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 60-65%, [1] with notable gender disparities. The literacy rate for males is generally higher than that for females, 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]
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/A | N/A | One 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 |
1972 | 21.7% | 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 |
1981 | 26.2% | 35.1% | 16.0% | 47.1% | 17.3% | One who can read newspaper and write a simple letter | Age 10 and Above |
1998 | 43.92% | 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 |
2021 | 62.8% | 68% | 52.84% | 74.09% | 51.56% | Age 10 and Above |
Province | Literacy rate [3] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1972 | 1981 | 1998 | 2021 | 2023 | ||
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] | ... | 75% |
Unit [19] | 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2012 | 2015 | 2018 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Azad Jammu & Kashmir | 3.78 | 4.59 ![]() | 5.42 ![]() | 7.47 ![]() | 7.22 ![]() | 7.35 ![]() | 6.92 ![]() | 6.51 ![]() |
Balochistan | 1.77 | 2.15 ![]() | 2.53 ![]() | 3.49 ![]() | 3.25 ![]() | 3.14 ![]() | 3.17 ![]() | 3.10 ![]() |
FATA | 1.42 | 1.73 ![]() | 2.04 ![]() | 2.81 ![]() | 2.71 ![]() | 2.69 ![]() | 2.60 ![]() | 2.45 ![]() |
Gilgit-Baltistan | 2.01 | 2.44 ![]() | 2.88 ![]() | 3.97 ![]() | 3.84 ![]() | 3.80 ![]() | 4.59 ![]() | 5.17 ![]() |
Islamabad (ICT) | 4.16 | 5.05 ![]() | 5.96 ![]() | 8.21 ![]() | 9.67 ![]() | 10.70 ![]() | 9.62 ![]() | 8.34 ![]() |
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 1.83 | 2.22 ![]() | 2.62 ![]() | 3.62 ![]() | 3.80 ![]() | 3.97 ![]() | 3.95 ![]() | 3.82 ![]() |
Punjab | 1.96 | 2.38 ![]() | 2.81 ![]() | 3.88 ![]() | 4.44 ![]() | 4.85 ![]() | 5.23 ![]() | 5.41 ![]() |
Sindh | 2.43 | 2.95 ![]() | 3.48 ![]() | 4.79 ![]() | 5.19 ![]() | 5.51 ![]() | 5.35 ![]() | 5.05 ![]() |
Pakistan | 2.28 | 2.77![]() | 3.27![]() | 4.51![]() | 4.68![]() | 4.85![]() | 5.09![]() | 5.16![]() |
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 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 Tharparkur . 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. Feudalism and patriarchy leadership has kept females especially from receiving adequate education. [20]
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. [21] 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. [22]
In 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. Education has a very positive effect on human life. In any society education plays such a basic role and without education we cannot imagine a life. This study found that there are many differences in culture in Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan as well as resources within the country are also very different. The data reveals that the literacy rate of Indonesia is 90%, Malaysia is 89% and Pakistan is 62.8%, which is significantly lower in compared to the other two countries. In comparison to these other two countries, Pakistan has the more poverty and inequality within its country. It only makes sense that it has the lowest literacy rate because of this. If Pakistan's literacy rates were to go up, their poverty and inequality within their country would hopefully go down, creating a better society and more beneficial country. [23]
The districts of Pakistan are the third-level administrative divisions of Pakistan, below provinces and divisions, but forming the first-tier of local government. In total, there are 166 districts in Pakistan, including the Capital Territory, and the districts of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. These districts are further divided into tehsils and union councils.
Chaghi District, also known as Chaghi District, is the largest district of Pakistan by area, located in the northwestern corner of the Balochistan province of Pakistan. District shares the border with two countries: Afghanistan and Iran.
Lahore District is a district in Punjab, Pakistan, consisting of the provincial capital, Lahore and surrounding areas. It is the most populous district of Pakistan, with a population of 12,978,661 in 2023.
Education in Pakistan is overseen by the Federal Ministry of Education and the provincial governments, while the federal government mostly assists in curriculum development, accreditation and the financing of research and development. Article 25-A of the Constitution of Pakistan obligates the state to provide free and compulsory quality education to children of the age group 5 to 16 years. "The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such a manner as may be determined by law".
Loralai District is a district in the northeast of Balochistan province of Pakistan. The town of Loralai serves as the district headquarters.
Chakwal District is a district located on the Pothohar Plateau in Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the northwestern area of the Punjab province, bordered by Talagang to its south, Rawalpindi to its northeast, Jhelum to its east. The district was created out of parts of Jhelum and Attock in 1985.
Gwadar District is a district in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. The name Gwadar originates from Gwat and Dar ، which means the door of air. Gwadar was notified as a separate district on 1 July 1977. The city of Gwadar serves as the district headquarters.
Jafarabad, district lies in the southeastern part of Pakistan's province of Balochistan. Dera Allah Yar, also known as Jhatpat among locals, serves as the district headquarters. Jaffarabad District is sub-divided into two tehsils. According to 2023 Pakistani census Jafarabad district has a population of 594,558.
Kohlu district is a district of the Balochistan province of Pakistan. It is bounded in the north by Loralai District, with Dera Bugti in the south, Barkhan in the east, and Sibi District in the west.
Khuzdar is a district in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. The city of Khuzdar serves as the district's headquarters.
Mastung District is a district located in the northwest of Balochistan province, Pakistan. Prior to its creation as a separate district in 1991, Mastung was part of Kalat District.
Kharan district is a district in the Balochistan province of Pakistan.
Attock District, known as Campbellpur District during British Raj, is a district, located on the Pothohar Plateau, in Punjab, Pakistan; created in April 1904. According to 2023 Pakistani census population of Attock District is 2,133,005.
Kalat District is a district located in Kalat Division of Balochistan, Pakistan. Kalat was made a separate district on February 3, 1954. At that time Khuzdar and Mastung districts were sub-divisions of Kalat. Khuzdar became a separate district by notification of 1 March 1974, while Mastung was announced as a separate district on 18 February 1992. The district draws its name from the ancient city of Kalat. The old name of the district headquarters was Kahan. The current district consists of two sub-divisions, i.e. Kalat and Manguchar, four tehsils: Kalat Mangochar, Johan, and Gazgz, 81 Patwar circles and 614 mauza (villages).
Khanewal District is a district of the Punjab province of Pakistan. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan, the district had a population of 2,068,490, of which 17.42% were urban. Khanewal is located at latitude and longitude 30°18' and 71°55'0E respectively with an altitude of 128 metres.
Nankana Sahib District is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Nankana Sahib is the seat of the district government, and Shahkot is the largest urban center. The district of Nankana Sahib is located about 75 kilometres (47 mi) west of Lahore and about 53 kilometres (33 mi) east of Faisalabad. Until 2005, it was part of Sheikhupura District.
Gujranwala Division is an administrative division of Punjab province, Pakistan. The division, headquartered at the city of Gujranwala, consist of 3 districts, covers an area of 8,975 km2.
Sahiwal Division is one of the ten Divisions of Punjab, Pakistan. Sahiwal Division is situated in east-central Punjab, along the N-5 National Highway, approximately midway between Lahore and Multan. It is bordered by Faisalabad Division to the west, Lahore Division to the north, Bahawalpur Division and India to the east, and Multan Division to the south. The division is located on the floodplains of two major rivers: the Ravi River to the west and the Sutlej River to the east. Additionally, the dry Khushak Bias channel traverses the region, forming a natural boundary between Sahiwal District and Pakpattan District. With an elevation of approximately 500 ft (150 m) above sea level, parts of the division rise to over 200 meters, contributing to its varied topography.
Washuk District is a district in Balochistan province of Pakistan. The town of Washuk, which serves as the district headquarters, is located in the center of the district.
Sohbatpur District is a district in the Pakistani province of Balochistan.
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: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)