Pakistan: Literacy rate

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
 Pakistan

Literacy rate

 Latest value 58.86
 Year 2021
 Measure percent
 Data availability 1981 - 2021
 Average 52.97
 Min - Max 25.73 - 59.13
 Source UNESCO
 Available for Data download
The latest value from 2021 is 58.86 percent, an increase from 58 percent in 2019. In comparison, the world average is 82.19 percent, based on data from 42 countries. Historically, the average for Pakistan from 1981 to 2021 is 52.97 percent. The minimum value, 25.73 percent, was reached in 1981 while the maximum of 59.13 percent was recorded in 2017. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.
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 Recent values Pakistan: Literacy rate
 2021 58.86
 2019 58.00
 2018 57.01
 2017 59.13
 2014 56.98
 2013 55.59
 2012 56.76
 2011 54.74




Definition: Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.

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 Related indicators Latest Reference Measure
 Education spending, percent of GDP 1.95 2023 percent
 Education spending, percent of government spending 9.76 2023 percent
 Literacy rate 58.86 2021 percent
 Female literacy rate, ages 15-24 66.52 2021 percent
 Male literacy rate, ages 15-24 79.46 2021 percent
 Youth literacy rate, ages 15-24 73.13 2021 percent
 Primary school completion rate 74.14 2024 percent
 School starting age, primary school 5 2025 years
 Female to male ratio, primary school pupils 0.88 2019 percent
 Female to male ratio, secondary school students 0.87 2019 percent
 Female to male ratio, students at tertiary level education 1.03 2024 percent
 Primary school enrollment 83.73 2024 percent
 Secondary school enrollment 48.28 2024 percent
 Tertiary school enrollment 10.86 2024 percent
 Trained teachers in primary education 74.97 2024 percent
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