Literacy rate - Country rankings

* indicates monthly or quarterly data series

Literacy rate, 2020:

The average for 2020 based on 11 countries was 94.9 percent. The highest value was in Argentina: 99.14 percent and the lowest value was in El Salvador: 89.98 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
Argentina 99.14 1 1980 - 2020
Uruguay 98.96 2 1975 - 2024
Colombia 95.64 3 1993 - 2024
Mexico 95.25 4 1980 - 2024
Brazil 94.74 5 1980 - 2024
Paraguay 94.54 6 1982 - 2024
Peru 94.5 7 1981 - 2024
Bolivia 93.85 8 1976 - 2024
Domin. Rep. 93.69 9 1981 - 2024
Ecuador 93.63 10 1982 - 2024
El Salvador 89.98 11 1992 - 2024


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. Argentina
2. Uruguay
3. Colombia
4. Mexico
5. Brazil
6. Paraguay
7. Peru
8. Bolivia
9. Domin. Rep.
10. Ecuador
11. El Salvador
99.14
98.96
95.64
95.25
94.74
94.54
94.50
93.85
93.69
93.63
89.98
0
24.8
49.6
74.4
99.14


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