* indicates monthly or quarterly data series

Literacy rate, 2021:

The average for 2021 based on 4 countries was 90.41 percent. The highest value was in Singapore: 98 percent and the lowest value was in Cambodia: 71.93 percent. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2023. 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, 2021 Global rank Available data
Singapore 98 1 1980 - 2021
Brunei 97.59 2 1981 - 2021
Thailand 94.1 3 1980 - 2022
Cambodia 71.93 4 1998 - 2022


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.

Selected articles from our guide:

Are trade deficits bad for the economy?

Sources of economic growth

Currency values and investment returns

How to write an economics research paper

All articles

This site uses cookies.
Learn more here


OK