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]
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 * | 47.0 | 2011 | 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 * | ||||||||
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 * | 99.0 | 2015 | 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 [4] | 2018 | 96.8 [5] | 2018 | 73.9 | 2010 | 1.0 [6] | 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 * [7] | 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 [8] | 2018 | 73.8 [8] | 2018 | 34.1 [8] | 2018 | 0.99 [9] | 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 * | 88 [10] | 2020 | 97 [10] | 2019 | 63.9 | 2016 | 1.13 [10] | 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 |
* indicates "Literacy in COUNTRY or TERRITORY" or "Education in COUNTRY or TERRITORY" links.
Country | Literacy rate [11] [12] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 [13] |
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% | 2018 |
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% [10] | 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 |
Territory | Literacy rate (all) | Male literacy | Female literacy | Gender difference | Year | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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. |
Haiti is the eighty-fifth most populous country in the world, with an estimated population of 11,123,178 as of July 2018. However the last census done in Haiti was in 2003, and the population recorded was 8,812,245. According to population DNA tests, approximately 80% of the population of Haiti is Afro-Haitian. Within Black Haitian DNA the composition is approximately 95% African, 5% European or mixed European. This is evidenced in DNA ancestry read outs where the average Haitian consistently tests at nearly 100 percent SSA DNA. The remaining population of Haiti is primarily composed of Mulattoes, Europeans, Asians, and Arabs. Hispanic residents in Haiti are mostly Cuban and Dominican. About two-thirds of Haitian people live in rural areas.
Literacy in its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context of use. In other words, humans in literate societies have sets of practices for producing and consuming writing, and they also have beliefs about these practices. Reading, in this view, is always reading something for some purpose; writing is always writing something for someone for some purpose. Beliefs about reading and writing and their value for society and for the individual always influence the ways literacy is taught, learned, and practiced.
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistical composite index of life expectancy, education, and per capita income indicators, which is used to rank countries into four tiers of human development. A country scores a higher level of HDI when the lifespan is higher, the education level is higher, and the gross national income GNI (PPP) per capita is higher. It was developed by Pakistani economist Mahbub ul-Haq and was further used to measure a country's development by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s Human Development Report Office.
Before the arrival of European settlers, who introduced a formal education system addressed to the elites, education in Ghana was mainly informal and based on apprenticeship. Economic activities in pre-colonial Ghana were based on farm produce shared within households and members of each household specialized in providing necessities such as cooking utilities, shelter, clothing, and furniture, and trade with other households was therefore practiced on a very small scale. As such there was no need for employment outside the household that would have otherwise called for disciplines, values, and skills through a formal education system. After colonization, Ghana's economy became a hybrid of subsistence and formal economy.
Literacy in India is a key for social-economic progress. The 2011 census, indicated a 2001–2011 literacy growth of 97.2%, which is slower than the growth seen during the previous decade. An old analytical 1990 study estimated that it would take until 2060 for India to achieve universal literacy at then-current rate of progress.
These are the international rankings of Pakistan.
The State of Kuwait, located at the head of the Persian Gulf, supports an educational policy that seeks to provide an opportunity to all children, irrespective of their social class, including children with special needs. Kuwait was ranked 63rd on the Human Development Index report for 2011 by the United Nations Development Programme, placing Kuwait above the regional average.
The education system of Djibouti is strongly influenced by France.
There have been major strides with Education in Equatorial Guinea over the past ten years, although there is still room for improvement. Among sub-Saharan African countries, Equatorial Guinea has one of the highest literacy rates. According to The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency as of 2015, 95.3% of the population age 15 and over can read and write in Equatorial Guinea were respectively literate. Education in Equatorial Guinea is overseen by the Ministry of Education and Science (MEC). Split into four levels, preschool, primary, secondary, and higher education, the Equatorial Guinea's educational system only deems preschool and primary school mandatory. Education in Equatorial Guinea is free and compulsory until the age of 14. Although it has a high GNI per capita, which, as of 2018, was 18,170 international dollars, its educational outcomes fall behind those of the rest of West and Central Africa. In 1993, the gross primary enrollment rate was 149.7 percent, and the net primary enrollment rate was 83.4 percent. Late entry into the school system and high dropout rates are common, and girls are more likely than boys to drop out of school. As of 2015, the net enrollment rates for each education level are as follows: 42 percent for preschool, between 60 percent and 86 percent for primary school, and 43.6 percent for secondary school. UNESCO has cited several issues with the current educational system, including poor nutrition, low quality of teachers, and lack of adequate facilities.
Released by UNESCO, the Gender Parity Index (GPI) is a socioeconomic index usually designed to measure the relative access to education of males and females. It is used by international organizations, particularly in measuring the progress of developing countries. For example, some UNESCO documents consider gender parity in literacy.
The following are international rankings of Cuba.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is the statistical office of UNESCO and is the UN depository for cross-nationally comparable statistics on education, science and technology, culture, and communication.
The education system in Honduras is characterized by five stages of formal education; PrePrimary, Primary, Middle, Secondary, and Tertiary. Public education in Honduras is provided free for children aged 6 to 15 where it is mandatory for children to attend at the primary level. The Honduran Constitution moreover stipulates that parents have the right to choose the education ; whether free or private, of their children.
Education is something that takes place in the Arab World where there is a tradition for learning and prospering academically. UNESCO sources agree that the average rate of adult literacy is 76.9%. Each of the Arab-majority states are members of the Arab League.
Sustainable Development Goal 4 is about quality education and is among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in September 2015. The full title of SDG 4 is "Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all".
Education inequality in Ghana exists in multiple dimensions, with significant disparities occurring along gender, wealth, and geographical divides. Improvements have been made by both government and civic organizations.
Gender parity is a statistical measure used to describe ratios between men and women, or boys and girls, in a given population. Gender parity may refer to the proportionate representation of men and women in a given group, also referred to as sex ratio, or it may mean the ratio between any quantifiable indicator among men against the same indicator among women.