Literacy rate - Country rankings

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series

Literacy rate, 2020:

The average for 2020 based on 18 countries was 89.92 percent. The highest value was in Georgia: 99.89 percent and the lowest value was in Afghanistan: 36.01 percent. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2024. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Measure: percent; Source: UNESCO
Select indicator
* indicates monthly or quarterly data series


Countries Literacy rate, 2020 Global rank Available data
Georgia 99.89 1 2002 - 2024
Armenia 99.79 2 1989 - 2023
Mongolia 99.18 3 2000 - 2024
Philippines 98.47 4 1980 - 2020
Saudi Arabia 97.59 5 1992 - 2024
Palestine 97.51 6 1997 - 2024
Singapore 97.13 7 1980 - 2021
Oman 96.9 8 2003 - 2022
China 96.74 9 1982 - 2020
Kuwait 96.46 10 1975 - 2020
Indonesia 96 11 1980 - 2020
Burma 93.53 12 1983 - 2020
Sri Lanka 92.38 13 1981 - 2024
Iran 87.9 14 1976 - 2023
Cambodia 82.55 15 1998 - 2021
India 75.53 16 1981 - 2024
Bangladesh 74.91 17 1981 - 2022
Afghanistan 36.01 18 1979 - 2021


New - World map: Literacy rate




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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All articles

1. Georgia
2. Armenia
3. Mongolia
4. Philippines
5. Saudi Arabia
6. Palestine
7. Singapore
8. Oman
9. China
10. Kuwait
11. Indonesia
12. Burma
13. Sri Lanka
14. Iran
15. Cambodia
16. India
17. Bangladesh
18. Afghanistan
99.89
99.79
99.18
98.47
97.59
97.51
97.13
96.90
96.74
96.46
96.00
93.53
92.38
87.90
82.55
75.53
74.91
36.01
0
25
49.9
74.9
99.89


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