 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
Qatar * | 95.9 | 2004 | 89.0 | 2004 | 41.0 | 2004 | 1.0 | 2004 |
Moldova * | 99.5 | 2012 | 99.1 | 2012 | 95.8 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
Romania * | 99.0 | 2011 | 98.6 | 2011 | 96.8 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Russia * | 99.7 | 2010 | 99.7 | 2010 | 99.2 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
Rwanda * | 85.1 | 2014 | 70.8 | 2014 | 24.3 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Réunion | 95.7 | 1982 | 78.6 | 1982 | 42.0 | 1982 | 1.0 | 1982 |
Saint Helena * | 96.0 | 1998 | ||||||
Saint Kitts and Nevis * | ||||||||
Saint Lucia * | ||||||||
Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 99.5 | 1982 | 99.3 | 1982 | 98.5 | 1982 | 1.0 | 1982 |
Saint Martin | ||||||||
Samoa * | 99.2 | 2011 | 99.0 | 2011 | 96.3 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
San Marino * | ||||||||
São Tomé and Príncipe * | 96.7 | 2012 | 90.1 | 2012 | 49.6 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
Saudi Arabia * | 99.2 | 2013 | 94.4 | 2013 | 51.4 | 2013 | 1.0 | 2013 |
Senegal * | 69.5 | 2017 | 51.9 | 2017 | 21.5 | 2013 | 0.8 | 2017 |
Serbia * | 99.7 | 2016 | 98.8 | 2016 | 96.6 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Seychelles | 99.0 | 2010 | 94.0 | 2010 | 71.5 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
Sierra Leone * | 57.0 | 2013 | 32.4 | 2013 | 3.7 | 2013 | 0.8 | 2013 |
Singapore * | 99.9 | 2016 | 97.0 | 2016 | 84.0 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Sint Maarten | ||||||||
Slovakia * | ||||||||
Slovenia * | 99.8 | 2014 | 99.7 | 2014 | 99.3 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Solomon Islands * | 76.6 | 1999 | ||||||
Somalia * | ||||||||
South Africa * | 99.0 | 2015 | 94.4 | 2015 | 72.1 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
South Sudan * | 36.7 | 2008 | 26.8 | 2008 | 11.0 | 2008 | 0.7 | 2008 |
Spain * | 99.6 | 2016 | 98.3 | 2016 | 94.7 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Sri Lanka * | 98.9 | 2017 | 91.9 | 2017 | 81.0 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2017 |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines * | 98.0 | 1970 | 95.6 | 1970 | 91.0 | 1970 | 1.0 | 1970 |
Sudan * | 65.8 | 2008 | 53.5 | 2008 | 24.3 | 2008 | 0.9 | 2008 |
Suriname * | 97.7 | 2012 | 92.9 | 2012 | 76.0 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
Svalbard and Jan Mayen | ||||||||
Sweden * | ||||||||
Switzerland * | ||||||||
Syria | 92.5 | 2004 | 80.8 | 2004 | 39.0 | 2004 | 1.0 | 2004 |
Tajikistan * | 99.9 | 2014 | 99.8 | 2014 | 98.1 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Tanzania * | 85.8 | 2015 | 77.9 | 2015 | 43.5 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
Thailand * | 98.1 | 2015 | 92.9 | 2015 | 78.7 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
East Timor * | 79.5 | 2010 | 58.3 | 2010 | 11.2 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
Togo * | 84.3 | 2015 | 63.7 | 2015 | 20.4 | 2015 | 0.9 | 2015 |
Tokelau * | ||||||||
Tonga * | 99.4 | 2011 | 99.4 | 2011 | 98.9 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
Trinidad and Tobago * | 99.3 | 1990 | 96.9 | 1990 | 82.8 | 1990 | 1.0 | 1990 |
Tunisia * | 96.2 | 2014 | 79.0 | 2014 | 39.8 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Turkey * | 99.6 | 2016 | 96.2 | 2016 | 88.1 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Turkmenistan * | 99.8 | 2014 | 99.7 | 2014 | 97.6 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Turks and Caicos Islands | ||||||||
Tuvalu * | ||||||||
Uganda * | 83.7 | 2012 | 70.2 | 2012 | 36.1 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
Ukraine * | 100.0 | 2012 | 100.0 | 2012 | 100.0 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
United Arab Emirates * | 95.0 | 2005 | 90.0 | 2005 | 42.1 | 2005 | 1.0 | 2005 |
United Kingdom * | ||||||||
United States * | ||||||||
U.S. Virgin Islands * | ||||||||
Uruguay * | 98.9 | 2017 | 98.6 | 2017 | 97.1 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2017 |
Uzbekistan * | 100.0 | 2016 | 100.0 | 2016 | 99.8 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Vanuatu * | 95.3 | 2014 | 84.7 | 2014 | 44.2 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
Venezuela * | 98.8 | 2016 | 97.1 | 2016 | 88.1 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
Vietnam * | 97.1 | 2009 | 95.8 | 2019 | 76.9 | 2009 | 1.0 | 2009 |
Wallis and Futuna | ||||||||
Western Sahara | ||||||||
Yemen * | 77.0 | 2004 | 54.1 | 2004 | 13.7 | 2004 | 0.7 | 2004 |
Zambia * | 88.7 | 2010 | 83.0 | 2010 | 52.3 | 2010 | 0.9 | 2010 |
Zimbabwe * | 90.4 | 2014 | 88.7 | 2014 | 81.1 | 2014 | 1.1 | 2014 |
List of UN member and observer states by adult literacy rate
[edit]"*" indicates "Literacy in country or territory" or "Education in country or territory" links.
Country | Literacy rate[12][13] [text–source integrity?] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | Male | Female | Gender gap | Year | |
Afghanistan * | 37.3% | 52.1% | 22.6% | 29.5% | 2021 |
Albania * | 98.1% | 98.5% | 97.8% | 0.7% | 2018 |
Algeria * | 81.4% | 87.4% | 75.3% | 12.1% | 2018 |
Andorra * | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 2016 |
Angola * | 71.1% | 82.0% | 60.7% | 21.3% | 2015 |
Antigua and Barbuda * | 99.0% | 98.4% | 99.4% | 1.0% | 2015 |
Argentina * | 99.0% | 98.9% | 99.1% | 0.2% | 2018 |
Armenia * | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.7% | 0.1% | 2020 |
Australia * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Austria * | 98.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Azerbaijan * | 99.8% | 99.9% | 99.7% | 0.2% | 2019 |
Bahamas | 96.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Bahrain * | 97.5% | 99.9% | 94.9% | 5.0% | 2018 |
Bangladesh * | 74.66% | 76.56% | 72.82% | 3.72% | 2022[14] |
Barbados * | 99.6% | 99.6% | 99.6% | 0.0% | 2014 |
Belarus * | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 0.0% | 2019 |
Belgium * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Belize * | 83.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Benin * | 42.4% | 54.0% | 31.1% | 22.9% | 2018 |
Bhutan * | 66.6% | 75.0% | 57.1% | 17.9% | 2017 |
Bolivia * | 92.5% | 96.5% | 88.6% | 7.9% | 2015 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina * | 98.5% | 99.5% | 97.5% | 2.0% | 2015 |
Botswana * | 88.5% | 88.0% | 88.9% | 0.9% | 2015 |
Brazil * | 93.2% | 93.0% | 93.4% | 0.4% | 2018 |
Brunei * | 97.2% | 98.1% | 93.4% | 4.7% | 2018 |
Bulgaria * | 98.4% | 98.7% | 98.1% | 0.6% | 2015 |
Burkina Faso * | 39.3% | 49.2% | 31.0% | 18.2% | 2018 |
Burundi * | 68.4% | 76.3% | 61.2% | 15.1% | 2017 |
Cape Verde * | 86.8% | 91.7% | 82.0% | 9.7% | 2015 |
Cambodia * | 80.5% | 86.5% | 75.0% | 11.5% | 2015 |
Cameroon * | 77.1% | 82.6% | 71.6% | 11.0% | 2018 |
Canada * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Central African Republic * | 37.4% | 49.5% | 25.8% | 23.7% | 2018 |
Chad * | 22.3% | 31.3% | 14.0% | 17.3% | 2016 |
Chile * | 96.3% | 96.3% | 96.3% | 0.0% | 2017 |
China * | 96.8% | 98.5% | 95.2% | 3.3% | 2018 |
Colombia * | 95.6% | 95.4% | 95.9% | 0.5% | 2020 |
Comoros * | 58.8% | 64.6% | 53.0% | 11.6% | 2018 |
Congo * | 80.3% | 86.1% | 74.6% | 11.5% | 2018 |
DR Congo * | 77.0% | 88.5% | 66.5% | 22.0% | 2016 |
Costa Rica * | 97.9% | 97.8% | 97.9% | 0.1% | 2018 |
Ivory Coast * | 89.9% | 93.1% | 86.7% | 6.4% | 2019 |
Croatia * | 99.3% | 99.7% | 98.9% | 0.8% | 2015 |
Cuba * | 99.8% | 99.9% | 99.8% | 0.1% | 2015 |
Cyprus * | 99.1% | 99.5% | 98.7% | 0.8% | 2015 |
Czech Republic * | 99.0% | 99.0% | 99.0% | 0.0% | 2011 |
Denmark * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Djibouti * | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Dominica * | 92.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Dominican Republic * | 93.8% | 93.8% | 93.8% | 0.0% | 2016 |
Ecuador * | 93.6% | 94.8% | 92.5% | 2.3% | 2020 |
Egypt * | 71.2% | 76.5% | 65.5% | 11.0% | 2017 |
El Salvador * | 89.1% | 91.3% | 87.3% | 4.0% | 2019 |
Equatorial Guinea * | 95.3% | 97.4% | 93.0% | 4.4% | 2015 |
Eritrea * | 76.6% | 84.4% | 68.9% | 15.5% | 2018 |
Estonia * | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.8% | 0.0% | 2015 |
Ethiopia * | 51.8% | 57.2% | 44.4% | 12.8% | 2017 |
Fiji * | 99.1% | 99.1% | 99.1% | 0.0% | 2018 |
Finland * | 100.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
France * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Gabon * | 84.7% | 85.9% | 83.4% | 2.5% | 2018 |
Gambia * | 50.8% | 61.8% | 41.6% | 20.2% | 2015 |
Georgia * | 99.6% | 99.7% | 99.5% | 0.2% | 2019 |
Germany * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Ghana * | 79.0% | 83.5% | 74.5% | 9.0% | 2018 |
Greece * | 97.9% | 98.5% | 97.4% | 1.1% | 2018 |
Grenada * | 98.6% | 98.6% | 98.6% | 0.0% | 2014 |
Guatemala * | 80.8% | 85.3% | 76.7% | 8.6% | 2018 |
Guinea * | 39.6% | 54.4% | 27.7% | 26.7% | 2018 |
Guinea-Bissau * | 59.9% | 71.8% | 48.3% | 23.5% | 2015 |
Guyana * | 88.5% | 87.2% | 89.8% | 2.6% | 2015 |
Haiti * | 61.7% | 65.3% | 58.3% | 7.0% | 2016 |
Honduras * | 88.5% | 88.2% | 88.7% | 0.5% | 2019 |
Hungary * | 99.1% | 99.1% | 99.0% | 0.1% | 2015 |
Iceland * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
India * | 74.4% | 82.4% | 65.8% | 16.6% | 2011 |
Indonesia * | 96.0% | 97.4% | 94.6% | 2.8% | 2020 |
Iran * | 85.5% | 90.4% | 80.8% | 9.6% | 2016 |
Iraq * | 85.6% | 91.2% | 79.9% | 11.3% | 2017 |
Ireland * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Israel * | 97.8% | 98.7% | 96.8% | 1.9% | 2011 |
Italy * | 99.2% | 99.4% | 99.0% | 0.4% | 2018 |
Jamaica * | 88.7% | 84.0% | 93.1% | 9.1% | 2015 |
Japan * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Jordan * | 98.2% | 98.6% | 97.8% | 0.8% | 2018 |
Kazakhstan * | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.7% | 0.1% | 2018 |
Kenya * | 81.5% | 85.0% | 78.2% | 6.8% | 2018 |
Kiribati * | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
North Korea * | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 2015 |
South Korea * | 98.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Kuwait * | 96.5% | 97.1% | 95.4% | 1.7% | 2020 |
Kyrgyzstan * | 99.6% | 99.7% | 99.5% | 0.2% | 2018 |
Laos * | 84.7% | 90.0% | 79.4% | 10.6% | 2015 |
Latvia * | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 0.0% | 2018 |
Lebanon * | 95.1% | 96.9% | 93.3% | 3.6% | 2018 |
Lesotho * | 79.4% | 70.1% | 88.3% | 18.2% | 2015 |
Liberia * | 48.3% | 62.7% | 34.1% | 28.6% | 2017 |
Libya * | 91.0% | 96.7% | 85.6% | 11.1% | 2015 |
Liechtenstein * | 100.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Lithuania * | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.8% | 0.0% | 2015 |
Luxembourg * | 100.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Madagascar * | 76.7% | 78.4% | 75.1% | 3.3% | 2018 |
Malawi * | 62.1% | 69.8% | 55.2% | 14.6% | 2015 |
Malaysia * | 95.0% | 96.2% | 93.6% | 2.6% | 2019 |
Maldives * | 97.7% | 97.3% | 98.1% | 0.8% | 2016 |
Mali * | 35.5% | 46.2% | 25.7% | 20.5% | 2018 |
Malta * | 94.5% | 93.0% | 96.0% | 3.0% | 2018 |
Marshall Islands * | 98.3% | 98.3% | 98.2% | 0.1% | 2011 |
Mauritania * | 53.5% | 63.7% | 43.4% | 20.3% | 2017 |
Mauritius * | 91.3% | 93.4% | 89.4% | 4.0% | 2018 |
Mexico * | 95.2% | 96.1% | 94.5% | 1.6% | 2020 |
Micronesia * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Moldova * | 99.4% | 99.7% | 99.1% | 0.6% | 2015 |
Monaco * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Mongolia * | 99.2% | 99.1% | 99.2% | 0.1% | 2020 |
Montenegro * | 98.8% | 99.5% | 98.3% | 1.2% | 2018 |
Morocco * | 73.8% | 83.3% | 64.6% | 18.7% | 2018 |
Mozambique * | 60.7% | 72.6% | 50.3% | 22.3% | 2017 |
Myanmar * | 89.1% | 92.4% | 86.3% | 6.1% | 2019 |
Namibia * | 91.5% | 91.6% | 91.4% | 0.2% | 2018 |
Nauru * | 95.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Nepal * | 67.9% | 78.6% | 59.7% | 18.9% | 2018 |
Netherlands * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
New Zealand * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Nicaragua * | 82.6% | 82.4% | 82.8% | 0.4% | 2015 |
Niger * | 35.1% | 43.6% | 26.7% | 16.9% | 2018 |
Nigeria * | 62.0% | 71.3% | 52.7% | 18.6% | 2018 |
North Macedonia * | 98.4% | 99.1% | 97.6% | 1.5% | 2020 |
Norway * | 100.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Oman * | 95.7% | 97.0% | 92.7% | 4.3% | 2018 |
Pakistan * | 58.0% | 69.3% | 46.5% | 22.8% | 2019 |
Palau * | 96.6% | 96.8% | 96.3% | 0.5% | 2015 |
Panama * | 95.7% | 98.8% | 95.4% | 3.4% | 2019 |
Papua New Guinea * | 64.2% | 65.6% | 62.8% | 2.8% | 2015 |
Paraguay * | 94.5% | 94.9% | 94.2% | 0.7% | 2020 |
Peru * | 94.5% | 97.0% | 92.0% | 5.0% | 2020 |
Philippines * | 96.3% | 95.7% | 96.9% | 1.2% | 2019 |
Poland * | 99.8% | 99.9% | 99.7% | 0.2% | 2015 |
Portugal * | 96.1% | 97.4% | 95.1% | 2.3% | 2018 |
Palestine * | 97%[11] | 99% | 96% | 3% | 2019 |
Qatar * | 93.5% | 92.4% | 94.7% | 2.3% | 2017 |
Romania * | 98.8% | 99.1% | 98.6% | 0.5% | 2018 |
Russia * | 99.7% | 99.7% | 99.7% | 0.0% | 2018 |
Rwanda * | 73.2% | 77.6% | 69.4% | 8.2% | 2018 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis * | 97.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Saint Lucia * | 90.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines * | 96.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Samoa * | 99.1% | 99.0% | 99.2% | 0.2% | 2018 |
San Marino * | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 0.0% | 2018 |
São Tomé and Príncipe * | 92.8% | 96.2% | 89.5% | 6.7% | 2018 |
Saudi Arabia * | 97.6% | 98.6% | 96.0% | 2.6% | 2020 |
Senegal * | 51.9% | 64.8% | 39.8% | 25.0% | 2017 |
Serbia * | 99.5% | 99.9% | 99.1% | 0.8% | 2019 |
Seychelles | 95.9% | 95.4% | 96.4% | 1.0% | 2018 |
Sierra Leone * | 43.2% | 51.6% | 39.8% | 11.8% | 2018 |
Singapore * | 97.5% | 98.9% | 96.1% | 2.8% | 2019 |
Slovakia * | 100.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Slovenia * | 99.7% | 99.7% | 99.7% | 0.0% | 2015 |
Solomon Islands * | 77.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Somalia * | 39.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
South Africa * | 95.0% | 95.5% | 94.5% | 1.0% | 2019 |
South Sudan * | 34.5% | 40.3% | 28.9% | 11.4% | 2018 |
Spain * | 98.6% | 99.0% | 98.2% | 0.8% | 2020 |
Sri Lanka * | 92.3% | 93.0% | 91.6% | 1.4% | 2019 |
Sudan * | 60.7% | 65.4% | 56.1% | 9.3% | 2018 |
Suriname * | 94.4% | 96.1% | 92.7% | 3.4% | 2018 |
Eswatini * | 88.4% | 88.3% | 88.5% | 0.2% | 2018 |
Sweden * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Switzerland * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Syria * | 86.4% | 91.7% | 81.0% | 10.7% | 2015 |
Taiwan * | 98.70% | 99.73% | 97.69% | 2.05% | 2017 |
Tajikistan * | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.7% | 0.1% | 2015 |
Tanzania * | 77.9% | 83.2% | 73.1% | 10.1% | 2015 |
Thailand * | 93.8% | 95.2% | 92.4% | 2.8% | 2018 |
East Timor * | 68.1% | 71.9% | 64.2% | 7.7% | 2018 |
Togo * | 66.5% | 80.0% | 55.1% | 24.9% | 2019 |
Tonga * | 99.4% | 99.4% | 99.5% | 0.1% | 2018 |
Trinidad and Tobago * | 99.0% | 99.2% | 98.7% | 0.5% | 2015 |
Tunisia * | 81.8% | 89.6% | 74.2% | 15.4% | 2015 |
Turkey * | 96.7% | 99.1% | 94.4% | 4.7% | 2019 |
Turkmenistan * | 99.7% | 99.8% | 99.6% | 0.2% | 2015 |
Tuvalu * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Uganda * | 76.5% | 82.7% | 70.8% | 11.9% | 2018 |
Ukraine * | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.7% | 0.1% | 2015 |
United Arab Emirates * | 97.6% | 98.0% | 96.9% | 1.1% | 2019 |
United Kingdom * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
United States * | 86.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Uruguay * | 98.8% | 98.5% | 99.0% | 0.5% | 2019 |
Uzbekistan * | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 2019 |
Vanuatu * | 87.5% | 88.3% | 86.7% | 1.6% | 2018 |
Venezuela * | 97.1% | 97.0% | 97.2% | 0.2% | 2016 |
Vietnam * | 95.8% | 97.0% | 94.6% | 2.4% | 2019 |
Yemen * | 70.1% | 85.1% | 55.0% | 30.1% | 2015 |
Zambia * | 86.7% | 90.6% | 83.1% | 7.5% | 2018 |
Zimbabwe * | 86.5% | 88.5% | 84.6% | 3.9% | 2015 |
World | 86.7% | 90.1% | 83.3% | 6.8% | 2020 |
List of other states and territories
[edit]Territory | Literacy rate (all) | Male literacy | Female literacy | Gender difference[a] | Year | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aruba | 97.5% | 97.5% | 97.5% | 0.0% | 2015[1] | A constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. |
Cayman Islands | 98.9% | 98.7% | 99.0% | −0.3% | 2007[1] | An overseas territory of the United Kingdom. |
Guadeloupe | 96.5% | 96.4% | 96.6% | −0.2% | 2015[1] | Overseas region/department of France. |
Guam | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.8% | 0.0% | 2015[1] | An unincorporated and organized territory of the United States. |
Kosovo | 91.9% | 96.6% | 87.5% | 9.1% | 2003[2] | Member of two UN specialized agencies (World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund). It is claimed by Serbia. |
Macau | 96.2% | 98.0% | 94.6% | 3.4% | 2015[1] | A special administrative region of China. |
Martinique | 97.0% | 97.6% | 96.4% | 1.2% | 2015[1] | Overseas region/department of France. |
New Caledonia | 96.9% | 97.3% | 96.5% | 0.8% | 2015[1] | Overseas region/department of France. |
Puerto Rico | 93.3% | 92.8% | 93.8% | −1.0% | 2015[1] | Unincorporated territory of the United States. |
Réunion | 93.9% | 93.2% | 94.5% | −1.3% | 2015[1] | Overseas region/department of France. |
See also
[edit]- International Literacy Day
- Compulsory education
- List of Indian states and union territories by literacy rate
- List of Brazilian states by literacy rate
- Programme for International Student Assessment, which focuses on developed countries
- Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies
- Progress in International Reading Literacy Study
Notes
[edit]- ^ A positive value indicates that the male literacy rate is higher. A negative value indicates that the female literacy rate is higher.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years (both sexes, female, male)". UIS Data Centre. UNESCO. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ a b "Country Comparison to the World of Literacy Rate". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ "UIS Tellmaps". tellmaps.com. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
- ^ "Interview: "Literacy rate in Afghanistan increased to 43 per cent" | UIL". 2021-12-05. Archived from the original on 2021-12-05. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Literacy rate, youth total (% of people ages 15-24) - China | Data". data.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- ^ "Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) - China". data.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- ^ "Literacy rate, youth (ages 15-24), gender parity index (GPI) - China | Data". data.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- ^ "People and Culture: Literacy". Greenland. World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023.
- ^ a b c "Morocco". uis.unesco.org. 2016-11-27. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
- ^ "UIS Statistics". data.uis.unesco.org. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
- ^ a b c d "Literacy rate, youth total (% of people ages 15-24) - West Bank and Gaza Data". data.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
- ^ "List of Countries By Literacy Rate". WorldAtlas. 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
- ^ "Literacy - The World Factbook". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
- ^ Report, Star Digital (2022-07-27). "Bangladesh's literacy rate now 74.66%". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-11-06.
External links
[edit]- World Bank – Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above), for historical use.