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 2022 was 87.01%, a 0.16% increase from 2021.
- World literacy rate for 2021 was 86.85%, a 0.14% increase from 2020.
- World literacy rate for 2020 was 86.71%, a 0.22% increase from 2019.
- World literacy rate for 2019 was 86.49%, a 0.15% increase from 2018.
| World Literacy Rate - Historical Data |
| Year |
Literacy Rate |
Annual Change |
| 2022 |
87.01% |
0.16% |
| 2021 |
86.85% |
0.14% |
| 2020 |
86.71% |
0.22% |
| 2019 |
86.49% |
0.15% |
| 2018 |
86.34% |
0.05% |
| 2017 |
86.29% |
0.23% |
| 2016 |
86.06% |
0.46% |
| 2015 |
85.60% |
0.17% |
| 2014 |
85.43% |
0.57% |
| 2013 |
84.86% |
0.10% |
| 2012 |
84.76% |
0.44% |
| 2011 |
84.32% |
0.16% |
| 2010 |
84.16% |
0.65% |
| 2009 |
83.51% |
0.26% |
| 2008 |
83.26% |
0.33% |
| 2007 |
82.93% |
0.46% |
| 2006 |
82.46% |
0.09% |
| 2005 |
82.38% |
-0.06% |
| 2004 |
82.44% |
0.37% |
| 2003 |
82.07% |
0.49% |
| 2002 |
81.57% |
0.37% |
| 2001 |
81.20% |
0.33% |
| 2000 |
80.87% |
0.11% |
| 1999 |
80.77% |
0.33% |
| 1998 |
80.43% |
1.19% |
| 1997 |
79.25% |
1.99% |
| 1996 |
77.26% |
0.39% |
| 1995 |
76.87% |
0.41% |
| 1994 |
76.46% |
0.40% |
| 1993 |
76.06% |
0.41% |
| 1992 |
75.65% |
0.45% |
| 1991 |
75.20% |
0.59% |
| 1990 |
74.61% |
0.30% |
| 1989 |
74.30% |
0.53% |
| 1988 |
73.77% |
1.72% |
| 1987 |
72.05% |
0.69% |
| 1986 |
71.36% |
0.55% |
| 1985 |
70.80% |
0.59% |
| 1984 |
70.21% |
0.66% |
| 1983 |
69.55% |
0.70% |
| 1982 |
68.85% |
0.56% |
| 1981 |
68.29% |
0.71% |
| 1980 |
67.58% |
0.43% |
| 1979 |
67.16% |
0.65% |
| 1978 |
66.50% |
0.62% |
| 1977 |
65.88% |
0.29% |
| 1976 |
65.59% |
0.29% |
