Adult literacy

percent · OBSERVED 2000–2024

Share of people aged 15 and over who can read and write a short simple statement about their everyday life. Many high-income countries stopped surveying this, so the figure is often missing rather than low.

Nations ranked
141
Highest
100.0%
Lowest
26.8%
Observed
2000–2024

This table mixes vintages: each publisher carries a nation’s latest available year, so the observations here run from 2000 to 2024 — every row shows its own.

Press a row — the specimen turns over to its label. Bars are drawn to the highest value. Highest, not best: this page orders figures, it does not grade nations.

  1. 100.0% 2008
    Observed 2008 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  2. 100.0% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  3. 99.9% 2021
    Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  4. 99.9% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  5. 99.9% 2011
    Observed 2011 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  6. 99.9% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  7. 99.9% 2011
    Observed 2011 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  8. 99.9% 2019
    Observed 2019 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  9. 99.8% 2023
    Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  10. 99.8% 2011
    Observed 2011 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  11. 99.8% 2023
    Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  12. 99.7% 2009
    Observed 2009 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  13. 99.7% 2009
    Observed 2009 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  14. 99.7% 2021
    Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  15. 99.7% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  16. 99.4% 2001
    Observed 2001 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  17. 99.4% 2014
    Observed 2014 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  18. 99.3% 2019
    Observed 2019 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  19. 99.3% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  20. 99.2% 2009
    Observed 2009 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  21. 99.2% 2021
    Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  22. 99.1% 2020
    Observed 2020 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  23. 98.9% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  24. Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  25. 98.7% 2011
    Observed 2011 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  26. 98.6% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  27. 98.5% 2018
    Observed 2018 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  28. 98.5% 2020
    Observed 2020 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  29. 98.3% 2011
    Observed 2011 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  30. 98.2% 2001
    Observed 2001 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  31. 98.0% 2008
    Observed 2008 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  32. 97.9% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  33. 97.9% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  34. 97.8% 2014
    Observed 2014 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  35. 97.7% 2023
    Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  36. 36 Cuba
    97.7% 2019
    Observed 2019 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  37. 97.4% 2011
    Observed 2011 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  38. 38 Oman
    97.3% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  39. 97.3% 2021
    Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  40. 97.2% 2017
    Observed 2017 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  41. Observed 2013 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  42. 96.7% 2020
    Observed 2020 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  43. 96.7% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  44. 96.5% 2020
    Observed 2020 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  45. 96.4% 2017
    Observed 2017 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  46. 96.2% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  47. 96.1% 2002
    Observed 2002 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  48. 96.1% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  49. 96.1% 2011
    Observed 2011 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  50. 96.0% 2020
    Observed 2020 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  51. 95.8% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  52. 95.6% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  53. 95.3% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  54. 94.9% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  55. 94.7% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  56. 94.5% 2011
    Observed 2011 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  57. 94.4% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  58. 94.4% 2021
    Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  59. 94.3% 2023
    Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  60. 94.0% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  61. 93.9% 2010
    Observed 2010 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  62. 93.9% 2009
    Observed 2009 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  63. 63 Peru
    93.7% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  64. 93.5% 2020
    Observed 2020 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  65. 93.5% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  66. 93.3% 2011
    Observed 2011 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  67. 93.2% 2019
    Observed 2019 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  68. 92.9% 2012
    Observed 2012 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  69. 92.7% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  70. 92.4% 2017
    Observed 2017 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  71. 92.0% 2019
    Observed 2019 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  72. 91.2% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  73. 91.1% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  74. 90.8% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  75. 90.4% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  76. 89.8% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  77. 77 Iran
    88.9% 2023
    Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  78. 88.9% 2021
    Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  79. 88.5% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  80. 88.3% 2000
    Observed 2000 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  81. 88.3% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  82. 88.0% 2023
    Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  83. 87.9% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  84. 87.6% 2023
    Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  85. Observed 2019 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  86. 87.3% 2014
    Observed 2014 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  87. 87.0% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  88. 86.3% 2023
    Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  89. 85.6% 2020
    Observed 2020 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  90. 90 Iraq
    84.1% 2021
    Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  91. 82.2% 2000
    Observed 2000 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  92. 82.1% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  93. 81.2% 2003
    Observed 2003 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  94. 79.5% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  95. 79.0% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  96. 78.8% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  97. 78.2% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  98. 78.2% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  99. 77.0% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  100. 100 Ghana
    76.5% 2021
    Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  101. 101 Congo
    76.1% 2005
    Observed 2005 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  102. 102 Laos
    75.6% 2023
    Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  103. 75.6% 2021
    Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  104. 75.1% 2008
    Observed 2008 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  105. 74.7% 2021
    Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  106. 106 Togo
    72.6% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  107. 72.6% 2018
    Observed 2018 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  108. 71.9% 2021
    Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  109. 109 Zambia
    71.8% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  110. 71.3% 2020
    Observed 2020 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  111. 70.4% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  112. 112 Malawi
    70.2% 2020
    Observed 2020 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  113. 69.4% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  114. 114 Nepal
    68.7% 2019
    Observed 2019 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  115. 68.5% 2023
    Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  116. 116 Angola
    68.2% 2023
    Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  117. 117 Haiti
    68.0% 2017
    Observed 2017 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  118. 118 Bhutan
    64.9% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  119. 64.7% 2008
    Observed 2008 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  120. 64.3% 2014
    Observed 2014 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  121. 63.9% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  122. 61.7% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  123. 60.5% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  124. 59.5% 2020
    Observed 2020 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  125. 59.4% 2010
    Observed 2010 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  126. 58.9% 2021
    Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  127. 54.1% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  128. 128 Sudan
    53.5% 2008
    Observed 2008 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  129. 129 Gambia
    51.6% 2021
    Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  130. 130 Benin
    51.4% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  131. 50.4% 2023
    Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  132. 50.0% 2021
    Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  133. 43.6% 2019
    Observed 2019 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  134. Observed 2019 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  135. 41.6% 2023
    Observed 2023 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  136. 136 Guinea
    39.6% 2018
    Observed 2018 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  137. 37.3% 2021
    Observed 2021 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  138. 138 Mali
    35.6% 2024
    Observed 2024 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  139. 139 Niger
    35.6% 2022
    Observed 2022 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  140. 140 Chad
    30.6% 2019
    Observed 2019 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank
  141. 26.8% 2008
    Observed 2008 · UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank

Not observed

45 nations publish no figure for this indicator in the sources below. Absence is a fact about the world’s statistical apparatus, not a zero — these nations hold their place as hatched gaps, and a gap has no underside to turn over.

  • AndorraNOT OBSERVED
  • AntarcticaNOT OBSERVED

    Antarctica has no permanent population and no national government — it is administered under the Antarctic Treaty. No statistical agency compiles national indicators for it, so there is nothing here to report.

  • AustraliaNOT OBSERVED
  • AustriaNOT OBSERVED
  • BahamasNOT OBSERVED
  • BelgiumNOT OBSERVED
  • CanadaNOT OBSERVED
  • CzechiaNOT OBSERVED
  • DenmarkNOT OBSERVED
  • DjiboutiNOT OBSERVED
  • Falkland IslandsNOT OBSERVED

    The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory, administered by the United Kingdom; sovereignty is disputed by Argentina. They are not a separate reporting entity in World Bank datasets.

  • FijiNOT OBSERVED
  • FinlandNOT OBSERVED
  • FranceNOT OBSERVED
  • The French Southern and Antarctic Lands have no permanent civilian population. They are administered from Réunion as an overseas territory of France and are not a separate reporting entity in international datasets.

  • GermanyNOT OBSERVED
  • GreenlandNOT OBSERVED
  • HungaryNOT OBSERVED
  • IcelandNOT OBSERVED
  • IrelandNOT OBSERVED
  • JamaicaNOT OBSERVED
  • JapanNOT OBSERVED
  • KosovoNOT OBSERVED
  • LibyaNOT OBSERVED
  • LiechtensteinNOT OBSERVED
  • LuxembourgNOT OBSERVED
  • MonacoNOT OBSERVED
  • NetherlandsNOT OBSERVED
  • New CaledoniaNOT OBSERVED
  • New ZealandNOT OBSERVED
  • Northern CyprusNOT OBSERVED

    Northern Cyprus is recognised as a state by Türkiye alone. It is not a member of the United Nations or the World Bank, and does not appear as a separate entity in the datasets these indicators are drawn from.

  • NorwayNOT OBSERVED
  • PolandNOT OBSERVED
  • SlovakiaNOT OBSERVED
  • SloveniaNOT OBSERVED
  • Solomon IslandsNOT OBSERVED
  • SomalilandNOT OBSERVED

    Somaliland declared independence in 1991 and has not been recognised by the United Nations or any member state. Where its figures are collected at all, they are reported within Somalia's.

  • SwedenNOT OBSERVED
  • SwitzerlandNOT OBSERVED
  • TaiwanNOT OBSERVED

    Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, and is excluded from the World Bank and UN series that supply most of this dossier. Its own statistical agencies publish extensively.

  • United KingdomNOT OBSERVED
  • United StatesNOT OBSERVED
  • Vatican CityNOT OBSERVED

    Vatican City has a resident population of a few hundred and does not compile the economic and social series these indicators are drawn from.

  • YemenNOT OBSERVED
Source

Education statistics (UNESCO UIS, via World Bank WDI) — UNESCO Institute for Statistics / World Bank · CC BY 4.0 · accessed 2026-08-14.

Table assembled 2026-08-14 from each nation’s latest published observation. The same figure, with the same source, sits on each nation’s dossier — in its Education tab and, identically, in its Society tab. Gaps render as absences, never as zeros.