Spain: Literacy rate

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
 Spain

Literacy rate

 Latest value 99.70
 Year 2021
 Measure percent
 Data availability 1981 - 2021
 Average 97.66
 Min - Max 92.81 - 99.70
 Source UNESCO
 Available for Data download
The latest value from 2021 is 99.7 percent, an increase from 98.59 percent in 2020. In comparison, the world average is 82.19 percent, based on data from 42 countries. Historically, the average for Spain from 1981 to 2021 is 97.66 percent. The minimum value, 92.81 percent, was reached in 1981 while the maximum of 99.7 percent was recorded in 2021. See the global rankings for that indicator or use the country comparator to compare trends over time.
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* indicates monthly or quarterly data series
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 Recent values Spain: Literacy rate
 2021 99.70
 2020 98.59
 2018 98.44
 2016 98.25
 2015 98.14
 2014 98.09
 2013 98.08
 2012 97.89




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 4.59 2022 percent
 Education spending, percent of government spending 9.88 2022 percent
 Literacy rate 99.70 2021 percent
 Female literacy rate, ages 15-24 99.75 2021 percent
 Male literacy rate, ages 15-24 99.71 2021 percent
 Youth literacy rate, ages 15-24 99.73 2021 percent
 Primary school completion rate 98.51 2024 percent
 School starting age, primary school 6 2025 years
 Female to male ratio, primary school pupils 1.01 2020 percent
 Female to male ratio, secondary school students 1.03 2020 percent
 Female to male ratio, students at tertiary level education 1.23 2024 percent
 Primary school enrollment 102.94 2024 percent
 Secondary school enrollment 118.54 2024 percent
 Tertiary school enrollment 93.77 2024 percent
 Trained teachers in primary education 100.00 2023 percent
 PISA math scores 457.000 2026 index points
 PISA reading scores 451.000 2026 index points
 PISA science scores 477.000 2026 index points
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