World Literacy Rate 1976-2024
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.
- World literacy rate for 2020 was 86.81%, a 0.16% increase from 2019.
- World literacy rate for 2019 was 86.66%, a 0.38% increase from 2018.
- World literacy rate for 2018 was 86.28%, a 0.03% increase from 2017.
- World literacy rate for 2017 was 86.25%, a 0.24% increase from 2016.
World Literacy Rate - Historical Data |
Year |
Literacy Rate |
Annual Change |
2020 |
86.81% |
0.16% |
2019 |
86.66% |
0.38% |
2018 |
86.28% |
0.03% |
2017 |
86.25% |
0.24% |
2016 |
86.01% |
0.45% |
2015 |
85.56% |
0.16% |
2014 |
85.40% |
0.45% |
2013 |
84.95% |
0.19% |
2012 |
84.76% |
0.44% |
2011 |
84.32% |
0.21% |
2010 |
84.11% |
0.39% |
2009 |
83.72% |
0.29% |
2008 |
83.43% |
0.48% |
2007 |
82.94% |
0.34% |
2006 |
82.61% |
0.19% |
2005 |
82.42% |
-0.05% |
2004 |
82.47% |
0.40% |
2003 |
82.07% |
0.51% |
2002 |
81.55% |
0.38% |
2001 |
81.18% |
0.31% |
2000 |
80.87% |
0.12% |
1999 |
80.75% |
0.33% |
1998 |
80.43% |
1.18% |
1997 |
79.25% |
2.02% |
1996 |
77.23% |
0.40% |
1995 |
76.83% |
0.40% |
1994 |
76.43% |
0.41% |
1993 |
76.02% |
0.41% |
1992 |
75.61% |
0.46% |
1991 |
75.15% |
0.55% |
1990 |
74.61% |
0.21% |
1989 |
74.40% |
0.42% |
1988 |
73.98% |
1.66% |
1987 |
72.32% |
0.57% |
1986 |
71.75% |
0.43% |
1985 |
71.32% |
0.46% |
1984 |
70.86% |
0.52% |
1983 |
70.34% |
0.53% |
1982 |
69.82% |
0.49% |
1981 |
69.33% |
0.54% |
1980 |
68.79% |
0.27% |
1979 |
68.51% |
0.44% |
1978 |
68.08% |
0.46% |
1977 |
67.62% |
0.18% |
1976 |
67.44% |
0.18% |