List of countries by literacy rate

In today's world, List of countries by literacy rate has acquired unprecedented relevance. With the advancement of technology and globalization, List of countries by literacy rate has become a topic of interest to a wide range of people and sectors. Whether we are talking about List of countries by literacy rate in the field of health, education, politics or entertainment, its impact is undeniable. In this article, we will explore the role of List of countries by literacy rate in today's society and how it is shaping our world in innovative and unexpected ways. This analysis will allow us to better understand the role List of countries by literacy rate plays in our lives and how it will continue to evolve in the future.

World map of countries shaded according to the literacy rate for all people aged 15 and over

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

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
 Timor-Leste * 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

"*" 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% 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%[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
 Timor-Leste * 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

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

Notes

  1. ^ A positive value indicates that the male literacy rate is higher. A negative value indicates that the female literacy rate is higher.

References

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  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "UIS Tellmaps". tellmaps.com. Retrieved 2018-11-02.
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  5. ^ "Literacy rate, youth total (% of people ages 15-24) - China | Data". data.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  6. ^ "Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) - China". data.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  7. ^ "Literacy rate, youth (ages 15-24), gender parity index (GPI) - China | Data". data.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  8. ^ "People and Culture: Literacy". Greenland. World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "Morocco". uis.unesco.org. 2016-11-27. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  10. ^ "UIS Statistics". data.uis.unesco.org. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "List of Countries By Literacy Rate". WorldAtlas. 2020-08-12. Retrieved 2022-10-21.
  13. ^ "Literacy - The World Factbook". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  14. ^ Report, Star Digital (2022-07-27). "Bangladesh's literacy rate now 74.66%". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2022-11-06.