Field Listing
Literacy
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This entry includes a definition of literacy and UNESCO's percentage estimates for populations aged 15 years and over, including total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of the Factbook. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons. Low levels of literacy, and education in general, can impede the economic development of a country in the current rapidly changing, technology-driven world.
Afghanistan
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 37.3%
male: 52.1%
female: 22.6% (2021)
Albania
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.4%
male: 98.7%
female: 98.2% (2021)
Algeria
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 81.4%
male: 87.4%
female: 75.3% (2018)
Andorra
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2016)
Angola
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 71.1%
male: 82.6%
female: 62.4% (2015)
Antigua and Barbuda
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schoolingtotal population: 99%
male: 98.4%
female: 99.4% (2015)
Argentina
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%
male: 98.9%
female: 99.1% (2018)
Armenia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2020)
Aruba
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.8%
male: 97.8%
female: 97.8% (2018)
Azerbaijan
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.8%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.7% (2019)
Bahrain
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.5%
male: 99.9%
female: 94.9% (2018)
Bangladesh
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 74.9%
male: 77.8%
female: 72% (2020)
Barbados
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.6%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.6% (2014)
Belarus
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.9%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.9% (2019)
Benin
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 45.8%
male: 56.9%
female: 35% (2021)
Bhutan
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 70.9%
male: 77.9%
female: 62.8% (2021)
Bolivia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.5%
male: 96.5%
female: 88.6% (2015)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.1%
male: 99.4%
female: 98.1% (2021)
Botswana
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 88.5%
male: 88%
female: 88.9% (2015)
Brazil
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.3%
male: 94.1%
female: 94.5% (2021)
Brunei
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.6%
male: 98.3%
female: 96.9% (2021)
Bulgaria
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.4%
male: 98.7%
female: 98.2% (2021)
Burkina Faso
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 46%
male: 54.5%
female: 37.8% (2021)
Burma
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 89.1%
male: 92.4%
female: 86.3% (2019)
note: most public schools were closed immediately after the coup in 2021, and attendance remained low since schools reopened; literacy is expected to decline from 2019 to 2023
Burundi
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 74.7%
male: 81.3%
female: 68.4% (2021)
Cabo Verde
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 90.8%
male: 94.2%
female: 87.4% (2021)
Cambodia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 83.9%
male: 88.4%
female: 79.8% (2021)
Cameroon
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 77.1%
male: 82.6%
female: 71.6% (2018)
Central African Republic
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 37.4%
male: 49.5%
female: 25.8% (2018)
Chad
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabictotal population: 26.8%
male: 35.4%
female: 18.2% (2021)
Chile
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97%
male: 97.1%
female: 97% (2021)
China
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.8%
male: 98.5%
female: 95.2% (2018)
Colombia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95.6%
male: 95.4%
female: 95.9% (2020)
Comoros
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 62%
male: 67%
female: 56.9% (2021)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshilubatotal population: 80%
male: 89.5%
female: 70.8% (2021)
Congo, Republic of the
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 80.6%
male: 85.9%
female: 75.4% (2021)
Costa Rica
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98.1% (2021)
Cote d'Ivoire
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 89.9%
male: 93.1%
female: 86.7% (2019)
Croatia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2021)
Cuba
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.7%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.7% (2021)
Cyprus
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.4%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.2% (2021)
Dominican Republic
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95.2%
male: 95.1%
female: 95.3% (2021)
Ecuador
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.5%
male: 94.9%
female: 94% (2021)
Egypt
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 73.1%
male: 78.8%
female: 67.4% (2021)
El Salvador
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 89.1%
male: 91.3%
female: 87.3% (2019)
Equatorial Guinea
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95.3%
male: 97.4%
female: 93% (2015)
Eritrea
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 76.6%
male: 84.4%
female: 68.9% (2018)
Estonia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.9%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.9% (2021)
Eswatini
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 88.4%
male: 88.3%
female: 88.5% (2018)
Ethiopia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 51.8%
male: 57.2%
female: 44.4% (2017)
Gabon
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 85.5%
male: 86.2%
female: 84.7% (2021)
Gambia, The
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 58.1%
male: 65.2%
female: 51.2% (2021)
Gaza Strip
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.5%
male: 98.8%
female: 96.2% (2020)
note: estimates are for Gaza Strip and the West Bank
Georgia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.5% (2019)
Ghana
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 79%
male: 83.5%
female: 74.5% (2018)
Greece
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.9%
male: 98.5%
female: 97.4% (2018)
Greenland
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2015)
Grenada
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.6%
male: 98.6%
female: 98.6% (2014 est.)
Guatemala
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 83.3%
male: 87.7%
female: 79.3% (2021)
Guinea
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 45.3%
male: 61.2%
female: 31.3% (2021)
Guinea-Bissau
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 52.9%
male: 67%
female: 39.9% (2021)
Guyana
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 88.8%
male: 89.3%
female: 88.4% (2021)
Haiti
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 61.7%
male: 65.3%
female: 58.3% (2016)
Honduras
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 88.5%
male: 88.2%
female: 88.7% (2019)
Hungary
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.1%
male: 99.1%
female: 99.1% (2021)
India
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 74.4%
male: 82.4%
female: 65.8% (2018)
Indonesia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96%
male: 97.4%
female: 94.6% (2020)
Iran
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 88.7%
male: 92.4%
female: 88.7% (2021)
Iraq
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 85.6%
male: 91.2%
female: 79.9% (2017)
Israel
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.8%
male: 98.7%
female: 96.8% (2011)
Italy
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.2%
male: 99.4%
female: 99% (2018)
Jamaica
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 88.7%
male: 84%
female: 93.1% (2015)
Jordan
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.4%
male: 98.7%
female: 98.4% (2021)
Kazakhstan
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2018)
Kenya
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 82.6%
male: 85.5%
female: 79.8% (2021)
Korea, North
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2015)
Kuwait
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.5%
male: 97.1%
female: 95.4% (2020)
Kyrgyzstan
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.5% (2018)
Laos
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 87.1%
male: 91.4%
female: 81.4% (2021)
Latvia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.9%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.9% (2021)
Lebanon
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95.1%
male: 96.9%
female: 93.3% (2018)
Lesotho
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 81%
male: 72.9%
female: 88.8% (2021)
Liberia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 48.3%
male: 62.7%
female: 34.1% (2017)
Libya
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 91%
male: 96.7%
female: 85.6% (2015)
Lithuania
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2021)
Macau
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.1%
male: 98.5%
female: 95.9% (2021)
Madagascar
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 77.3%
male: 78.8%
female: 75.8% (2021)
Malawi
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 67.3%
male: 71.2%
female: 63.7% (2021)
Malaysia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95%
male: 96.2%
female: 93.6% (2019)
Maldives
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.9%
male: 97.6%
female: 98.4% (2021)
Mali
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 35.5%
male: 46.2%
female: 25.7% (2018)
Malta
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.9%
male: 93.4%
female: 96.4% (2021)
Marshall Islands
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.3%
male: 98.3%
female: 98.2% (2011)
Mauritania
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 67%
male: 71.8%
female: 62.2% (2021)
Mauritius
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.2%
male: 93.5%
female: 90.5% (2021)
Mexico
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95.2%
male: 96.1%
female: 94.5% (2020)
Moldova
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.5% (2021)
Mongolia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.2%
male: 99.1%
female: 99.2% (2020)
Montenegro
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%
male: 99.4%
female: 98.5% (2021)
Morocco
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 75.9%
male: 84.8%
female: 67.4% (2021)
note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara
Mozambique
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 63.4%
male: 74.1%
female: 53.8% (2021)
Namibia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.3%
male: 90.6%
female: 92.3% (2021)
Nepal
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 71.2%
male: 81%
female: 63.3% (2021)
New Caledonia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.9%
male: 97.3%
female: 96.5% (2015)
Nicaragua
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 82.6%
male: 82.4%
female: 82.8% (2015)
Niger
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 37.3%
male: 45.8%
female: 29% (2018)
Nigeria
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 62%
male: 71.3%
female: 52.7% (2018)
North Macedonia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.4%
male: 99.1%
female: 97.6% (2020)
Oman
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95.7%
male: 97%
female: 92.7% (2018)
Pakistan
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 58%
male: 69.3%
female: 46.5% (2019)
Palau
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.6%
male: 96.8%
female: 96.3% (2015)
Panama
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95.7%
male: 98.8%
female: 95.4% (2019)
Papua New Guinea
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 64.2%
male: 65.6%
female: 62.8% (2015)
Paraguay
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.5%
male: 94.9%
female: 94.2% (2020)
Peru
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.5%
male: 97%
female: 92% (2020)
Philippines
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.3%
male: 95.7%
female: 96.9% (2019)
Poland
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2021)
Portugal
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95.9%
male: 97.8%
female: 95.9% (2021)
Puerto Rico
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.4%
male: 92.4%
female: 92.4% (2021)
Qatar
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.5%
male: 92.4%
female: 94.7% (2017)
Romania
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.9%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.7% (2021)
Russia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7% (2018)
Rwanda
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 75.9%
male: 78.7%
female: 73.3% (2021)
Samoa
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.1%
male: 99%
female: 99.3% (2021)
Sao Tome and Principe
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.8%
male: 96.5%
female: 91.1% (2021)
Saudi Arabia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.6%
male: 98.6%
female: 96% (2020)
Senegal
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 56.3%
male: 68.4%
female: 45.4% (2021)
Serbia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.5%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.1% (2019)
Seychelles
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95.9%
male: 95.4%
female: 96.4% (2018)
Sierra Leone
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabictotal population: 47.7%
male: 55.3%
female: 39.8% (2021)
Singapore
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.5%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.1% (2019)
South Africa
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95%
male: 95.5%
female: 94.5% (2019)
South Sudan
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 34.5%
male: 40.3%
female: 28.9% (2018)
Spain
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.6%
male: 99%
female: 98.2% (2020)
Sri Lanka
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.3%
male: 93%
female: 91.6% (2019)
Sudan
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 60.7%
male: 65.4%
female: 56.1% (2018)
Suriname
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95%
male: 96.5%
female: 93.4% (2021)
Syria
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 86.4%
male: 91.7%
female: 81% (2015)
Taiwan
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.5%
male: 99.7%
female: 97.3% (2014)
Tajikistan
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2015)
Tanzania
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabictotal population: 81.8%
male: 85.5%
female: 78.2% (2021)
Thailand
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.1%
male: 95.5%
female: 92.8% (2021)
Timor-Leste
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 68.1%
male: 71.9%
female: 64.2% (2018)
Togo
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 66.5%
male: 80%
female: 55.1% (2019)
Tonga
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or Englishtotal population: 99.4%
male: 99.4%
female: 99.5% (2021)
Trinidad and Tobago
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%
male: 99.2%
female: 98.7% (2015)
Tunisia
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 82.7%
male: 89.1%
female: 82.7% (2021)
Turkey (Turkiye)
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.7%
male: 99.1%
female: 94.4% (2019)
Turkmenistan
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.7%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.6% (2015)
Uganda
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 79%
male: 84%
female: 74.3% (2021)
Ukraine
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2021)
United Arab Emirates
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.1%
male: 98.8%
female: 97.2% (2021)
Uruguay
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.8%
male: 98.5%
female: 99% (2019)
Uzbekistan
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2019)
Vanuatu
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 89.1%
male: 89.8%
female: 88.4% (2021)
Venezuela
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.5%
male: 97.4%
female: 97.7% (2021)
Vietnam
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 95.8%
male: 97%
female: 94.6% (2019)
West Bank
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.5%
male: 98.8%
female: 96.2% (2020)
note: estimates are for Gaza and the West Bank
World
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 86.7%
male: 90.1%
female: 83.3% (2020)
note: more than three quarters of the world's 750 million illiterate adults are found in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa; of all the illiterate adults in the world, almost two thirds are women (2016)
Yemen
definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 70.1%
male: 85.1%
female: 55% (2015)
Zambia
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Englishtotal population: 86.7%
male: 90.6%
female: 83.1% (2018)
Zimbabwe
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Englishtotal population: 89.7%
male: 88.3%
female: 89.7% (2021)