# List of countries by literacy rate

This is a list of countries by literacy rate.
The global literacy rate for all people aged 15 and above is 86.3%. The global literacy rate for all males is 90.0%, and the rate for all females is 82.7%. The rate varies throughout the world, with developed nations having a rate of 99.2% (2013), South and West Asia having 70.2% (2015), and sub-Saharan Africa at 64.0% (2015). Over 75% of the world's 781 million illiterate adults are found in South Asia, West Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, and women represent almost two-thirds of all illiterate adults globally.

## List of UN member states by age group and gender disparity

Data published by UNESCO using the following definitions:
   Youth: Percentage of people aged 15 to 24 years who can both read and write, with understanding, a short simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, "literacy" also encompasses "numeracy", the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations.
   Adult: Percentage of the population aged 25 years and over who can both read and write, with understanding, a short simple statement on his/her everyday life. Generally, "literacy" also encompasses "numeracy", the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations.
   Elderly: Percentage of the population aged 65 years and over who can both read and write, with understanding, a short simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, "literacy" also encompasses "numeracy", the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations.
   Gender Parity Index (GPI): The gender parity index (GPI) of the youth literacy rate is the ratio of the female to male literacy rates of the population aged 15 to 24 years. A GPI value between 0.97 and 1.03 is usually interpreted to indicate gender parity.
"*" indicates "Literacy in country or territory" or "Education in country or territory" links.
| Country | Youth (15 to 24) | Youth (15 to 24) | Adult (25+) | Adult (25+) | Elderly (65+) | Elderly (65+) | Youth Gender Parity Index | Youth Gender Parity Index |
| Country | Rate | Year | Rate | Year | Rate | Year | Rate | Year |
| Afghanistan * | 65.0 | 2020 | 31.7 | 2011 | 20.3 | 2011 | 0.5 | 2011 |
| Albania * | 99.2 | 2012 | 97.2 | 2012 | 86.9 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
| Algeria * | 93.8 | 2008 | 75.1 | 2008 | 19.5 | 2008 | 1.0 | 2008 |
| American Samoa * | 97.7 | 1980 | 97.3 | 1980 | 92.7 | 1980 | 1.0 | 1980 |
| Andorra * | | | | | | | | |
| Angola * | 77.4 | 2014 | 66.0 | 2014 | 27.0 | 2014 | 0.8 | 2014 |
| Anguilla * | 99.1 | 1984 | 95.4 | 1984 | 88.0 | 1984 | 1.0 | 1984 |
| Antigua and Barbuda * | | | 98.9 | 2015 | | | | |
| Argentina * | 99.5 | 2016 | 99.1 | 2016 | 97.9 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Armenia * | 99.8 | 2011 | 99.7 | 2011 | 98.9 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Aruba * | 99.1 | 2010 | 96.8 | 2010 | 88.9 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
| Australia * | 96.6 | | | | | | | |
| Austria * | | | | | | | | |
| Azerbaijan * | 99.9 | 2016 | 99.8 | 2016 | 98.4 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Bahamas | | | | | | | | |
| Bahrain * | 97.0 | 2001 | 86.5 | 2001 | 42.3 | 2001 | 1.0 | 2001 |
| Bangladesh * | 94.9 | 2019 | 74.7 | 2019 | 39.4 | 2019 | 1.03 | 2019 |
| Barbados * | 99.9 | 2014 | 99.6 | 2014 | 98.5 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Belarus * | 99.8 | 2009 | 99.6 | 2009 | 98.6 | 2009 | 1.0 | 2009 |
| Belgium * | | | | | | | | |
| Belize * | 77.6 | 1991 | 70.3 | 1991 | 44.8 | 1991 | 1.0 | 1991 |
| Benin * | 52.5 | 2012 | 32.9 | 2012 | 7.0 | 2012 | 0.6 | 2012 |
| Bermuda * | | | | | | | | |
| Bhutan * | 87.3 | 2012 | 57.0 | 2012 | 14.9 | 2012 | 0.9 | 2012 |
| Bolivia * | 99.4 | 2015 | 92.5 | 2015 | 67.5 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
| Bonaire | | | | | | | | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina * | 99.7 | 2013 | 97.0 | 2013 | 86.0 | 2013 | 1.0 | 2013 |
| Botswana * | 97.7 | 2014 | 87.7 | 2014 | 40.7 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Brazil * | 99.7 | 2020 | 92.0 | 2015 | 74.3 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
| British Virgin Islands * | | | | | | | | |
| Brunei * | 99.4 | 2011 | 96.1 | 2011 | 61.6 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Bulgaria * | 97.9 | 2011 | 98.4 | 2011 | 97.5 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Burkina Faso * | 50.1 | 2014 | 34.6 | 2014 | 8.4 | 2014 | 0.8 | 2014 |
| Burundi * | 79.6 | 2014 | 61.6 | 2014 | 24.9 | 2014 | 0.9 | 2014 |
| Cape Verde * | 98.1 | 2015 | 86.8 | 2015 | 36.8 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
| Cambodia * | 92.2 | 2015 | 80.5 | 2015 | 53.1 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
| Cameroon * | 80.6 | 2010 | 71.3 | 2010 | 26.1 | 2010 | 0.9 | 2010 |
| Canada * | | | | | | | | |
| Cayman Islands * | 98.9 | 2007 | 98.9 | 2007 | 94.7 | 2007 | 1.0 | 2007 |
| Central African Republic * | 36.4 | 2010 | 36.8 | 2010 | 35.7 | 2010 | 0.6 | 2010 |
| Chad * | 30.8 | 2016 | 22.3 | 2016 | 7.0 | 2016 | 0.6 | 2016 |
| Chile * | 99.4 | 2015 | 96.9 | 2015 | 89.9 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
| China * | 99.8 | 2018 | 96.8 | 2018 | 73.9 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2018 |
| Hong Kong * | | | | | | | | |
| Macau * | 99.8 | 2016 | 96.5 | 2016 | 81.2 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Colombia * | 98.7 | 2016 | 94.7 | 2016 | 81.4 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Comoros * | 71.6 | 2012 | 49.2 | 2012 | 12.8 | 2012 | 0.9 | 2012 |
| Congo * | 80.9 | 2011 | 79.3 | 2011 | 73.1 | 2011 | 0.9 | 2011 |
| DR Congo * | 85.0 | 2016 | 77.0 | 2016 | 48.0 | 2016 | 0.9 | 2016 |
| Cook Islands * | | | | | | | | |
| Costa Rica * | 99.1 | 2011 | 97.4 | 2011 | 90.4 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Ivory Coast * | 53.0 | 2014 | 43.9 | 2014 | 18.0 | 2014 | 0.8 | 2014 |
| Croatia * | 99.7 | 2011 | 99.1 | 2011 | 97.1 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Cuba * | 99.9 | 2012 | 99.8 | 2012 | 99.2 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
| Curaçao | | | | | | | | |
| Cyprus * | 99.8 | 2011 | 98.7 | 2011 | 93.8 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Czech Republic * | | | | | | | | |
| Denmark * | | | | | | | | |
| Djibouti * | | | | | | | | |
| Dominica * | | | | | | | | |
| Dominican Republic * | 98.8 | 2016 | 93.8 | 2016 | 79.8 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Ecuador * | 99.1 | 2016 | 94.4 | 2016 | 77.7 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Egypt * | 93.9 | 2017 | 71.2 | 2017 | 43.2 | 2013 | 1.0 | 2017 |
| El Salvador * | 98.0 | 2016 | 88.5 | 2017 | 65.7 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Equatorial Guinea * | 98.2 | 2014 | 95.0 | 2014 | 67.2 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Eritrea * | 87.0 | 2008 | 64.7 | 2008 | 20.9 | 2008 | 0.9 | 2008 |
| Estonia * | 99.9 | 2011 | 99.9 | 2011 | 99.7 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Eswatini * | 93.5 | 2010 | 83.1 | 2010 | 45.2 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
| Ethiopia * | 55.0 | 2007 | 39.0 | 2007 | 13.6 | 2007 | 0.7 | 2007 |
| Faroe Islands * | | | | | | | | |
| Falkland Islands * | | | | | | | | |
| Fiji * | | | | | | | | |
| Finland * | | | | | | | | |
| France * | | | | | | | | |
| French Guiana * | 91.3 | 1982 | 82.9 | 1982 | 69.7 | 1982 | | |
| French Polynesia * | | | | | | | | |
| Gabon * | 88.5 | 2012 | 82.3 | 2012 | 60.6 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
| Gambia * | 60.8 | 2013 | 42.0 | 2013 | 10.4 | 2013 | 0.9 | 2013 |
| Georgia * | 99.7 | 2014 | 99.6 | 2014 | 99.1 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Germany * | | | | | | | | |
| Ghana * | 85.7 | 2010 | 71.5 | 2010 | 34.9 | 2010 | 0.9 | 2010 |
| Gibraltar * | | | | | | | | |
| Greece * | 98.8 | 2011 | 97.4 | 2011 | 92.5 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Greenland * | 100.0 | 2015 | | | | | 1.0 | 2015 |
| Grenada * | 99.2 | 2014 | 98.6 | 2014 | 96.2 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Guadeloupe * | 99.8 | 2014 | 96.0 | 2014 | 82.9 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Guam * | 99.9 | 1990 | 99.4 | 1990 | 95.9 | 1990 | 1.0 | 1990 |
| Guatemala * | 94.4 | 2014 | 81.3 | 2014 | 50.7 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Guinea * | 46.3 | 2014 | 32.0 | 2014 | 13.1 | 2014 | 0.7 | 2014 |
| Guinea-Bissau * | 60.4 | 2014 | 45.6 | 2014 | 19.5 | 2014 | 0.7 | 2014 |
| Guyana * | 96.7 | 2014 | 85.6 | 2014 | 49.9 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Haiti * | 72.3 | 2006 | 48.7 | 2006 | 8.5 | 2006 | 0.9 | 2006 |
| Holy See | | | | | | | | |
| Honduras * | 96.1 | 2016 | 89.0 | 2016 | 66.3 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Hungary * | 98.8 | 2014 | 99.1 | 2014 | 99.1 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Iceland * | | | | | | | | |
| India * | 95.7 | 2018 | 75.4 | 2018 | 45.4 | 2018 | 0.97 | 2018 |
| Indonesia * | 99.7 | 2016 | 95.4 | 2016 | 70.1 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Iran * | 98.1 | 2016 | 85.5 | 2016 | 36.8 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Iraq * | 93.5 | 2017 | 85.6 | 2017 | 20.4 | 2013 | 0.9 | 2013 |
| Ireland * | | | | | | | | |
| Isle of Man * | | | | | | | | |
| Israel * | 98.6 | 1983 | 91.8 | 1983 | 79.8 | 1983 | 1.0 | 1983 |
| Italy * | 99.9 | 2011 | 98.8 | 2011 | 96.7 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Jamaica * | 96.3 | 2014 | 88.1 | 2014 | 66.6 | 2014 | 1.1 | 2014 |
| Japan * | | | | | | | | |
| Jordan * | 99.1 | 2012 | 97.9 | 2012 | 87.7 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
| Kazakhstan * | 99.9 | 2010 | 99.8 | 2010 | 99.5 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
| Kenya * | 86.5 | 2014 | 78.7 | 2014 | 54.0 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Kiribati * | | | | | | | | |
| North Korea * | 100.0 | 2008 | 100.0 | 2008 | 100.0 | 2008 | 1.0 | 2008 |
| South Korea * | | | | | | | | |
| Kuwait * | 99.2 | 2017 | 96.1 | 2018 | 69.5 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2017 |
| Kyrgyzstan * | 99.8 | 2009 | 99.2 | 2009 | 92.5 | 2009 | 1.0 | 2009 |
| Laos * | 92.5 | 2015 | 84.7 | 2015 | 58.6 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
| Latvia * | 99.8 | 2011 | 99.9 | 2011 | 99.9 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Lebanon * | 99.2 | 2009 | 91.2 | 2009 | 60.2 | 2009 | 1.0 | 2009 |
| Lesotho * | 86.6 | 2014 | 76.6 | 2014 | 51.4 | 2014 | 1.2 | 2014 |
| Liberia * | 49.1 | 2007 | 42.9 | 2007 | 32.8 | 2007 | 0.6 | 2007 |
| Libya * | 99.6 | 2004 | 86.1 | 2004 | 24.2 | 2004 | 1.0 | 2004 |
| Liechtenstein * | | | | | | | | |
| Lithuania * | 99.9 | 2011 | 99.8 | 2011 | 99.8 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Luxembourg * | | | | | | | | |
| Madagascar * | 76.8 | 2012 | 71.6 | 2012 | 49.4 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
| Malawi * | 72.9 | 2015 | 62.1 | 2015 | 35.1 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
| Malaysia * | 98.2 | 2001 | 89.5 | 2001 | 47.1 | 2001 | 1.0 | 2001 |
| Maldives * | 99.3 | 2014 | 98.6 | 2014 | 92.8 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Mali * | 49.4 | 2015 | 33.1 | 2015 | 13.6 | 2015 | 0.6 | 2015 |
| Malta * | 98.9 | 2011 | 93.3 | 2011 | 85.8 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Marshall Islands * | 98.5 | 2011 | 98.3 | 2011 | 89.4 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Martinique | 99.8 | 2014 | 96.9 | 2014 | 88.1 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Mauritania * | 56.1 | 2007 | 45.5 | 2007 | 26.6 | 2007 | 0.7 | 2007 |
| Mauritius * | 98.1 | 2011 | 93.2 | 2016 | 64.6 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Mayotte | | | | | | | | |
| Mexico * | 99.1 | 2016 | 94.9 | 2016 | 78.9 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Micronesia * | | | | | | | | |
| Monaco * | | | | | | | | |
| Mongolia * | 98.5 | 2010 | 98.3 | 2010 | 94.6 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
| Montenegro * | 99.2 | 2011 | 98.4 | 2011 | 93.9 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Montserrat * | | | | | | | | |
| Morocco * | 97.7 | 2018 | 73.8 | 2018 | 34.1 | 2018 | 0.99 | 2018 |
| Mozambique * | 70.5 | 2015 | 56.0 | 2015 | 26.0 | 2015 | 0.8 | 2015 |
| Myanmar * | 84.8 | 2016 | 75.6 | 2016 | 58.2 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Namibia * | 94.4 | 2011 | 88.3 | 2011 | 56.7 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Nauru * | | | | | | | | |
| Nepal * | 84.8 | 2011 | 68 | 2018 | 20.8 | 2011 | 0.9 | 2011 |
| Netherlands * | | | | | | | | |
| New Caledonia | 99.2 | 2014 | 97.8 | 2014 | 90.6 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| New Zealand * | | | | | | | | |
| Nicaragua * | 87.0 | 2005 | 78.0 | 2005 | 49.2 | 2005 | 1.0 | 2005 |
| Niger * | 39.8 | 2012 | 30.6 | 2012 | 13.7 | 2012 | 0.7 | 2012 |
| Nigeria * | 66.4 | 2008 | 51.1 | 2008 | 21.6 | 2008 | 0.8 | 2008 |
| Niue * | | | | | | | | |
| North Macedonia * | 98.7 | 2002 | 96.1 | 2002 | 82.5 | 2002 | 1.0 | 2002 |
| Northern Mariana Islands * | | | | | | | | |
| Norway * | | | | | | | | |
| Oman * | 98.7 | 2017 | 96.1 | 2017 | 41.9 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2017 |
| Pakistan * | 74.5 | 2017 | 59.1 | 2017 | 27.1 | 2017 | 0.83 | 2017 |
| Palau * | 98.7 | 2015 | 96.6 | 2015 | 84.7 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
| Palestine | 99 | 2020 | 97 | 2019 | 63.9 | 2016 | 1.13 | 2016 |
| Panama * | 97.6 | 2010 | 94.1 | 2010 | 80.9 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
| Papua New Guinea * | 67.9 | 2010 | 61.6 | 2010 | 33.0 | 2010 | 1.1 | 2010 |
| Paraguay * | 98.5 | 2016 | 94.7 | 2016 | 77.8 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Peru * | 98.9 | 2016 | 94.1 | 2017 | 77.7 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Philippines * | 98.1 | 2013 | 96.4 | 2013 | 90.1 | 2013 | 1.0 | 2013 |
| Pitcairn Islands | | | | | | | | |
| Poland * | 99.8 | 2008 | 98.7 | 2008 | 93.0 | 2008 | 1.0 | 2008 |
| Portugal * | 99.4 | 2011 | 94.5 | 2011 | 80.5 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Puerto Rico * | 98.8 | 2010 | 92.4 | 2017 | 84.5 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
| Qatar * | 95.9 | 2004 | 89.0 | 2004 | 41.0 | 2004 | 1.0 | 2004 |
| Moldova * | 99.5 | 2012 | 99.1 | 2012 | 95.8 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
| Romania * | 99.0 | 2011 | 98.6 | 2011 | 96.8 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Russia * | 99.7 | 2010 | 99.7 | 2010 | 99.2 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
| Rwanda * | 85.1 | 2014 | 70.8 | 2014 | 24.3 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Réunion | 95.7 | 1982 | 78.6 | 1982 | 42.0 | 1982 | 1.0 | 1982 |
| Saint Helena * | | | 96.0 | 1998 | | | | |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis * | | | | | | | | |
| Saint Lucia * | | | | | | | | |
| Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 99.5 | 1982 | 99.3 | 1982 | 98.5 | 1982 | 1.0 | 1982 |
| Saint Martin | | | | | | | | |
| Samoa * | 99.2 | 2011 | 99.0 | 2011 | 96.3 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| San Marino * | | | | | | | | |
| São Tomé and Príncipe * | 96.7 | 2012 | 90.1 | 2012 | 49.6 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
| Saudi Arabia * | 99.2 | 2013 | 94.4 | 2013 | 51.4 | 2013 | 1.0 | 2013 |
| Senegal * | 69.5 | 2017 | 51.9 | 2017 | 21.5 | 2013 | 0.8 | 2017 |
| Serbia * | 99.7 | 2016 | 98.8 | 2016 | 96.6 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Seychelles | 99.0 | 2010 | 94.0 | 2010 | 71.5 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
| Sierra Leone * | 57.0 | 2013 | 32.4 | 2013 | 3.7 | 2013 | 0.8 | 2013 |
| Singapore * | 99.9 | 2016 | 97.0 | 2016 | 84.0 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Sint Maarten | | | | | | | | |
| Slovakia * | | | | | | | | |
| Slovenia * | 99.8 | 2014 | 99.7 | 2014 | 99.3 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Solomon Islands * | | | 76.6 | 1999 | | | | |
| Somalia * | | | | | | | | |
| South Africa * | 99.0 | 2015 | 94.4 | 2015 | 72.1 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
| South Sudan * | 36.7 | 2008 | 26.8 | 2008 | 11.0 | 2008 | 0.7 | 2008 |
| Spain * | 99.6 | 2016 | 98.3 | 2016 | 94.7 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Sri Lanka * | 98.9 | 2017 | 91.9 | 2017 | 81.0 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2017 |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines * | 98.0 | 1970 | 95.6 | 1970 | 91.0 | 1970 | 1.0 | 1970 |
| Sudan * | 65.8 | 2008 | 53.5 | 2008 | 24.3 | 2008 | 0.9 | 2008 |
| Suriname * | 97.7 | 2012 | 92.9 | 2012 | 76.0 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
| Svalbard and Jan Mayen | | | | | | | | |
| Sweden * | | | | | | | | |
| Switzerland * | | | | | | | | |
| Syria * | 92.5 | 2004 | 80.8 | 2004 | 39.0 | 2004 | 1.0 | 2004 |
| Tajikistan * | 99.9 | 2014 | 99.8 | 2014 | 98.1 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Tanzania * | 85.8 | 2015 | 77.9 | 2015 | 43.5 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
| Thailand * | 98.1 | 2015 | 92.9 | 2015 | 78.7 | 2015 | 1.0 | 2015 |
| Timor-Leste * | 79.5 | 2010 | 58.3 | 2010 | 11.2 | 2010 | 1.0 | 2010 |
| Togo * | 84.3 | 2015 | 63.7 | 2015 | 20.4 | 2015 | 0.9 | 2015 |
| Tokelau * | | | | | | | | |
| Tonga * | 99.4 | 2011 | 99.4 | 2011 | 98.9 | 2011 | 1.0 | 2011 |
| Trinidad and Tobago * | 99.3 | 1990 | 96.9 | 1990 | 82.8 | 1990 | 1.0 | 1990 |
| Tunisia * | 96.2 | 2014 | 79.0 | 2014 | 39.8 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Turkey * | 99.6 | 2016 | 96.2 | 2016 | 88.1 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Turkmenistan * | 99.8 | 2014 | 99.7 | 2014 | 97.6 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | | | | | | | | |
| Tuvalu * | | | | | | | | |
| Uganda * | 83.7 | 2012 | 70.2 | 2012 | 36.1 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
| Ukraine * | 100.0 | 2012 | 100.0 | 2012 | 100.0 | 2012 | 1.0 | 2012 |
| United Arab Emirates * | 95.0 | 2005 | 90.0 | 2005 | 42.1 | 2005 | 1.0 | 2005 |
| United Kingdom * | | | | | | | | |
| United States * | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. Virgin Islands * | | | | | | | | |
| Uruguay * | 98.9 | 2017 | 98.6 | 2017 | 97.1 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2017 |
| Uzbekistan * | 100.0 | 2016 | 100.0 | 2016 | 99.8 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Vanuatu * | 95.3 | 2014 | 84.7 | 2014 | 44.2 | 2014 | 1.0 | 2014 |
| Venezuela * | 98.8 | 2016 | 97.1 | 2016 | 88.1 | 2016 | 1.0 | 2016 |
| Vietnam * | 97.1 | 2009 | 95.8 | 2019 | 76.9 | 2009 | 1.0 | 2009 |
| Wallis and Futuna | | | | | | | | |
| Western Sahara | | | | | | | | |
| Yemen * | 77.0 | 2004 | 54.1 | 2004 | 13.7 | 2004 | 0.7 | 2004 |
| Zambia * | 88.7 | 2010 | 83.0 | 2010 | 52.3 | 2010 | 0.9 | 2010 |
| Zimbabwe * | 90.4 | 2014 | 88.7 | 2014 | 81.1 | 2014 | 1.1 | 2014 |

## List of UN member and observer states by adult literacy rate

"*" indicates "Literacy in country or territory" or "Education in country or territory" links.
| Country | Literacy rate | Literacy rate | Literacy rate | Literacy rate | Literacy rate |
| Country | Total | Male | Female | Gender gap | Year |
| Afghanistan * | 37.3% | 52.1% | 22.6% | 29.5% | 2021 |
| Albania * | 98.1% | 98.5% | 97.8% | 0.7% | 2018 |
| Algeria * | 81.4% | 87.4% | 75.3% | 12.1% | 2018 |
| Andorra * | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 2016 |
| Angola * | 71.1% | 82.0% | 60.7% | 21.3% | 2015 |
| Antigua and Barbuda * | 99.0% | 98.4% | 99.4% | 1.0% | 2015 |
| Argentina * | 99.0% | 98.9% | 99.1% | 0.2% | 2018 |
| Armenia * | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.7% | 0.1% | 2020 |
| Australia * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Austria * | 98.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Azerbaijan * | 99.8% | 99.9% | 99.7% | 0.2% | 2019 |
| Bahamas | 96.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Bahrain * | 97.5% | 99.9% | 94.9% | 5.0% | 2018 |
| Bangladesh * | 74.66% | 76.56% | 72.82% | 3.72% | 2022 |
| Barbados * | 99.6% | 99.6% | 99.6% | 0.0% | 2014 |
| Belarus * | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 0.0% | 2019 |
| Belgium * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Belize * | 83.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Benin * | 42.4% | 54.0% | 31.1% | 22.9% | 2018 |
| Bhutan * | 66.6% | 75.0% | 57.1% | 17.9% | 2017 |
| Bolivia * | 92.5% | 96.5% | 88.6% | 7.9% | 2015 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina * | 98.5% | 99.5% | 97.5% | 2.0% | 2015 |
| Botswana * | 88.5% | 88.0% | 88.9% | 0.9% | 2015 |
| Brazil * | 93.2% | 93.0% | 93.4% | 0.4% | 2018 |
| Brunei * | 97.2% | 98.1% | 93.4% | 4.7% | 2018 |
| Bulgaria * | 98.4% | 98.7% | 98.1% | 0.6% | 2015 |
| Burkina Faso * | 39.3% | 49.2% | 31.0% | 18.2% | 2018 |
| Burundi * | 68.4% | 76.3% | 61.2% | 15.1% | 2017 |
| Cape Verde * | 86.8% | 91.7% | 82.0% | 9.7% | 2015 |
| Cambodia * | 80.5% | 86.5% | 75.0% | 11.5% | 2015 |
| Cameroon * | 77.1% | 82.6% | 71.6% | 11.0% | 2018 |
| Canada * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Central African Republic * | 37.4% | 49.5% | 25.8% | 23.7% | 2018 |
| Chad * | 22.3% | 31.3% | 14.0% | 17.3% | 2016 |
| Chile * | 96.3% | 96.3% | 96.3% | 0.0% | 2017 |
| China * | 96.8% | 98.5% | 95.2% | 3.3% | 2018 |
| Colombia * | 95.6% | 95.4% | 95.9% | 0.5% | 2020 |
| Comoros * | 58.8% | 64.6% | 53.0% | 11.6% | 2018 |
| Congo * | 80.3% | 86.1% | 74.6% | 11.5% | 2018 |
| DR Congo * | 77.0% | 88.5% | 66.5% | 22.0% | 2016 |
| Costa Rica * | 97.9% | 97.8% | 97.9% | 0.1% | 2018 |
| Ivory Coast * | 89.9% | 93.1% | 86.7% | 6.4% | 2019 |
| Croatia * | 99.3% | 99.7% | 98.9% | 0.8% | 2015 |
| Cuba * | 99.8% | 99.9% | 99.8% | 0.1% | 2015 |
| Cyprus * | 99.1% | 99.5% | 98.7% | 0.8% | 2015 |
| Czech Republic * | 99.0% | 99.0% | 99.0% | 0.0% | 2011 |
| Denmark * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Djibouti * | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Dominica * | 92.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Dominican Republic * | 93.8% | 93.8% | 93.8% | 0.0% | 2016 |
| Ecuador * | 93.6% | 94.8% | 92.5% | 2.3% | 2020 |
| Egypt * | 71.2% | 76.5% | 65.5% | 11.0% | 2017 |
| El Salvador * | 89.1% | 91.3% | 87.3% | 4.0% | 2019 |
| Equatorial Guinea * | 95.3% | 97.4% | 93.0% | 4.4% | 2015 |
| Eritrea * | 76.6% | 84.4% | 68.9% | 15.5% | 2018 |
| Estonia * | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.8% | 0.0% | 2015 |
| Ethiopia * | 51.8% | 57.2% | 44.4% | 12.8% | 2017 |
| Fiji * | 99.1% | 99.1% | 99.1% | 0.0% | 2018 |
| Finland * | 100.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| France * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Gabon * | 84.7% | 85.9% | 83.4% | 2.5% | 2018 |
| Gambia * | 50.8% | 61.8% | 41.6% | 20.2% | 2015 |
| Georgia * | 99.6% | 99.7% | 99.5% | 0.2% | 2019 |
| Germany * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Ghana * | 79.0% | 83.5% | 74.5% | 9.0% | 2018 |
| Greece * | 97.9% | 98.5% | 97.4% | 1.1% | 2018 |
| Grenada * | 98.6% | 98.6% | 98.6% | 0.0% | 2014 |
| Guatemala * | 80.8% | 85.3% | 76.7% | 8.6% | 2018 |
| Guinea * | 39.6% | 54.4% | 27.7% | 26.7% | 2018 |
| Guinea-Bissau * | 59.9% | 71.8% | 48.3% | 23.5% | 2015 |
| Guyana * | 88.5% | 87.2% | 89.8% | 2.6% | 2015 |
| Haiti * | 61.7% | 65.3% | 58.3% | 7.0% | 2016 |
| Honduras * | 88.5% | 88.2% | 88.7% | 0.5% | 2019 |
| Hungary * | 99.1% | 99.1% | 99.0% | 0.1% | 2015 |
| Iceland * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| India * | 74.4% | 82.4% | 65.8% | 16.6% | 2011 |
| Indonesia * | 96.0% | 97.4% | 94.6% | 2.8% | 2020 |
| Iran * | 85.5% | 90.4% | 80.8% | 9.6% | 2016 |
| Iraq * | 85.6% | 91.2% | 79.9% | 11.3% | 2017 |
| Ireland * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Israel * | 97.8% | 98.7% | 96.8% | 1.9% | 2011 |
| Italy * | 99.2% | 99.4% | 99.0% | 0.4% | 2018 |
| Jamaica * | 88.7% | 84.0% | 93.1% | 9.1% | 2015 |
| Japan * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Jordan * | 98.2% | 98.6% | 97.8% | 0.8% | 2018 |
| Kazakhstan * | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.7% | 0.1% | 2018 |
| Kenya * | 81.5% | 85.0% | 78.2% | 6.8% | 2018 |
| Kiribati * | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| North Korea * | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 2015 |
| South Korea * | 98.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Kuwait * | 96.5% | 97.1% | 95.4% | 1.7% | 2020 |
| Kyrgyzstan * | 99.6% | 99.7% | 99.5% | 0.2% | 2018 |
| Laos * | 84.7% | 90.0% | 79.4% | 10.6% | 2015 |
| Latvia * | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 0.0% | 2018 |
| Lebanon * | 95.1% | 96.9% | 93.3% | 3.6% | 2018 |
| Lesotho * | 79.4% | 70.1% | 88.3% | 18.2% | 2015 |
| Liberia * | 48.3% | 62.7% | 34.1% | 28.6% | 2017 |
| Libya * | 91.0% | 96.7% | 85.6% | 11.1% | 2015 |
| Liechtenstein * | 100.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Lithuania * | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.8% | 0.0% | 2015 |
| Luxembourg * | 100.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Madagascar * | 76.7% | 78.4% | 75.1% | 3.3% | 2018 |
| Malawi * | 62.1% | 69.8% | 55.2% | 14.6% | 2015 |
| Malaysia * | 95.0% | 96.2% | 93.6% | 2.6% | 2019 |
| Maldives * | 97.7% | 97.3% | 98.1% | 0.8% | 2016 |
| Mali * | 35.5% | 46.2% | 25.7% | 20.5% | 2018 |
| Malta * | 94.5% | 93.0% | 96.0% | 3.0% | 2018 |
| Marshall Islands * | 98.3% | 98.3% | 98.2% | 0.1% | 2011 |
| Mauritania * | 53.5% | 63.7% | 43.4% | 20.3% | 2017 |
| Mauritius * | 91.3% | 93.4% | 89.4% | 4.0% | 2018 |
| Mexico * | 95.2% | 96.1% | 94.5% | 1.6% | 2020 |
| Micronesia * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Moldova * | 99.4% | 99.7% | 99.1% | 0.6% | 2015 |
| Monaco * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Mongolia * | 99.2% | 99.1% | 99.2% | 0.1% | 2020 |
| Montenegro * | 98.8% | 99.5% | 98.3% | 1.2% | 2018 |
| Morocco * | 73.8% | 83.3% | 64.6% | 18.7% | 2018 |
| Mozambique * | 60.7% | 72.6% | 50.3% | 22.3% | 2017 |
| Myanmar * | 89.1% | 92.4% | 86.3% | 6.1% | 2019 |
| Namibia * | 91.5% | 91.6% | 91.4% | 0.2% | 2018 |
| Nauru * | 95.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nepal * | 67.9% | 78.6% | 59.7% | 18.9% | 2018 |
| Netherlands * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| New Zealand * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nicaragua * | 82.6% | 82.4% | 82.8% | 0.4% | 2015 |
| Niger * | 35.1% | 43.6% | 26.7% | 16.9% | 2018 |
| Nigeria * | 62.0% | 71.3% | 52.7% | 18.6% | 2018 |
| North Macedonia * | 98.4% | 99.1% | 97.6% | 1.5% | 2020 |
| Norway * | 100.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Oman * | 95.7% | 97.0% | 92.7% | 4.3% | 2018 |
| Pakistan * | 58.0% | 69.3% | 46.5% | 22.8% | 2019 |
| Palau * | 96.6% | 96.8% | 96.3% | 0.5% | 2015 |
| Panama * | 95.7% | 98.8% | 95.4% | 3.4% | 2019 |
| Papua New Guinea * | 64.2% | 65.6% | 62.8% | 2.8% | 2015 |
| Paraguay * | 94.5% | 94.9% | 94.2% | 0.7% | 2020 |
| Peru * | 94.5% | 97.0% | 92.0% | 5.0% | 2020 |
| Philippines * | 96.3% | 95.7% | 96.9% | 1.2% | 2019 |
| Poland * | 99.8% | 99.9% | 99.7% | 0.2% | 2015 |
| Portugal * | 96.1% | 97.4% | 95.1% | 2.3% | 2018 |
| Palestine | 97% | 99% | 96% | 3% | 2019 |
| Qatar * | 93.5% | 92.4% | 94.7% | 2.3% | 2017 |
| Romania * | 98.8% | 99.1% | 98.6% | 0.5% | 2018 |
| Russia * | 99.7% | 99.7% | 99.7% | 0.0% | 2018 |
| Rwanda * | 73.2% | 77.6% | 69.4% | 8.2% | 2018 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis * | 97.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Saint Lucia * | 90.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines * | 96.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Samoa * | 99.1% | 99.0% | 99.2% | 0.2% | 2018 |
| San Marino * | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 0.0% | 2018 |
| São Tomé and Príncipe * | 92.8% | 96.2% | 89.5% | 6.7% | 2018 |
| Saudi Arabia * | 97.6% | 98.6% | 96.0% | 2.6% | 2020 |
| Senegal * | 51.9% | 64.8% | 39.8% | 25.0% | 2017 |
| Serbia * | 99.5% | 99.9% | 99.1% | 0.8% | 2019 |
| Seychelles | 95.9% | 95.4% | 96.4% | 1.0% | 2018 |
| Sierra Leone * | 43.2% | 51.6% | 39.8% | 11.8% | 2018 |
| Singapore * | 97.5% | 98.9% | 96.1% | 2.8% | 2019 |
| Slovakia * | 100.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Slovenia * | 99.7% | 99.7% | 99.7% | 0.0% | 2015 |
| Solomon Islands * | 77.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Somalia * | 39.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| South Africa * | 95.0% | 95.5% | 94.5% | 1.0% | 2019 |
| South Sudan * | 34.5% | 40.3% | 28.9% | 11.4% | 2018 |
| Spain * | 98.6% | 99.0% | 98.2% | 0.8% | 2020 |
| Sri Lanka * | 92.3% | 93.0% | 91.6% | 1.4% | 2019 |
| Sudan * | 60.7% | 65.4% | 56.1% | 9.3% | 2018 |
| Suriname * | 94.4% | 96.1% | 92.7% | 3.4% | 2018 |
| Eswatini * | 88.4% | 88.3% | 88.5% | 0.2% | 2018 |
| Sweden * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Switzerland * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Syria * | 86.4% | 91.7% | 81.0% | 10.7% | 2015 |
| Taiwan * | 98.70% | 99.73% | 97.69% | 2.05% | 2017 |
| Tajikistan * | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.7% | 0.1% | 2015 |
| Tanzania * | 77.9% | 83.2% | 73.1% | 10.1% | 2015 |
| Thailand * | 93.8% | 95.2% | 92.4% | 2.8% | 2018 |
| Timor-Leste * | 68.1% | 71.9% | 64.2% | 7.7% | 2018 |
| Togo * | 66.5% | 80.0% | 55.1% | 24.9% | 2019 |
| Tonga * | 99.4% | 99.4% | 99.5% | 0.1% | 2018 |
| Trinidad and Tobago * | 99.0% | 99.2% | 98.7% | 0.5% | 2015 |
| Tunisia * | 81.8% | 89.6% | 74.2% | 15.4% | 2015 |
| Turkey * | 96.7% | 99.1% | 94.4% | 4.7% | 2019 |
| Turkmenistan * | 99.7% | 99.8% | 99.6% | 0.2% | 2015 |
| Tuvalu * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Uganda * | 76.5% | 82.7% | 70.8% | 11.9% | 2018 |
| Ukraine * | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.7% | 0.1% | 2015 |
| United Arab Emirates * | 97.6% | 98.0% | 96.9% | 1.1% | 2019 |
| United Kingdom * | 99.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| United States * | 86.0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Uruguay * | 98.8% | 98.5% | 99.0% | 0.5% | 2019 |
| Uzbekistan * | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 0.0% | 2019 |
| Vanuatu * | 87.5% | 88.3% | 86.7% | 1.6% | 2018 |
| Venezuela * | 97.1% | 97.0% | 97.2% | 0.2% | 2016 |
| Vietnam * | 95.8% | 97.0% | 94.6% | 2.4% | 2019 |
| Yemen * | 70.1% | 85.1% | 55.0% | 30.1% | 2015 |
| Zambia * | 86.7% | 90.6% | 83.1% | 7.5% | 2018 |
| Zimbabwe * | 86.5% | 88.5% | 84.6% | 3.9% | 2015 |
| World | 86.7% | 90.1% | 83.3% | 6.8% | 2020 |

## List of other states and territories

| Territory | Literacy rate (all) | Male literacy | Female literacy | Gender difference | Year | Note |
| Aruba | 97.5% | 97.5% | 97.5% | 0.0% | 2015 | A constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. |
| Cayman Islands | 98.9% | 98.7% | 99.0% | −0.3% | 2007 | An overseas territory of the United Kingdom. |
| Guadeloupe | 96.5% | 96.4% | 96.6% | −0.2% | 2015 | Overseas region/department of France. |
| Guam | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.8% | 0.0% | 2015 | An unincorporated and organized territory of the United States. |
| Kosovo | 91.9% | 96.6% | 87.5% | 9.1% | 2003 | Member of two UN specialized agencies (World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund). It is claimed by Serbia. |
| Macau | 96.2% | 98.0% | 94.6% | 3.4% | 2015 | A special administrative region of China. |
| Martinique | 97.0% | 97.6% | 96.4% | 1.2% | 2015 | Overseas region/department of France. |
| New Caledonia | 96.9% | 97.3% | 96.5% | 0.8% | 2015 | Overseas region/department of France. |
| Puerto Rico | 93.3% | 92.8% | 93.8% | −1.0% | 2015 | Unincorporated territory of the United States. |
| Réunion | 93.9% | 93.2% | 94.5% | −1.3% | 2015 | Overseas region/department of France. |