The statistic shows the degree of adult literacy in China from 1982 to 2020. In 2020, the literacy rate, which is defined as people aged 15 and above who can read and write, had reached about 97.15 percent in China.

Global literacy rates

By 2020, around 86.8 percent of the world population aged 15 years and above had been able to read and write. While in developed regions this figure ranged a lot higher, only around 67 percent of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa was literate. Countries with the lowest literacy rates are also the most underdeveloped worldwide. According to UNESCO, literacy is a human right, especially in a fast-changing and technology-driven world. In China, the literacy rate has developed from 79 percent in 1982 to 97 percent in 2020, indicating that almost one million people per year had become literate over three decades. In India, the situation was entirely different. The second most populous country in the world displayed a literacy rate of merely 76 percent in 2022.

Literacy in China

The dramatic increase in literacy in China has a lot to do with the efficacy of numerous political, economic and educational policies. In 1982, compulsory education was written into the Chinese constitution, postulating a nine-year compulsory education funded by the government. As is shown by the graph above, there was a large gender gap in literacy rate in China as of 1982. Though this gap still existed in 2020, it was narrowed down to three percent, starting from 28 percent in 1982. Since 1990, the national education policy was directed at females, especially from poor and/or minority families. Over the past years, China has achieved gender parity in primary schooling.

However, regional literacy disparities in China should not to be overlooked. Regions with a strong economic background tend to display illiteracy rates below national average. In contrast, economically underdeveloped regions have a much larger share of people who cannot read nor write. Tibet for instance, a region where 92 percent of the population belong to an ethnic minority, showed the highest illiterate rate nationwide, with around 34 percent in 2022.

Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) in China was reported at 97 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

This statistic shows the illiteracy rate in China in 2023, by region. Illiterate population refers to the proportion of the population aged 15 and older who are unable to read or have difficulty in reading. In 2023, the illiteracy rate in the Chinese Yunnan province had amounted to 6.14 percent. Illiteracy in China Literacy poses the basis for all other forms of education. Literacy skills are essential for the promotion of sustainable development, both in terms of economic progress and social advance. People with good literacy skills enjoy a better living standard and have better chances in the job market. In comparison with other countries in the Asia Pacific region, literacy in China is relatively high. China’s literacy rate has increased from 66 percent in 1982 to 97.2 percent in 2020. A distinctive gap between gender literacy existed as early as 1982, but gender differences in literacy had become less significant by 2020. This change had been facilitated by education reforms in China, namely mandatory free primary school education has helped to virtually eradicate illiteracy in China. As of 2017, 100 percent of primary-school-age children in China had been enrolled in school, making it one of the countries with the highest primary school enrollment rates worldwide. Regional disparities in literacy However, regional disparities in literacy rate still persist in China. Literacy in regions with a strong economic background tends to be higher than in underdeveloped regions. The literacy rate in Tibet had been at a staggering 29 percent compared with a national average of 3.4 percent in China.

Adult literacy rate of China increased by 2.11% from 95.00 % in 2010 to 97.00 % in 2020. Since the 18.18% surge in 1990, adult literacy rate shot up by 24.36% in 2020. Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life.

Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) in China was reported at 98 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

View yearly updates and historical trends for China Adult Literacy Rate. Source: World Bank. Track economic data with YCharts analytics.

Macau MO: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 96.538 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 95.640 % for 2011. Macau MO: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 93.500 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 96.538 % in 2016 and a record low of 90.378 % in 1981. Macau MO: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Macau – Table MO.World Bank: Education Statistics. 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.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Literacy rate, youth male (% of males ages 15-24) in China was reported at 100 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Literacy rate, youth male (% of males ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

In 2020, China had a youth literacy rate of about **** percent. In contrast, Afghanistan's youth literacy rate stood at **** percent in 2021.Indicators for the literacy rateAn indicator which can be seen to affect the literacy rate is the governmental effort in investing in education. The amount of funds invested into the education sector is a factor which can determine a country’s state of education, as the amount of money being spent on education would have an impact on resources, learning environment, and teaching quality. Singapore’s student-teacher ratio in primary education is significantly lower than that of South Asian countries. For instance, Nepal had 20.3 students for every teacher in 2019. Meanwhile, Singaporean teachers only had around **** students on average as of 2020. Notably, South Asia, together with sub-Saharan Africa, had a much higher illiteracy rate compared to the East Asian and Pacific region in 2022. The importance of literacyThe literacy rate indicates the percentage of people within a population who can read and write. This enables them to identify, understand and interpret materials with various contexts. Ensuring literacy for all pupils is a part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for quality education. This in turn stimulates economic and societal growth for the future.

China: Male literacy rate, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2020 is 100 percent, unchanged from 100 percent in 2010. In comparison, the world average is 93.57 percent, based on data from 37 countries. Historically, the average for China from 1982 to 2020 is 98.2 percent. The minimum value, 95 percent, was reached in 1982 while the maximum of 100 percent was recorded in 2010.

Macau MO: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 95.033 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 93.732 % for 2011. Macau MO: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 90.724 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 95.033 % in 2016 and a record low of 86.216 % in 1981. Macau MO: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Macau – Table MO.World Bank: Education Statistics. 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.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in China was reported at 84.95 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Literacy in India has been increasing as more and more people receive a better education, but it is still far from all-encompassing. In 2023, the degree of literacy in India was about 77 percent, with the majority of literate Indians being men. It is estimated that the global literacy rate for people aged 15 and above is about 86 percent. How to read a literacy rateIn order to identify potential for intellectual and educational progress, the literacy rate of a country covers the level of education and skills acquired by a country’s inhabitants. Literacy is an important indicator of a country’s economic progress and the standard of living – it shows how many people have access to education. However, the standards to measure literacy cannot be universally applied. Measures to identify and define illiterate and literate inhabitants vary from country to country: In some, illiteracy is equated with no schooling at all, for example. Writings on the wallGlobally speaking, more men are able to read and write than women, and this disparity is also reflected in the literacy rate in India – with scarcity of schools and education in rural areas being one factor, and poverty another. Especially in rural areas, women and girls are often not given proper access to formal education, and even if they are, many drop out. Today, India is already being surpassed in this area by other emerging economies, like Brazil, China, and even by most other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. To catch up, India now has to offer more educational programs to its rural population, not only on how to read and write, but also on traditional gender roles and rights.

Macau MO: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 98.186 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 97.751 % for 2011. Macau MO: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 96.470 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.186 % in 2016 and a record low of 92.810 % in 1981. Macau MO: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Macau – Table MO.World Bank: Education Statistics. 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.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

Limited health literacy is a serious public health problem. It is strongly associated with increased hospital admissions and readmission, poorer self-management, and health outcomes. It can lead to poor management of chronic disease, lower health care quality, increased mortality, and higher healthcare expenditures. Understanding China's current situation and the progress of health literacy levels are critical to achieving practical solutions for improving population health. This paper intended to provide a concise overview of the key milestones and specific practices in health literacy in China. We summarized the characteristics and changing profile of health literacy from 2008 to 2020 in China. We developed an intervention framework based on social ecosystem theory for improving health literacy in China. Meanwhile, some multi-level actionable recommendations were proposed. The study revealed that China has made progress in improving health literacy in the last decades. Health literacy levels increased from 6.48% of the population in 2008 to 23.15% in 2020. Geographic disparities were substantial. The East performed better health literacy than the Central and West, and cities had higher adequate health literacy than rural areas. Social development index, age, and education level were highly associated with health literacy. A global joint effort to improve health literacy will be required. And we advocate a whole-of-society approach that involves the participation of the entire ecosystem around the targeted population.

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Macau MO: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data was reported at 99.866 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 99.690 % for 2011. Macau MO: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 99.700 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.866 % in 2016 and a record low of 94.205 % in 1981. Macau MO: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Macau – Table MO.World Bank: Education Statistics. Youth literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15-24 who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

From 2010 to 2019, the proportion of Chinese adults from 25 years old reaching a secondary level of education rose gradually from **** to **** percent. Japan and South Korea had a higher share of population with such an education level at above ** percent in 2019.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male (%) in China was reported at 92.83 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. China - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Comprehensive dataset of 3,044 Adult education schools in China as of August, 2025. Includes verified contact information (email, phone), geocoded addresses, customer ratings, reviews, business categories, and operational details. Perfect for market research, lead generation, competitive analysis, and business intelligence. Download a complimentary sample to evaluate data quality and completeness.