The "World Literacy Rate by Country" dataset provides a detailed snapshot of literacy rates across different countries in the world. This dataset is organized into several key columns:

S.No: This column lists the serial number for each country, helping to keep the data organized and easy to reference. Country: This column names the countries included in the dataset, allowing for a clear understanding of which nation each literacy rate pertains to. Literacy rate in percentage: This column shows the literacy rate of each country, expressed as a percentage. This figure represents the proportion of the population that can read and write. Year: This column indicates the year in which the literacy rate was recorded, providing a temporal context for the data. By examining this dataset, you can gain insights into the educational progress and challenges faced by different countries in the world.

In 2020, the Seychelles ranked first by rate of adult literacy as share of the country's population 15 years and above among the 53 countries presented in the ranking. Seychelles' rate of adult literacy amounted to ***** percent, while Equatorial Guinea (2010) and Sao Tome and Principe (2022), the second and third countries, had records amounting to ***** percent and ***** percent, respectively.

Global Adult Literacy Rate by Country, 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

In 2020, the adult literacy rate among the population above 15 years of age in Mongolia amounted to approximately **** percent, more than in any other country in the Asia-Pacific region. Comparatively, the adult literacy rate in Afghanistan amounted to approximately ** percent of the population aged 15 years and above in 2021.

The average for 2021 based on 11 countries was 98.77 percent. The highest value was in Latvia: 99.89 percent and the lowest value was in Malta: 94.94 percent. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

This dataset delves into the relationships between key indicators—Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Physician Density, and Literacy Rates. Understand how economic strength, healthcare access, and education intersect on a global scale.

Columns:

**Country: ** Names of the countries in focus.

GDP (Gross Domestic Product): - Shows a country's economic output. - Indicates overall economic health and productivity. - Presented in a standardized currency or index.

Physician Density: - Reveals the number of doctors per population. - Highlights a country's healthcare accessibility. - Gives insights into medical intervention capacity.

Literacy Rate: - Reflects the percentage of the population that can read and write. - Shows educational attainment and societal development. - Influences workforce productivity and social progress.

This dataset is a user-friendly resource for anyone curious about the connections between economic, healthcare, and educational factors across different countries. Ideal for researchers, policymakers, and enthusiasts looking to grasp the global dynamics of development.

The ranking shows the percentage of literate population in each country among citizens over the age of 15. A person is considered literate if they have mastered written language, meaning they can read and write.

Graph and download economic data for Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Least Developed Countries (SEADTLITRZSLDC) from 1981 to 2024 about literacy, adult, and rate.

There is a gender gap in the global literacy rate. Although literacy rates have generally increased worldwide for both men and women, men are on average more literate than women. As of 2024, about 90.91 percent of men and a little less than 88.8 percent of women worldwide were literate. Adult literacy rate is defined as the percentage of people aged 15 years and above who can both read and write with understanding a short, simple statement about their everyday life. Youth literacy rate Not only does the literacy gender gap concern adults, it also exists among the world’s younger generations aged 15 to 24. Despite an overall increase in literacy, young men are still more literate than young women. In fact, the global youth literacy rate as gender parity index was 0.98 as of 2023, indicating that young women are not yet as literate as young men. Gender pay gap Gender gaps occur in many different spheres of global society. One such issue concerns salary gender gaps in professional life. Regarding the controlled gender pay gap, which measures the median salary for men and women with the same job and qualifications, women still earned less than men as of 2024. The difference was even bigger when measuring the median salary for all men and women. However, not everyone worries about gender pay gaps. According to a survey from 2021, 54 percent of the female respondents deemed the gender pay gap a real problem, compared to 45 percent of the male respondents.

Graph and download economic data for Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Low Income Countries (SEADTLITRZSLIC) from 1988 to 2024 about literacy, adult, income, and rate.

Dataset Overview 📝

The dataset includes the following key indicators, collected for over 200 countries:

• Government Expenditure on Education (% of GDP): Shows the percentage of a country’s GDP allocated to education.
• Literacy Rate (Adult Total): Represents the percentage of the population aged 15 and above who can read and write.
• Primary Completion Rate: The percentage of children who complete their primary education within the official age group.
• Pupil-Teacher Ratio (Primary and Secondary Education): Indicates the average number of students per teacher at the primary and secondary levels.
• School Enrollment Rates (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary): Reflects the percentage of the relevant age group enrolled in schools across different education levels.

Data Source 🌐

World Bank: This dataset is compiled from the World Bank's educational database, providing reliable, updated statistics on educational progress worldwide.

Potential Use Cases 🔍 This dataset is ideal for anyone interested in:

Educational Research: Understanding how education spending and policies impact literacy, enrollment, and overall educational outcomes. Predictive Modeling: Building models to predict educational success factors, such as completion rates and literacy. Global Education Analysis: Analyzing trends in global education systems and how different countries allocate resources to education. Policy Development: Helping governments and organizations make data-driven decisions regarding educational reforms and funding.

Key Questions You Can Explore 🤔

How does government expenditure on education correlate with literacy rates and school enrollment across different regions? What are the trends in pupil-teacher ratios over time, and how do they affect educational outcomes? How do education indicators differ between low-income and high-income countries? Can we predict which countries will achieve universal primary education based on current trends?

Important Notes ⚠️ - Missing Data: Some values may be missing for certain years or countries. Consider using techniques like forward filling or interpolation when working with time series models. - Data Limitations: This dataset provides global averages and may not capture regional disparities within countries.

The average for 2021 based on 2 countries was 95.22 percent. The highest value was in Costa Rica: 98.04 percent and the lowest value was in Puerto Rico: 92.4 percent. The indicator is available from 1970 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Graph and download economic data for Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Developing Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SEADTLITRZSSSA) from 1985 to 2024 about Sub-Saharan Africa, literacy, adult, and rate.

Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Low and Middle Income Countries was 85.17915 % of People Ages 15 and Above in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Low and Middle Income Countries reached a record high of 85.17915 in January of 2023 and a record low of 59.01323 in January of 1975. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Low and Middle Income Countries - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.

The focus of this domain is on the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries on the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean (ENP-South), namely:

• Algeria (DZ),
• Egypt (EG),
• Israel (IL),
• Jordan (JO),
• Lebanon (LB),
• Libya (LY),
• Morocco (MA),
• Palestine (PS) (¹),
• Syria (SY) and
• Tunisia (TN).

An extensive range of indicators is presented in this domain, including indicators from almost every theme covered by European statistics. Only annual data are published in this domain.

The data and their denomination in no way constitute the expression of an opinion by the European Commission on the legal status of a country or territory or on the delimitation of its borders.

Data supplied by and under the responsibility of the national statistical authorities of each of the countries or territories.

(¹) This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue.

In 2020, the highest percentage of female literacy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region was in Jordan at about **** percent of the females. Within the region, Syria, Libya and Iraq have been suffering from conflict and humanitarian crises.

Global Male Adult Literacy Rate by Country, 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

In the past five decades, the global literacy rate among adults has grown from 67 percent in 1976 to 87.36 percent in 2023. In 1976, males had a literacy rate of 76 percent, compared to a rate of 58 percent among females. This difference of over 17 percent in 1976 has fallen to just seven percent in 2020. Although gaps in literacy rates have fallen across all regions in recent decades, significant disparities remain across much of South Asia and Africa, while the difference is below one percent in Europe and the Americas. Reasons for these differences are rooted in economic and cultural differences across the globe. In poorer societies, families with limited means are often more likely to invest in their sons' education, while their daughters take up a more domestic role. Varieties do exist on national levels, however, and female literacy levels can sometimes exceed the male rate even in impoverished nations, such as Lesotho (where the difference was over 17 percent in 2014); nonetheless, these are exceptions to the norm.

Youth & Adult Literacy Rates

Demographics, disparities, and implications

By Eva Murray [source]

About this dataset

This dataset contains data on literacy rates for youth and adults in various regions and countries. The data provides insights on which regions have high or low literacy rates, as well as how literacy rates have changed over time. The dataset can be used to help policy-makers understand where interventions are needed to improve literacy rates

How to use the dataset

• The data can be used to compare literacy rates between different regions and countries, as well as between different age groups within the same region or country.
• To compare literacy rates between different regions, select the 'Region' column from the drop-down menu at the top of the page. To compare literacy rates between different countries, select the 'Country' column from the drop-down menu at the top of the page.
• To compare literacy rates between different age groups, select either the 'Youth (15-24 years)' or 'Adults (15+ years)' option from the 'Age Group' drop-down menu at the top of the page.
• You can also use this data to compare literacy rates between males and females by selecting either th e'Male' or 'Female' option from th eGender drop-down menu at t he top of

Research Ideas

• Measuring the progress of a country's literacy rate over time
• Comparing the literacy rates of different countries
• Comparing the literacy rates of different age groups in a country

Acknowledgements

Data Source

License

License: Dataset copyright by authors - You are free to: - Share - copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially. - Adapt - remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially. - You must: - Give appropriate credit - Provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. - ShareAlike - You must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. - Keep intact - all notices that refer to this license, including copyright notices.

Columns

File: Literacy rates (no pw2).csv | Column name | Description | |:------------------|:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Region | The region the data is from. (String) | | Country | The country the data is from. (String) | | Year | The year the data is from. (Integer) | | Age | The age group the data is from. (String) | | Gender | The gender the data is from. (String) | | Literacy rate | The literacy rate for the given region, country, year, age, and gender. (Float) |

Acknowledgements

If you use this dataset in your research, please credit Eva Murray.

United States - Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Lower Middle Income Countries was 77.63182 % of People Ages 15 and Above in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Lower Middle Income Countries reached a record high of 77.63182 in January of 2023 and a record low of 47.38413 in January of 1975. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Lower Middle Income Countries - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on November of 2025.