This entry includes a definition of literacy and UNESCO's percentage estimates for populations aged 15 years and over, including total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of the Factbook. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons. Low levels of literacy, and education in general, can impede the economic development of a country in the current rapidly changing, technology-driven world.

Topic: Afghanistandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 37.3%

male: 52.1%

female: 22.6% (2021)

Topic: Albaniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98.1%

male: 98.5%

female: 97.8% (2018)

Topic: Algeriadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 81.4%

male: 87.4%

female: 75.3% (2018)

Topic: Andorradefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 100%

male: 100%

female: 100% (2016)

Topic: Angoladefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 71.1%

male: 82%

female: 60.7% (2015)

Topic: Antigua and Barbudadefinition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling

total population: 99%

male: 98.4%

female: 99.4% (2015)

Topic: Argentinadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99%

male: 98.9%

female: 99.1% (2018)

Topic: Armeniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.8%

male: 99.8%

female: 99.7% (2020)

Topic: Arubadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.8%

male: 97.8%

female: 97.8% (2018)

Topic: Azerbaijandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.8%

male: 99.9%

female: 99.7% (2019)

Topic: Bahraindefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.5%

male: 99.9%

female: 94.9% (2018)

Topic: Bangladeshdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 74.9%

male: 77.8%

female: 72% (2020)

Topic: Barbadosdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.6%

male: 99.6%

female: 99.6% (2014)

Topic: Belarusdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.9%

male: 99.9%

female: 99.9% (2019)

Topic: Benindefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 42.4%

male: 54%

female: 31.1% (2018)

Topic: Bhutandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 66.6%

male: 75%

female: 57.1% (2017)

Topic: Boliviadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 92.5%

male: 96.5%

female: 88.6% (2015)

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovinadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98.5%

male: 99.5%

female: 97.5% (2015)

Topic: Botswanadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 88.5%

male: 88%

female: 88.9% (2015)

Topic: Brazildefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 93.2%

male: 93%

female: 93.4% (2018)

Topic: Bruneidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.2%

male: 98.1%

female: 93.4% (2018)

Topic: Bulgariadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98.4%

male: 98.7%

female: 98.1% (2015)

Topic: Burkina Fasodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 39.3%

male: 49.2%

female: 31% (2018)

Topic: Burmadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 89.1%

male: 92.4%

female: 86.3% (2019)

Topic: Burundidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 68.4%

male: 76.3%

female: 61.2% (2017)

Topic: Cabo Verdedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 86.8%

male: 91.7%

female: 82% (2015)

Topic: Cambodiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 80.5%

male: 86.5%

female: 75% (2015)

Topic: Cameroondefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 77.1%

male: 82.6%

female: 71.6% (2018)

Topic: Central African Republicdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 37.4%

male: 49.5%

female: 25.8% (2018)

Topic: Chaddefinition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic

total population: 22.3%

male: 31.3%

female: 14% (2016)

Topic: Chiledefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.4%

male: 96.3%

female: 96.3% (2017)

Topic: Chinadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.8%

male: 98.5%

female: 95.2% (2018)

Topic: Colombiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 95.6%

male: 95.4%

female: 95.9% (2020)

Topic: Comorosdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 58.8%

male: 64.6%

female: 53% (2018)

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of thedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba

total population: 77%

male: 88.5%

female: 66.5% (2016)

Topic: Congo, Republic of thedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 80.3%

male: 86.1%

female: 74.6% (2018)

Topic: Costa Ricadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.9%

male: 97.8%

female: 97.9% (2018)

Topic: Cote d'Ivoiredefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 89.9%

male: 93.1%

female: 86.7% (2019)

Topic: Croatiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.3%

male: 99.7%

female: 98.9% (2015)

Topic: Cubadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.8%

male: 99.9%

female: 99.8% (2015)

Topic: Cyprusdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.1%

male: 99.5%

female: 98.7% (2015)

Topic: Czechiadefinition: NA

total population: 99%

male: 99%

female: 99% (2011)

Topic: Dominican Republicdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 93.8%

male: 93.8%

female: 93.8% (2016)

Topic: Ecuadordefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 93.6%

male: 94.8%

female: 92.5% (2020)

Topic: Egyptdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 71.2%

male: 76.5%

female: 65.5% (2017)

Topic: El Salvadordefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 89.1%

male: 91.3%

female: 87.3% (2019)

Topic: Equatorial Guineadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 95.3%

male: 97.4%

female: 93% (2015)

Topic: Eritreadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 76.6%

male: 84.4%

female: 68.9% (2018)

Topic: Estoniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.8%

male: 99.8%

female: 99.8% (2015)

Topic: Eswatinidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 88.4%

male: 88.3%

female: 88.5% (2018)

Topic: Ethiopiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 51.8%

male: 57.2%

female: 44.4% (2017)

Topic: Fijitotal population: 99.1%

male: 99.1%

female: 99.1% (2018)

Topic: Gabondefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 84.7%

male: 85.9%

female: 83.4% (2018)

Topic: Gambia, Thedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 50.8%

male: 61.8%

female: 41.6% (2015)

Topic: Gaza Stripdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.5%

male: 98.8%

female: 96.2% (2020)

note: estimates are for Gaza Strip and the West Bank

Topic: Georgiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.6%

male: 99.7%

female: 99.5% (2019)

Topic: Ghanadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 79%

male: 83.5%

female: 74.5% (2018)

Topic: Greecedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.9%

male: 98.5%

female: 97.4% (2018)

Topic: Greenlanddefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 100%

male: 100%

female: 100% (2015)

Topic: Grenadadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98.6%

male: 98.6%

female: 98.6% (2014 est.)

Topic: Guatemaladefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 80.8%

male: 85.3%

female: 76.7% (2018)

Topic: Guineadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 39.6%

male: 54.4%

female: 27.7% (2018)

Topic: Guinea-Bissaudefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 59.9%

male: 71.8%

female: 48.3% (2015)

Topic: Guyanadefinition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population: 88.5%

male: 87.2%

female: 89.8% (2015)

Topic: Haitidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 61.7%

male: 65.3%

female: 58.3% (2016)

Topic: Hondurasdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 88.5%

male: 88.2%

female: 88.7% (2019)

Topic: Hungarydefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.1%

male: 99.1%

female: 99% (2015)

Topic: Indiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 74.4%

male: 82.4%

female: 65.8% (2018)

Topic: Indonesiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96%

male: 97.4%

female: 94.6% (2020)

Topic: Irandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 85.5%

male: 90.4%

female: 80.8% (2016)

Topic: Iraqdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 85.6%

male: 91.2%

female: 79.9% (2017)

Topic: Israeldefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.8%

male: 98.7%

female: 96.8% (2011)

Topic: Italydefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.2%

male: 99.4%

female: 99% (2018)

Topic: Jamaicadefinition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population: 88.7%

male: 84%

female: 93.1% (2015)

Topic: Jordandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98.2%

male: 98.6%

female: 97.8% (2018)

Topic: Kazakhstandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.8%

male: 99.8%

female: 99.7% (2018)

Topic: Kenyadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 81.5%

male: 85%

female: 78.2% (2018)

Topic: Korea, Northdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 100%

male: 100%

female: 100% (2015)

Topic: Korea, Southdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write (2019)

Topic: Kuwaitdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.5%

male: 97.1%

female: 95.4% (2020)

Topic: Kyrgyzstandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.6%

male: 99.7%

female: 99.5% (2018)

Topic: Laosdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 84.7%

male: 90%

female: 79.4% (2015)

Topic: Latviadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.9%

male: 99.9%

female: 99.9% (2018)

Topic: Lebanondefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 95.1%

male: 96.9%

female: 93.3% (2018)

Topic: Lesothodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 79.4%

male: 70.1%

female: 88.3% (2015)

Topic: Liberiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 48.3%

male: 62.7%

female: 34.1% (2017)

Topic: Libyadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 91%

male: 96.7%

female: 85.6% (2015)

Topic: Lithuaniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.8%

male: 99.8%

female: 99.8% (2015)

Topic: Macaudefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.5%

male: 98.2%

female: 95% (2016)

Topic: Madagascardefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 76.7%

male: 78.4%

female: 75.1% (2018)

Topic: Malawidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 62.1%

male: 69.8%

female: 55.2% (2015)

Topic: Malaysiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 95%

male: 96.2%

female: 93.6% (2019)

Topic: Maldivesdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.7%

male: 97.3%

female: 98.1% (2016)

Topic: Malidefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 35.5%

male: 46.2%

female: 25.7% (2018)

Topic: Maltadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 94.5%

male: 93%

female: 96% (2018)

Topic: Marshall Islandsdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98.3%

male: 98.3%

female: 98.2% (2011)

Topic: Mauritaniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 53.5%

male: 63.7%

female: 43.4% (2017)

Topic: Mauritiusdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 91.3%

male: 93.4%

female: 89.4% (2018)

Topic: Mexicodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 95.2%

male: 96.1%

female: 94.5% (2020)

Topic: Moldovadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.4%

male: 99.7%

female: 99.1% (2015)

Topic: Mongoliadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.2%

male: 99.1%

female: 99.2% (2020)

Topic: Montenegrodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98.8%

male: 99.5%

female: 98.3% (2018)

Topic: Moroccodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 73.8%

male: 83.3%

female: 64.6% (2018)

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Topic: Mozambiquedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 60.7%

male: 72.6%

female: 50.3% (2017)

Topic: Namibiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 91.5%

male: 91.6%

female: 91.4% (2018)

Topic: Nepaldefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 67.9%

male: 78.6%

female: 59.7% (2018)

Topic: New Caledoniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.9%

male: 97.3%

female: 96.5% (2015)

Topic: Nicaraguadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 82.6%

male: 82.4%

female: 82.8% (2015)

Topic: Nigerdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 35.1%

male: 43.6%

female: 26.7% (2018)

Topic: Nigeriadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 62%

male: 71.3%

female: 52.7% (2018)

Topic: North Macedoniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98.4%

male: 99.1%

female: 97.6% (2020)

Topic: Omandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 95.7%

male: 97%

female: 92.7% (2018)

Topic: Pakistandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 58%

male: 69.3%

female: 46.5% (2019)

Topic: Palaudefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.6%

male: 96.8%

female: 96.3% (2015)

Topic: Panamadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 95.7%

male: 98.8%

female: 95.4% (2019)

Topic: Papua New Guineadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 64.2%

male: 65.6%

female: 62.8% (2015)

Topic: Paraguaydefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 94.5%

male: 94.9%

female: 94.2% (2020)

Topic: Perudefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 94.5%

male: 97%

female: 92% (2020)

Topic: Philippinesdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.3%

male: 95.7%

female: 96.9% (2019)

Topic: Polanddefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.8%

male: 99.9%

female: 99.7% (2015)

Topic: Portugaldefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.1%

male: 97.4%

female: 95.1% (2018)

Topic: Puerto Ricodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 92.4%

male: 92.4%

female: 92.4% (2017)

Topic: Qatardefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 93.5%

male: 92.4%

female: 94.7% (2017)

Topic: Romaniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98.8%

male: 99.1%

female: 98.6% (2018)

Topic: Russiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.7%

male: 99.7%

female: 99.7% (2018)

Topic: Rwandadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 73.2%

male: 77.6%

female: 69.4% (2018)

Topic: Samoadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.1%

male: 99%

female: 99.2% (2018)

Topic: San Marinototal population: 99.9%

male: 99.9%

female: 99.9% (2018)

Topic: Sao Tome and Principedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 92.8%

male: 96.2%

female: 89.5% (2018)

Topic: Saudi Arabiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.6%

male: 98.6%

female: 96% (2020)

Topic: Senegaldefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 51.9%

male: 64.8%

female: 39.8% (2017)

Topic: Serbiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.5%

male: 99.9%

female: 99.1% (2019)

Topic: Seychellesdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 95.9%

male: 95.4%

female: 96.4% (2018)

Topic: Sierra Leonedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic

total population: 43.2%

male: 51.6%

female: 39.8% (2018)

Topic: Singaporedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.5%

male: 98.9%

female: 96.1% (2019)

Topic: Sloveniadefinition: NA

total population: 99.7%

male: 99.7%

female: 99.7% (2015)

Topic: South Africadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 95%

male: 95.5%

female: 94.5% (2019)

Topic: South Sudandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 34.5%

male: 40.3%

female: 28.9% (2018)

Topic: Spaindefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98.6%

male: 99%

female: 98.2% (2020)

Topic: Sri Lankadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 92.3%

male: 93%

female: 91.6% (2019)

Topic: Sudandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 60.7%

male: 65.4%

female: 56.1% (2018)

Topic: Surinamedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 94.4%

male: 96.1%

female: 92.7% (2018)

Topic: Syriadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 86.4%

male: 91.7%

female: 81% (2015)

Topic: Taiwandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98.5%

male: 99.7%

female: 97.3% (2014)

Topic: Tajikistandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.8%

male: 99.8%

female: 99.7% (2015)

Topic: Tanzaniadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic

total population: 77.9%

male: 83.2%

female: 73.1% (2015)

Topic: Thailanddefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 93.8%

male: 95.2%

female: 92.4% (2018)

Topic: Timor-Lestedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 68.1%

male: 71.9%

female: 64.2% (2018)

Topic: Togodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 66.5%

male: 80%

female: 55.1% (2019)

Topic: Tongadefinition: can read and write Tongan and/or English

total population: 99.4%

male: 99.4%

female: 99.5% (2018)

Topic: Trinidad and Tobagodefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99%

male: 99.2%

female: 98.7% (2015)

Topic: Tunisiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 81.8%

male: 89.6%

female: 74.2% (2015)

Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 96.7%

male: 99.1%

female: 94.4% (2019)

Topic: Turkmenistandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.7%

male: 99.8%

female: 99.6% (2015)

Topic: Ugandadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 76.5%

male: 82.7%

female: 70.8% (2018)

Topic: Ukrainedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.8%

male: 99.8%

female: 99.7% (2015)

Topic: United Arab Emiratesdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.6%

male: 98%

female: 96.9% (2019)

Topic: Uruguaydefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 98.8%

male: 98.5%

female: 99% (2019)

Topic: Uzbekistandefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 100%

male: 100%

female: 100% (2019)

Topic: Vanuatudefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 87.5%

male: 88.3%

female: 86.7% (2018)

Topic: Venezueladefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.1%

male: 97%

female: 97.2% (2016)

Topic: Vietnamdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 95.8%

male: 97%

female: 94.6% (2019)

Topic: West Bankdefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 97.5%

male: 98.8%

female: 96.2% (2020)

note: estimates are for Gaza and the West Bank

Topic: Worlddefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 86.7%

male: 90.1%

female: 83.3% (2020)

note: more than three-quarters of the world's 750 million illiterate adults are found in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa; of all the illiterate adults in the world, almost two-thirds are women (2016)

Topic: Yemendefinition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 70.1%

male: 85.1%

female: 55% (2015)

Topic: Zambiadefinition: age 15 and over can read and write English

total population: 86.7%

male: 90.6%

female: 83.1% (2018)

Topic: Zimbabwedefinition: age 15 and over can read and write English

total population: 86.5%

male: 88.5%

female: 84.6% (2015)