Literacy Rate By Country

Literacy serves as one of the most crucial stepping stones towards individual development, poverty reduction, and overall societal progress. By empowering individuals with the ability to read and write, we unlock their potential and open doors for countless opportunities across all aspects of life. As we cast a global lens on the literacy landscape, we witness a stark unevenness in literacy rates among different countries -- a testament to ongoing disparities and the work still needed to ensure access to quality education for all.

To help grasp the depth of this issue, let's delve into some key findings from a recent literacy rate data by country:

• With an impressive 100% literacy rate, countries like Finland, Norway, Luxembourg, Andorra, Greenland, Liechtenstein, and Uzbekistan top the chart showcasing their achievements in providing comprehensive education to their populace.
• The United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, New Zealand, Ireland, Iceland, and Monaco, among others, are closely behind with 99% literacy rates.
• Despite progress, several nations still struggle with alarming literacy gaps. Niger, with a literacy rate of 19.10%, rests at the bottom, preceded by Guinea, South Sudan, and Mali, which have literacy rates below 35%.
• Countries with high population densities, such as China and Indonesia, have managed to achieve commendable literacy rates of 96.36% and 95.44% respectively, underlining the effectiveness of their educational policies.
• In contrast, some nations with significant population sizes, like India and Pakistan, still grapple with considerable challenges, contributing to lower literacy rates of 72.23% and 56.44% respectively.

As we recognize these disparities, it's vital to acknowledge the tremendous efforts made by governments, international organizations, and NGOs worldwide to bridge this literacy gap. Yet, this data reinforces that further strides are needed to ensure that every individual, irrespective of geographic location, has the essential right to read and write. Such progress will stand as a cornerstone to achieving sustainable development and lasting change on a global scale.

To sort the data in the table, click on the column headers.

Year: 2021

Source: UNESCO (via World Bank), processed by Our World in Data