Singapore: Literacy rate
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
| Singapore |
Literacy rate |
|---|---|
| Latest value | 97.65 |
| Year | 2021 |
| Measure | percent |
| Data availability | 1980 - 2021 |
| Average | 95.13 |
| Min - Max | 82.91 - 97.65 |
| Source | UNESCO |
| Available for | Data download |
The latest value from 2021 is 97.65 percent, an increase from 97.13 percent in 2020. In comparison, the world average is 82.19 percent, based on data from 42 countries. Historically, the average for Singapore from 1980 to 2021 is 95.13 percent. The minimum value, 82.91 percent, was reached in 1980 while the maximum of 97.65 percent was recorded in 2021.
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* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
| Recent values | Singapore: Literacy rate |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 97.65 |
| 2020 | 97.13 |
| 2019 | 97.48 |
| 2018 | 97.34 |
| 2017 | 97.20 |
| 2016 | 97.05 |
| 2015 | 96.83 |
| 2014 | 96.72 |
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 | 2.19 | 2024 | percent |
| Education spending, percent of government spending | 11.99 | 2025 | percent |
| Literacy rate | 97.65 | 2021 | percent |
| Female literacy rate, ages 15-24 | 99.91 | 2021 | percent |
| Male literacy rate, ages 15-24 | 99.87 | 2021 | percent |
| Youth literacy rate, ages 15-24 | 99.89 | 2021 | percent |
| Primary school completion rate | 96.85 | 2023 | percent |
| School starting age, primary school | 6 | 2025 | years |
| Female to male ratio, primary school pupils | 1.00 | 2020 | percent |
| Female to male ratio, secondary school students | 0.99 | 2020 | percent |
| Female to male ratio, students at tertiary level education | 1.09 | 2023 | percent |
| Primary school enrollment | 100.25 | 2023 | percent |
| Secondary school enrollment | 103.08 | 2023 | percent |
| Tertiary school enrollment | 97.29 | 2023 | percent |
| Trained teachers in primary education | 98.11 | 2023 | percent |
| PISA math scores | 563.000 | 2026 | index points |
| PISA reading scores | 535.000 | 2026 | index points |
| PISA science scores | 560.000 | 2026 | index points |