Literacy in Pakistan

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Literacy Rate in each Pakistani District as of the 2017 Pakistan Census Literacy Rate by Pakistani District - 2017 Census.svg
Literacy Rate in each Pakistani District as of the 2017 Pakistan Census

Literacy in Pakistan is a key for social-economic progress. The literacy rate in Pakistan has seen gradual improvement over the past few decades, but it remains a significant challenge. According to recent data, the overall literacy rate in Pakistan is estimated to be around 62-68%, [1] with notable gender disparities. The literacy rate for males at 73-80% is generally higher than that for females 52-60%, particularly in rural areas, where access to education is more limited. Several factors contribute to low literacy rates, including poverty, cultural barriers, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of quality education in certain regions. Efforts to improve literacy have been made through various government and NGO initiatives, but achieving universal literacy remains a long-term goal. Enhancing educational opportunities, especially for girls, and addressing regional disparities are crucial steps toward improving Pakistan's literacy rate. [2]

Contents

Literacy rate by Census

The definition of literacy has been undergoing changes, with the result that the literacy figure has vacillated irregularly during the various censuses. A summary is as follows: [3]

Year of

census [3]

Total [3] Male [3] Female [3] Urban [4] Rural [4] Definition of

being "literate" [3]

Age

group [4]

1951 (West Pakistan)17.9% [5] 21.4% [5] 13.9% [5] N/AN/AOne who can read a clear

print in any language

All Ages
1961 (West Pakistan)16.9% [5] 26.1% [5] 6.7% [5] 34.8%10.6%One who is able to read with

understanding a simple letter in any language

Age 5 and above
197221.7%30.2%11.6%41.5%14.3%One who is able to read and

write in some language with understanding

Age 10 and Above
198126.2%35.1%16.0%47.1%17.3%One who can read newspaper

and write a simple letter

Age 10 and Above
199843.92%54.81%32.02%63.08%33.64%One who can read a newspaper

and write a simple letter, in any language

Age 10 and Above
202162.8%68%52.84%74.09%51.56%Age 10 and Above

Literacy rate by Province and Federally Administered Areas

ProvinceLiteracy rate [3]
19721981199820212023
Punjab 20.7%27.4%46.56%66.3%70.5%
Sindh 30.2%31.5%45.29%61.8%65.4%
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 15.5%16.7%35.41%55.1%59.05%
Balochistan 10.1%10.3%26.6%54.5%58.7%
Islamabad (ICT) ...47.8% [6] [7] 72.40% [6] ...96%
Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) ...25.7% [8] 55% [9] ...91.88% (2021) [10]
Gilgit-Baltistan ...3% [11] 37.85% [11] ......

Literacy rate by Districts

This section is an excerpt from List of districts of Pakistan by literacy rate § List.[ edit ]
District2023

[12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

2017199819811972
TotalMaleFemaleRuralUrbanTotalMaleFemaleRuralUrbanTotalMaleFemaleTotalMaleFemaleTotalMaleFemale
Muzaffarabad ...
Hattian Bala ...
Neelum ...
Mirpur ...
Bhimber ...
Kotli ...
Poonch ...
Bagh ...
Haveli ...
Sudhnati ...
Ghanche ...
Skardu ...
Roundu ...
Kharmang ...
Shigar ...
Astore ...
Diamer ...
Darel ...
Tangir ...
Ghizer ...
Gilgit ...
Hunza ...
Nagar ...
Gupis-Yasin District ...
Abbottabad 77.34%86.20%68.42%75.15%84.81%
Allai ...............
Bajaur 26.26%39.89%12.29%26.26%...
Bannu 41.75%58.47%23.84%40.14%80.40%
Battagram 39.09%54.69%23.34%39.09%...
Buner 43.75%60.61%27.40%43.75%...
Charsadda 53.94%66.55%40.36%52.73%60.07%
Central Dir District ...............
Dera Ismail Khan 46.58%58.14%33.71%40.01%69.80%
Hangu 43.15%66.04%22.02%39.73%60.70%
Haripur 74.88%84.13%65.61%73.31%85.39%
Karak 65.36%84.12%45.60%64.88%71.51%
Khyber 38.45%58.08%17.16%36.37%60.44%
Kohat 58.55%76.38%40.28%54.38%72.33%
Kolai Palas 18.80%24.24%13.14%18.80%...
Kurram 35.22%49.39%20.65%34.53%46.42%
Lakki Marwat 48.47%67.36%28.95%46.91%61.77%
Lower Chitral 66.10%76.81%54.77%63.64%77.17%
Lower Dir 57.36%72.57%43.16%56.92%71.35%
Lower Kohistan 22.05%33.32%10.32%22.05%...
Malakand ...............
Mansehra 63.79%75.33%52.02%62.17%80.12%
Mardan 55.79%68.31%42.66%54.19%63.59%
Mohmand 31.28%46.85%15.10%31.28%...
North Waziristan 32.82%46.94%18.03%32.65%64.44%
Nowshera 56.78%68.53%44.49%53.90%68.23%
Orakzai 33.57%50.70%14.97%33.57%...
Peshawar 53.28%64.91%41.09%47.20%61.82%
Shangla 33.74%48.82%17.82%33.74%...
Upper South Waziristan ...............
Lower South Waziristan ...............
Swabi 58.48%72.34%44.50%57.56%62.63%
Swat 48.13%61.83%33.95%43.55%58.72%
Tank 40.67%56.89%23.18%37.56%64.87%
Torghar 29.74%46.58%12.46%29.74%...
Upper Chitral 73.83%84.87%62.11%73.83%...
Upper Dir 46.77%62.76%31.67%46.04%61.92%
Upper Kohistan 19.05%27.46%10.28%19.05%...
Badin 36.65%46.46%26.00%31.52%53.67%
Dadu 47.13%55.26%38.70%39.84%67.69%
Ghotki 41.38%55.32%26.27%36.53%57.69%
Hyderabad 67.21%70.86%63.08%37.10%72.91%
Jacobabad 42.34%51.77%32.65%33.00%62.31%
Jamshoro 49.63%57.01%41.63%38.70%61.41%
Karachi Central 83.55%83.82%83.27%...83.55%
Karachi East 80.07%81.31%78.65%...80.07%
Karachi South 78.57%80.76%76.05%...78.57%
Karachi West 67.43%69.75%64.79%52.22%68.98%
Kashmore 35.59%45.08%25.72%29.58%54.97%
Keamari 62.07%66.86%56.51%...62.07%
Khairpur 50.14%61.84%38.10%44.68%60.78%
Korangi 79.86%81.27%78.29%...79.86%
Larkana 55.58%65.34%44.96%47.10%65.46%
Malir 63.14%67.74%57.84%56.48%70.26%
Matiari 45.88%56.34%35.12%40.61%62.03%
Mirpur Khas 45.37%55.04%34.75%34.81%68.82%
Naushahro Feroze 57.15%67.58%46.36%53.20%66.43%
Qambar Shahdadkot 40.02%48.94%30.35%35.65%50.85%
Sanghar 43.66%53.11%33.85%34.84%65.13%
Shaheed Benazirabad 50.86%61.07%40.29%43.87%64.91%
Shikarpur 43.70%52.59%34.65%35.13%69.36%
Sujawal 27.02%33.70%19.66%22.00%65.40%
Sukkur 58.26%68.10%47.20%45.24%70.55%
Tando Allahyar 39.80%47.82%31.48%32.39%54.90%
Tando Muhammad Khan 34.02%42.34%25.02%28.22%53.05%
Tharparkar 36.39%48.50%23.49%33.73%63.00%
Thatta ...............
Umerkot [17] 38.69%51.17%25.11%32.35%58.31%
Awaran 36.34%44.28%27.95%33.23%44.93%
Barkhan 33.62%41.63%24.93%31.63%57.93%
Chagai 33.15%41.90%23.57%30.97%57.88%
Chaman 39.97%47.73%30.60%35.18%51.36%
Dera Bugti 24.07%34.40%11.88%15.89%41.70%
Duki 44.18%53.91%33.43%43.01%63.51%
Gwadar 50.30%57.62%42.19%42.48%57.12%
Harnai 39.83%48.91%29.71%34.06%56.21%
Hub ...............
Jafarabad 35.53%44.43%26.37%29.68%49.84%
Jhal Magsi 30.14%37.89%22.09%27.15%50.50%
Kachhi 30.20%36.47%23.29%25.21%52.27%
Kalat 39.70%49.54%29.41%33.94%68.49%
Kech 49.65%55.23%43.46%43.77%60.22%
Kharan 41.07%51.78%29.36%36.21%51.18%
Khuzdar 38.59%44.91%31.42%29.76%53.74%
Kohlu 28.53%32.65%23.93%25.62%65.11%
Lasbela 36.47%45.86%26.48%27.03%45.94%
Loralai 43.16%54.27%30.81%36.93%64.54%
Mastung 45.97%57.26%33.27%42.46%68.28%
Musakhel 36.60%47.50%24.72%34.35%60.61%
Nasirabad 28.96%36.43%21.18%24.36%48.34%
Nushki 57.12%69.24%44.16%54.16%66.33%
Panjgur 42.07%45.80%37.80%44.81%36.43%
Pishin 51.07%65.85%36.05%48.94%56.10%
Quetta 56.29%65.06%46.96%47.10%62.95%
Qila Abdullah 36.40%47.28%24.70%36.59%34.72%
Qilla Saifullah 32.96%43.93%21.24%29.07%50.90%
Sherani 23.86%31.53%15.02%23.86%...
Sibi 47.41%55.72%38.63%36.61%68.33%
Sohbatpur 41.02%53.26%28.42%40.27%52.11%
Surab 37.44%45.16%29.58%35.97%47.40%
Washuk 21.58%26.76%15.76%21.86%19.65%
Zhob 36.62%45.24%26.81%31.33%70.18%
Ziarat 43.37%53.06%33.49%41.83%47.60%
Usta Muhammad ...............
Attock 70.22%79.69%60.66%67.22%78.18%
Bahawalnagar 57.01%63.55%49.95%51.51%70.84%
Bahawalpur 53.35%59.40%47.09%44.21%67.69%
Bhakkar 55.68%66.81%43.87%52.04%71.67%
Chakwal 77.79%86.12%69.52%76.92%80.43%
Chiniot 55.05%64.64%45.19%48.37%68.91%
Dera Ghazi Khan 46.78%56.17%37.20%40.56%65.05%
Faisalabad 73.41%77.34%69.11%66.02%81.03%
Gujranwala 76.77%78.14%75.36%72.84%79.35%
Gujrat 81.37%84.81%77.95%79.39%84.19%
Hafizabad 65.77%70.70%60.65%61.15%73.16%
Jhang 59.45%69.09%49.14%54.05%73.98%
Jhelum 80.65%86.55%74.53%78.27%84.41%
Kasur 62.85%67.97%57.44%60.27%68.60%
Khanewal 60.97%69.26%52.18%56.27%77.56%
Khushab 62.52%75.59%49.03%58.60%72.70%
Lahore 79.62%81.41%77.59%...79.62%
Layyah 61.83%70.91%52.21%58.67%75.13%
Lodhran 51.68%60.63%42.12%48.40%67.34%
Mandi Bahauddin 70.27%74.89%65.70%67.71%81.23%
Mianwali 62.87%77.58%47.63%60.44%72.18%
Multan 61.41%67.28%55.27%49.35%74.55%
Muzaffargarh 47.99%55.95%39.72%44.05%64.06%
Nankana Sahib [18] 63.12%68.38%57.63%59.86%75.86%
Narowal 75.28%79.89%70.49%73.83%81.77%
Okara 60.25%66.52%53.71%53.88%72.36%
Pakpattan 57.13%64.70%49.27%53.00%71.12%
Rahim Yar Khan 47.94%55.14%40.15%40.22%70.70%
Rajanpur 36.09%43.68%28.18%27.39%57.42%
Rawalpindi 83.22%87.90%78.36%80.66%84.41%
Sahiwal 64.77%71.06%58.29%59.69%78.60%
Sargodha 66.73%73.63%59.62%60.61%76.82%
Sheikhupura 68.88%72.09%65.46%65.24%74.65%
Sialkot 78.37%80.24%76.50%75.94%83.31%
Toba Tek Singh 71.38%76.37%66.13%68.30%81.82%
Vehari 59.10%66.43%51.57%54.73%73.61%
Talagang ...............
Murree ...............
Taunsa ...............
Kot Addu ...............
Wazirabad ...............
Islamabad Capital Territory 83.97%88.23%79.13%84.88%82.91%

Mean Years of Schooling in Pakistan by administrative unit

Unit [19] 19901995200020052010201220152018
Azad Jammu & Kashmir 3.784.59 Increase2.svg5.42 Increase2.svg7.47 Increase2.svg7.22 Decrease2.svg7.35 Decrease2.svg6.92 Decrease2.svg6.51 Decrease2.svg
Balochistan 1.772.15 Increase2.svg2.53 Increase2.svg3.49 Increase2.svg3.25 Decrease2.svg3.14 Decrease2.svg3.17 Decrease2.svg3.10 Decrease2.svg
FATA 1.421.73 Increase2.svg2.04 Increase2.svg2.81 Increase2.svg2.71 Decrease2.svg2.69 Decrease2.svg2.60 Decrease2.svg2.45 Decrease2.svg
Gilgit-Baltistan 2.012.44 Increase2.svg2.88 Increase2.svg3.97 Increase2.svg3.84 Decrease2.svg3.80 Decrease2.svg4.59 Increase2.svg5.17 Increase2.svg
Islamabad (ICT) 4.165.05 Increase2.svg5.96 Increase2.svg8.21 Increase2.svg9.67 Increase2.svg10.70 Increase2.svg9.62 Decrease2.svg8.34 Decrease2.svg
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 1.832.22 Increase2.svg2.62 Increase2.svg3.62 Increase2.svg3.80 Increase2.svg3.97 Increase2.svg3.95 Decrease2.svg3.82 Decrease2.svg
Punjab 1.962.38 Increase2.svg2.81 Increase2.svg3.88 Increase2.svg4.44 Increase2.svg4.85 Increase2.svg5.23 Increase2.svg5.41 Increase2.svg
Sindh 2.432.95 Increase2.svg3.48 Increase2.svg4.79 Increase2.svg5.19 Increase2.svg5.51 Increase2.svg5.35 Decrease2.svg5.05 Decrease2.svg
Pakistan 2.282.77Increase2.svg3.27Increase2.svg4.51Increase2.svg4.68Increase2.svg4.85Increase2.svg5.09Increase2.svg5.16Increase2.svg

Literacy rates and development

Pakistan literacy rate is lower than other neighbours of it in South Asia at 62.8 percent, the second lowest in South Asia after Afghanistan which has a literacy rate of 37%. The male literacy rate is 73 percent and the female literacy rate is 52.84 percent. The female literacy rate drops to twenty-five percent in rural areas of Pakistan including Waziristan and Tharparkar. Girls' school enrollment also significantly drops in the rural areas of Pakistan. The enrollment rate for girls in rural areas is only twenty percent in grade school. Sixty-five percent of Pakistan's population is made up of rural citizens. Citizens in Pakistan face issues that affect their quality of life. Issues such as illiteracy are linked to poverty and lack of basic needs.

Parents with lower literacy skills struggle to understand health recommendations that can affect the development of their children. Malnutrition is a problem for children of parents who do not have a formal education status. Uneducated parents may not know the necessary proper nutrition needed for their children to adequately grow and develop. Malnutrition is associated with mothers who are illiterate and unaware of correct feeding practices. [20] There are several factors that contribute to the low education levels in Pakistan. Among the primary catalysts are unemployment, poverty, lack of awareness, teachers' absenteeism, a scarcity of quality educational institutions, and insufficient government oversight of educational institutions. [21]

A study published by the Research Journal of Commerce, Economics, and Social Sciences, discusses the importance of education. The study compares Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan. Education plays a huge role and is a crucial tool for overall improvement in well-being. Education helps jobs, upholds social justice and equity, social and self-awareness, and open mindedness. Education is one of the most important contribution a country can offer its citizens in the hopes of inequality and poverty. This study found differences in culture in Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan, as well as differing resources within the country. The data reveals that the literacy rate of Indonesia is 90%, Malaysia is 89% and Pakistan is 62.8%, significantly lower compared to the other two countries. In comparison to the other two countries, Pakistan has increased poverty and inequality within the country.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "LITERACY RATE, ENROLMENT AND OUT OF SCHOOL POPULATION BY SEX AND RURAL/URBAN, CENSUS-2023, PAKISTAN" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "Adult Literacy".
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Choudhry, Munir Ahmed (2005). Pakistan: where and who are the world's illiterates? (Report).
  4. 1 2 3 "Literacy trends in Pakistan; 2004" (PDF). Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Copy of Statistical Profile2.cdr" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 November 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Pakistan". CENSUS. Archived from the original on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  7. ↑ Husain, Fazal; Qasim, Muhammad Ali (2005). "Inequality in the Literacy Levels in Pakistan: Existence and Changes Overtime" . South Asia Economic Journal. 6 (2): 251–264. doi:10.1177/139156140500600206.
  8. ↑ "AJK literacy rate 1981 census – Google Search". 1988. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  9. ↑ Human Rights Watch: "With Friends Like These..." – Human Rights Watch – Google Books . Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  10. ↑ Dr Pervez Tahir. "Education spending in AJK". The Express Tribune.
  11. 1 2 "DAWN.COM | Education | Education in Gilgit and Baltistan". 26 June 2010. Archived from the original on 26 June 2010.
  12. ↑ "TABLE 12 : LITERACY RATE, ENROLMENT AND OUT OF SCHOOL POPULATION BY SEX AND RURAL/URBAN, CENSUS-2023, KPK" (PDF).
  13. ↑ "TABLE 12 : LITERACY RATE, ENROLMENT AND OUT OF SCHOOL POPULATION BY SEX AND RURAL/URBAN, CENSUS-2023, SINDH" (PDF).
  14. ↑ "TABLE 12 : LITERACY RATE, ENROLMENT AND OUT OF SCHOOL POPULATION BY SEX AND RURAL/URBAN, CENSUS-2023, ISLAMABAD" (PDF).
  15. ↑ "TABLE 12 : LITERACY RATE, ENROLMENT AND OUT OF SCHOOL POPULATION BY SEX AND RURAL/URBAN, CENSUS-2023, BALOCHISTAN" (PDF).
  16. ↑ "TABLE 12 : LITERACY RATE, ENROLMENT AND OUT OF SCHOOL POPULATION BY SEX AND RURAL/URBAN, CENSUS-2023, PUNJAB" (PDF).
  17. ↑ "Historically & Geographically". District Government Umerkot. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  18. ↑ "Nankana becomes district". Dawn. Pakistan. 10 May 2005. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  19. ↑ "Mean years schooling – Global Data Lab". globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  20. ↑ Khattak, Umme K; Iqbal, Saima P; Ghazanfar, Haider (5 June 2017). "The Role of Parents' Literacy in Malnutrition of Children Under the Age of Five Years in a Semi-Urban Community of Pakistan: A Case-Control Study". Cureus. 9 (6): e1316. doi: 10.7759/cureus.1316 . PMC   5498125 . PMID   28690950.
  21. ↑ "Literacy rate in Pakistan". The Nation. 2018-02-07. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
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