Literacy Rate By Country

Last updated May 23, 2025

Adult Literacy Rate
Elderly Literacy Rate
Female Literacy Rate
Male Literacy Rate
Total Literacy Rate 2025
Youth Literacy Rate
Top
Last
Adult Literacy Rate 2025Question Mark
1UzbekistanUzbekistan100%
1UkraineUkraine100%
1North KoreaNorth Korea100%
4LatviaLatvia99.9%
4EstoniaEstonia99.9%
6TajikistanTajikistan99.8%
6AzerbaijanAzerbaijan99.8%
6KazakhstanKazakhstan99.8%
6LithuaniaLithuania99.8%
6CubaCuba99.8%
11RussiaRussia99.7%
11SloveniaSlovenia99.7%
11ArmeniaArmenia99.7%
11TurkmenistanTurkmenistan99.7%
15BelarusBelarus99.6%
15GeorgiaGeorgia99.6%
15BarbadosBarbados99.6%
18GuamGuam99.4%
18TongaTonga99.4%
20KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan99.2%
21ArgentinaArgentina99.1%
21CroatiaCroatia99.1%
21MoldovaMoldova99.1%
21HungaryHungary99.1%
25SamoaSamoa99%
26Cayman IslandsCayman Islands98.9%
26Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda98.9%
28ItalyItaly98.8%
28SerbiaSerbia98.8%
30CyprusCyprus98.7%
30PolandPoland98.7%
32MaldivesMaldives98.6%
32RomaniaRomania98.6%
32UruguayUruguay98.6%
32GrenadaGrenada98.6%
36MontenegroMontenegro98.4%
36BulgariaBulgaria98.4%
38Marshall IslandsMarshall Islands98.3%
38SpainSpain98.3%
38MongoliaMongolia98.3%
41JordanJordan97.9%
42New CaledoniaNew Caledonia97.8%
43GreeceGreece97.4%
43Costa RicaCosta Rica97.4%
45American SamoaAmerican Samoa97.3%
46AlbaniaAlbania97.2%
47VenezuelaVenezuela97.1%
48SingaporeSingapore97%
48Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina97%
48PalestinePalestine97%
51Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago96.9%
51ChileChile96.9%
53ChinaChina96.8%
53ArubaAruba96.8%
55PalauPalau96.6%
56MacauMacau96.5%
57PhilippinesPhilippines96.4%
58TurkeyTurkey96.2%
59KuwaitKuwait96.1%
59OmanOman96.1%
59BruneiBrunei96.1%
59North MacedoniaNorth Macedonia96.1%
63VietnamVietnam95.8%
64Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSaint Vincent and the Grenadines95.6%
65IndonesiaIndonesia95.4%
66Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea95%
67MexicoMexico94.9%
68ParaguayParaguay94.7%
68ColombiaColombia94.7%
70PortugalPortugal94.5%
71EcuadorEcuador94.4%
71South AfricaSouth Africa94.4%
71Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia94.4%
74PanamaPanama94.1%
74PeruPeru94.1%
76SeychellesSeychelles94%
77Dominican RepublicDominican Republic93.8%
78MaltaMalta93.3%
79MauritiusMauritius93.2%
80ThailandThailand92.9%
80SurinameSuriname92.9%
82BoliviaBolivia92.5%
83Puerto RicoPuerto Rico92.4%
84BrazilBrazil92%
85Sri LankaSri Lanka91.9%
86IsraelIsrael91.8%
87LebanonLebanon91.2%
88Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and Principe90.1%
89United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates90%
90MalaysiaMalaysia89.5%
91HondurasHonduras89%
91QatarQatar89%
93ZimbabweZimbabwe88.7%
94El SalvadorEl Salvador88.5%
95NamibiaNamibia88.3%
96JamaicaJamaica88.1%
97BotswanaBotswana87.7%
98Cape VerdeCape Verde86.8%
99BahrainBahrain86.5%
100LibyaLibya86.1%
101IraqIraq85.6%
101GuyanaGuyana85.6%
103IranIran85.5%
104VanuatuVanuatu84.7%
104LaosLaos84.7%
106EswatiniEswatini83.1%
107ZambiaZambia83%
108GabonGabon82.3%
109GuatemalaGuatemala81.3%
110SyriaSyria80.8%
111CambodiaCambodia80.5%
112Republic of the CongoRepublic of the Congo79.3%
113TunisiaTunisia79%
114KenyaKenya78.7%
115NicaraguaNicaragua78%
116TanzaniaTanzania77.9%
117DR CongoDR Congo77%
118LesothoLesotho76.6%
118Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands76.6%
120MyanmarMyanmar75.6%
121IndiaIndia75.4%
122AlgeriaAlgeria75.1%
123BangladeshBangladesh74.7%
124MoroccoMorocco73.8%
125MadagascarMadagascar71.6%
126GhanaGhana71.5%
127CameroonCameroon71.3%
128EgyptEgypt71.2%
129RwandaRwanda70.8%
130BelizeBelize70.3%
131UgandaUganda70.2%
132NepalNepal68%
133AngolaAngola66%
134EritreaEritrea64.7%
135TogoTogo63.7%
136MalawiMalawi62.1%
137Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea61.6%
137BurundiBurundi61.6%
139PakistanPakistan59.1%
140Timor LesteTimor Leste58.3%
141BhutanBhutan57%
142MozambiqueMozambique56%
143YemenYemen54.1%
144SudanSudan53.5%
145SenegalSenegal51.9%
146NigeriaNigeria51.1%
147ComorosComoros49.2%
148HaitiHaiti48.7%
149Guinea BissauGuinea Bissau45.6%
150MauritaniaMauritania45.5%
151Ivory CoastIvory Coast43.9%
152LiberiaLiberia42.9%
153GambiaGambia42%
154EthiopiaEthiopia39%
155Central African RepublicCentral African Republic36.8%
156Burkina FasoBurkina Faso34.6%
157MaliMali33.1%
158BeninBenin32.9%
159Sierra LeoneSierra Leone32.4%
160GuineaGuinea32%
161AfghanistanAfghanistan31.7%
162NigerNiger30.6%
163South SudanSouth Sudan26.8%
164ChadChad22.3%

The Power of Literacy: A Global Perspective

Literacy is one of the most crucial stepping stones toward 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 stark uneven literacy rates among different countries. This is a testament to ongoing disparities and the work still needed to ensure access to quality education for all.

Key Insights:

  • 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.

Region ↕Adult Literacy Rate 2025↕Elderly Literacy Rate 2025↕Female Literacy Rate 2025↕Male Literacy Rate 2025↕Total Literacy Rate 2025↕Youth Literacy Rate 2025↕
Uzbekistan100%99.8%100%100%100%100%
Ukraine100%100%100%100%100%100%
North Korea100%100%100%100%100%100%
Latvia99.9%99.9%99.90%99.90%99.9%99.8%
Estonia99.9%99.7%99.90%99.90%99.9%99.9%
Tajikistan99.8%98.1%99.70%99.80%99.8%99.9%
Azerbaijan99.8%98.4%99.70%99.90%100%99.9%
Kazakhstan99.8%99.5%99.70%99.80%100%99.9%
Lithuania99.8%99.8%99.80%99.80%99.8%99.9%
Cuba99.8%99.2%99.70%99.60%99.7%99.9%
Russia99.7%99.2%99.70%99.70%99.7%99.7%
Slovenia99.7%99.3%99.70%99.70%99.7%99.8%
Armenia99.7%98.9%99.70%99.80%99.8%99.8%
Turkmenistan99.7%97.6%99.60%99.80%99.7%99.8%
Belarus99.6%98.6%99.90%99.90%99.9%99.8%
Georgia99.6%99.1%99.70%99.60%100%99.7%
Barbados99.6%98.5%99.60%99.60%99.6%99.9%
Guam99.4%95.9%99.70%99.80%100%99.9%
Tonga99.4%98.9%99.50%99.40%99.4%99.4%
Kyrgyzstan99.2%92.5%99.50%99.70%99.6%99.8%
Argentina99.1%97.9%99.10%98.90%99%99.5%
Croatia99.1%97.1%99.20%99.70%99.4%99.7%
Moldova99.1%95.8%99.50%99.70%99.6%99.5%
Hungary99.1%99.1%99.10%99.10%99.1%98.8%
Samoa99%96.3%99.30%99%99.1%99.2%
Cayman Islands98.9%94.7%99%98.70%98.9%98.9%
Antigua and Barbuda98.9%99.40%98.40%99%
Italy98.8%96.7%99%99.40%99.2%99.9%
Serbia98.8%96.6%99.10%99.90%99%99.7%
Cyprus98.7%93.8%99.20%99.60%99.4%99.8%
Poland98.7%93%99.80%99.80%99.8%99.8%
Maldives98.6%92.8%98.40%97.60%97.9%99.3%
Romania98.6%96.8%98.70%99.10%98.9%99%
Uruguay98.6%97.1%99%98.50%98.8%98.9%
Grenada98.6%96.2%98.60%98.60%98.6%99.2%
Montenegro98.4%93.9%98.50%99.40%99%99.2%
Bulgaria98.4%97.5%98.20%98.70%98.4%97.9%
Marshall Islands98.3%89.4%98.20%98.30%98.3%98.5%
Spain98.3%94.7%98%99%98.6%99.6%
Mongolia98.3%94.6%99.20%99.10%99%98.5%
Jordan97.9%87.7%98.40%98.70%98.4%99.1%
New Caledonia97.8%90.6%96.50%97.30%96.9%99.2%
Greece97.4%92.5%97.40%98.50%97.9%98.8%
Costa Rica97.4%90.4%98.10%98%98%99.1%
American Samoa97.3%92.7%97%97.7%
Albania97.2%86.9%98.20%98.70%99%99.2%
Venezuela97.1%88.1%97.70%97.40%97.5%98.8%
Singapore97%84%96.10%98.90%97.5%99.9%
Bosnia and Herzegovina97%86%98.10%99.40%98%99.7%
Palestine97%63.9%96.20%98.80%98%99%
Trinidad and Tobago96.9%82.8%98.70%99.20%98%99.3%
Chile96.9%89.9%97%97.10%97%99.4%
China96.8%73.9%95.20%98.50%97%99.8%
Aruba96.8%88.9%97.80%97.80%98%99.1%
Palau96.6%84.7%96.30%96.80%96.6%98.7%
Macau96.5%81.2%95.90%98.50%97.1%99.8%
Philippines96.4%90.1%96.90%95.70%96.3%98.1%
Turkey96.2%88.1%94.40%99.10%96.7%99.6%
Kuwait96.1%69.5%95.40%97.10%96.5%99.2%
Oman96.1%41.9%92.70%97%95.7%98.7%
Brunei96.1%61.6%96.90%98.30%97.6%99.4%
North Macedonia96.1%82.5%97.60%99.10%98.4%98.7%
Vietnam95.8%76.9%94.60%97%95.8%97.1%
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines95.6%91%97%98%
Indonesia95.4%70.1%94.60%97.40%96%99.7%
Equatorial Guinea95%67.2%93%97.40%95.3%98.2%
Mexico94.9%78.9%94.50%96.10%95.2%99.1%
Paraguay94.7%77.8%94.20%94.90%94.5%98.5%
Colombia94.7%81.4%95.90%95.40%95.6%98.7%
Portugal94.5%80.5%95.90%97.80%95.9%99.4%
Ecuador94.4%77.7%93.10%94.90%93.9%99.1%
South Africa94.4%72.1%94.50%95.50%95%99%
Saudi Arabia94.4%51.4%96%98.60%97.6%99.2%
Panama94.1%80.9%95.40%98.80%95.7%97.6%
Peru94.1%77.7%92%97%94.5%98.9%
Seychelles94%71.5%96.40%95.40%95.9%99%
Dominican Republic93.8%79.8%95.60%95.40%95.5%98.8%
Malta93.3%85.8%96.40%93.40%94.9%98.9%
Mauritius93.2%64.6%90.50%93.50%92.2%98.1%
Thailand92.9%78.7%92.80%95.50%94.1%98.1%
Suriname92.9%76%93.40%96.50%95%97.7%
Bolivia92.5%67.5%94%94.90%94%99.4%
Puerto Rico92.4%84.5%92.40%92.40%92.4%98.8%
Brazil92%74.3%94.90%94.40%94.7%99.7%
Sri Lanka91.9%81%91.60%93%92.3%98.9%
Israel91.8%79.8%96.80%98.70%97.8%98.6%
Lebanon91.2%60.2%93.30%96.90%95%99.2%
Sao Tome and Principe90.1%49.6%91.10%96.50%94.8%96.7%
United Arab Emirates90%42.1%97.20%98.80%98%95%
Malaysia89.5%47.1%93.60%96.20%95%98.2%
Honduras89%66.3%88.70%88.20%88.5%96.1%
Qatar89%41%94.70%92.40%93.5%95.9%
Zimbabwe88.7%81.1%89.70%88.30%89.7%90.4%
El Salvador88.5%65.7%87.30%91.30%90%98%
Namibia88.3%56.7%92.30%90.60%92.3%94.4%
Jamaica88.1%66.6%93.10%84%88.7%96.3%
Botswana87.7%40.7%88.90%88%88.5%97.7%
Cape Verde86.8%36.8%87.40%94.20%90.8%98.1%
Bahrain86.5%42.3%94.90%99.90%98%97%
Libya86.1%24.2%85.60%96.70%91%99.6%
Iraq85.6%20.4%79.90%91.20%85.6%93.5%
Guyana85.6%49.9%88.40%89.30%90%96.7%
Iran85.5%36.8%88.70%92.40%89%98.1%
Vanuatu84.7%44.2%88.40%89.80%89.1%95.3%
Laos84.7%58.6%81.40%91.40%88%92.5%
Eswatini83.1%45.2%88.50%88.30%89%93.5%
Zambia83%52.3%83.10%90.60%86.7%88.7%
Gabon82.3%60.6%84.70%86.20%86%88.5%
Guatemala81.3%50.7%79.30%87.70%84%94.4%
Syria80.8%39%81%91.70%86.4%92.5%
Cambodia80.5%53.1%79.80%88.40%84%92.2%
Republic of the Congo79.3%73.1%75.40%85.90%80.6%80.9%
Tunisia79%39.8%82.70%89.10%82.7%96.2%
Kenya78.7%54%79.80%85.50%83%86.5%
Nicaragua78%49.2%82.80%82.40%83%87%
Tanzania77.9%43.5%78.20%85.50%82%85.8%
DR Congo77%48%70.80%89.50%81%85%
Lesotho76.6%51.4%72.90%81%82%86.6%
Solomon Islands76.6%77%
Myanmar75.6%58.2%86.30%92.40%89.1%84.8%
India75.4%45.4%65.80%82.40%76%95.7%
Algeria75.1%19.5%75.30%87.40%81.4%93.8%
Bangladesh74.7%39.4%72%77.80%74.9%94.9%
Morocco73.8%34.1%67.40%84.80%77%97.7%
Madagascar71.6%49.4%75.80%78.80%77.3%76.8%
Ghana71.5%34.9%74.50%83.50%80%85.7%
Cameroon71.3%26.1%78%80.6%
Egypt71.2%43.2%67.40%78.80%73.1%93.9%
Rwanda70.8%24.3%73.30%78.70%75.9%85.1%
Belize70.3%44.8%81%77.6%
Uganda70.2%36.1%74.30%84%79%83.7%
Nepal68%20.8%63.30%81%71.2%84.8%
Angola66%27%72%77.4%
Eritrea64.7%20.9%68.90%84.40%76.6%87%
Togo63.7%20.4%55.10%80%66.5%84.3%
Malawi62.1%35.1%63.70%71.20%68%72.9%
Papua New Guinea61.6%33%62.80%65.60%64.2%67.9%
Burundi61.6%24.9%68.40%81.30%76%79.6%
Pakistan59.1%27.1%46.50%69.30%58%74.5%
Timor Leste58.3%11.2%64.20%71.90%68.1%79.5%
Bhutan57%14.9%62.80%77.90%72%87.3%
Mozambique56%26%53.80%74.10%63.4%70.5%
Yemen54.1%13.7%55%85.10%70.1%77%
Sudan53.5%24.3%56.10%65.40%60.7%65.8%
Senegal51.9%21.5%45.40%68.40%58%69.5%
Nigeria51.1%21.6%52.70%71.30%62%66.4%
Comoros49.2%12.8%56.90%67%62%71.6%
Haiti48.7%8.5%58.30%65.30%61.7%72.3%
Guinea Bissau45.6%19.5%39.90%67%52.9%60.4%
Mauritania45.5%26.6%62.20%71.80%67%56.1%
Ivory Coast43.9%18%86.70%93.10%89.9%53%
Liberia42.9%32.8%34.10%62.70%48.3%49.1%
Gambia42%10.4%51.20%65.20%59%60.8%
Ethiopia39%13.6%44.40%57.20%51.8%55%
Central African Republic36.8%35.7%26.20%49.20%37.5%36.4%
Burkina Faso34.6%8.4%37.80%54.50%46%50.1%
Mali33.1%13.6%25.70%46.20%31%49.4%
Benin32.9%7%35%56.90%47%52.5%
Sierra Leone32.4%3.7%41.30%56.30%48.6%57%
Guinea32%13.1%31.30%61.20%45.3%46.3%
Afghanistan31.7%20.3%22.60%52.10%37.3%65%
Niger30.6%13.7%29%45.80%38%39.8%
South Sudan26.8%11%28.90%40.30%34.5%36.7%
Chad22.3%7%18.20%35.40%27%30.8%

Countries With Highest Literacy Rate

The top countries with the highest literacy rates are Finland, Norway, Luxembourg, Andorra, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Uzbekistan, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. Finland, Norway, Luxembourg, Andorra, Greenland, Liechtenstein, and Uzbekistan have an impeccable score with a 100% literacy rate. This means that every citizen in these seven countries is literate, reflecting the high standard of education in these countries.

Latvia follows closely with a literacy rate of 99.89%, making it the eighth country with the highest literacy. Coming in at ninth and tenth, Estonia and Lithuania both have very high literacy rates of 99.82%.

10 countries with the highest literacy rates:

  1. Finland - 100% Literacy Rate
  2. Norway - 100% Literacy Rate
  3. Luxembourg - 100% Literacy Rate
  4. Andorra - 100% Literacy Rate
  5. Greenland - 100% Literacy Rate
  6. Liechtenstein - 100% Literacy Rate
  7. Uzbekistan - 100% Literacy Rate
  8. Latvia - 99.89% Literacy Rate
  9. Estonia - 99.82% Literacy Rate
  10. Lithuania - 99.82% Literacy Rate

Countries With Lowest Literacy Rate

Among all nations worldwide, the lowest literacy rates are found primarily in African and Middle-Eastern countries. These countries, according to data, are Niger, Guinea, South Sudan, Mali, Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Somalia, Afghanistan, Benin, and Chad.

Niger is the country with the lowest literacy rate, standing at a meager 19.10%. Following closely behind is Guinea, with a literacy rate of 30.47%. South Sudan's literacy rate is 31.98%, making it the third country with the lowest literacy rate.

Mali, with a literacy rate of 33.07%, is the fourth country on the list. The Central African Republic and Burkina Faso are not far behind, with their literacy rates standing at 36.75% and 37.75% respectively.

Somalia and Afghanistan have very similar literacy rates, at 37.80% and 38.17% respectively. Benin's literacy rate is 38.45%, while Chad wraps up our list with a literacy rate of 40.02%.

10 Countries With Lowest Literacy Rates:

  1. Niger - 19.10%
  2. Guinea - 30.47%
  3. South Sudan - 31.98%
  4. Mali - 33.07%
  5. Central African Republic - 36.75%
  6. Burkina Faso - 37.75%
  7. Somalia - 37.80%
  8. Afghanistan - 38.17%
  9. Benin - 38.45%
  10. Chad - 40.02%
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%)
Last updated
March 28, 2025
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