The number of illiterate people in Turkey consistently went down from 2008 to 2023. As of 2023, the number of illiterate Turkish people amounted to 1.82 million.

Historical chart and dataset showing Turkey literacy rate by year from 1975 to 2019.

The statistic depicts the literacy rate in Turkey from 2007 to 2019. The literacy rate measures the percentage of people aged 15 and above who can read and write. In 2019, Turkey's literacy rate was around 96.74 percent.

Turkey: Literacy rate: The latest value from 2019 is 97 percent, an increase from 96 percent in 2017. In comparison, the world average is 83.95 percent, based on data from 40 countries. Historically, the average for Turkey from 1975 to 2019 is 87.94 percent. The minimum value, 62 percent, was reached in 1975 while the maximum of 97 percent was recorded in 2019.

Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) in Turkey was reported at 97 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Turkey - Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Turkey TR: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data was reported at 99.167 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 98.951 % for 2014. Turkey TR: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 94.289 % from Dec 1975 (Median) to 2015, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.167 % in 2015 and a record low of 68.253 % in 1975. Turkey TR: 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 Turkey – Table TR.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).

Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) in Turkey was reported at 99 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Turkey - Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Literacy rate, youth male (% of males ages 15-24) in Turkey was reported at 100 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Turkey - Literacy rate, youth male (% of males ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Turkey: Female literacy rate, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2019 is 100 percent, an increase from 98.8 percent in 2018. In comparison, the world average is 90.42 percent, based on data from 50 countries. Historically, the average for Turkey from 1975 to 2019 is 93.52 percent. The minimum value, 68 percent, was reached in 1975 while the maximum of 100 percent was recorded in 2017.

Turkey TR: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 95.601 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 95.440 % for 2014. Turkey TR: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 88.656 % from Dec 1975 (Median) to 2015, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 95.601 % in 2015 and a record low of 61.628 % in 1975. Turkey TR: 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 Turkey – Table TR.World Bank.WDI: 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).

The number of illiterate women in Turkey steadily went down from 2008 to 2023. As of 2023, there were 1.52 million illiterate Turkish women.

Turkey TR: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 98.576 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 98.497 % for 2014. Turkey TR: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 96.202 % from Dec 1975 (Median) to 2015, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.576 % in 2015 and a record low of 77.504 % in 1975. Turkey TR: 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 Turkey – Table TR.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).

Turkey: Youth literacy rate, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2019 is 100 percent, an increase from 99.39 percent in 2018. In comparison, the world average is 91.39 percent, based on data from 48 countries. Historically, the average for Turkey from 1975 to 2019 is 95.97 percent. The minimum value, 80 percent, was reached in 1975 while the maximum of 100 percent was recorded in 2016.

Turkey: Male literacy rate, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2019 is 100 percent, unchanged from 100 percent in 2018. In comparison, the world average is 92.62 percent, based on data from 48 countries. Historically, the average for Turkey from 1975 to 2019 is 98.32 percent. The minimum value, 91 percent, was reached in 1975 while the maximum of 100 percent was recorded in 2012.

The number of illiterate Turkish men constantly decreased from 2008 to 2021. Although, the figures indicated an increase in 2022, the number of illiterate men went down to 297,600 as of 2023.

Literacy rate, youth (ages 15-24), gender parity index (GPI) in Turkey was reported at 1 % in 2019, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Turkey - Ratio of young literate females to males (% ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

The number of literate women in Turkey constantly went up from 2008 to 2023. As of 2023, there were nearly 37 million literate women.

Turkey Youth Literacy Rate jumped by 0.2points in 2019, compared to a year earlier.

Turkey TR: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 92.646 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 92.402 % for 2014. Turkey TR: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 81.264 % from Dec 1975 (Median) to 2015, with 15 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 92.646 % in 2015 and a record low of 45.099 % in 1975. Turkey TR: 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 Turkey – Table TR.World Bank.WDI: 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).

Turkey grew 0.2points of Total Literacy Rate Among 15-24 Years Old in 2019, compared to a year earlier.