Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) in Sri Lanka was reported at 92.66 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Adult literacy rate of Sri Lanka remained constant at 92.0 % over the last 6 years. Adult (15+) literacy rate (%). Total is the percentage of the population age 15 and above who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of literates aged 15 years and over by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.

Sri Lanka LK: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 91.181 % in 2010. This records an increase from the previous number of 90.558 % for 2008. Sri Lanka LK: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 90.683 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2010, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 91.181 % in 2010 and a record low of 86.778 % in 1981. Sri Lanka LK: 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 Sri Lanka – Table LK.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).

Sri Lanka LK: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data was reported at 97.687 % in 2010. This records an increase from the previous number of 97.333 % for 2008. Sri Lanka LK: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 97.027 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2010, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 97.687 % in 2010 and a record low of 91.880 % in 1981. Sri Lanka LK: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sri Lanka – Table LK.World Bank.WDI: 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).

Graph and download economic data for Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Sri Lanka (SEADTLITRZSLKA) from 1981 to 2023 about Sri Lanka, literacy, adult, and rate.

Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24) in Sri Lanka was reported at 99 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Sri Lanka LK: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 92.578 % in 2010. This records an increase from the previous number of 92.244 % for 2008. Sri Lanka LK: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 92.270 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2010, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 92.714 % in 2006 and a record low of 91.348 % in 1981. Sri Lanka LK: 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 Sri Lanka – Table LK.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 Sri Lanka was reported at 98.95 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Literacy rate, youth male (% of males ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) in Sri Lanka was reported at 93.45 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Sri Lanka LK: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data was reported at 98.589 % in 2010. This records an increase from the previous number of 98.586 % for 2008. Sri Lanka LK: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 97.939 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2010, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.589 % in 2010 and a record low of 90.192 % in 1981. Sri Lanka LK: 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 Sri Lanka – Table LK.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).

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

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Sri Lanka was reported at 79.09 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Comprehensive dataset containing 2 verified Literacy program businesses in Sri Lanka with complete contact information, ratings, reviews, and location data.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female (%) in Sri Lanka was reported at 74.4 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Sri Lanka LK: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 89.959 % in 2010. This records an increase from the previous number of 89.073 % for 2008. Sri Lanka LK: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 89.091 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2010, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 89.959 % in 2010 and a record low of 82.022 % in 1981. Sri Lanka LK: 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 Sri Lanka – Table LK.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).

Sri Lanka LK: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data was reported at 1.009 Ratio in 2010. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.013 Ratio for 2008. Sri Lanka LK: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 1.009 Ratio from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2010, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.013 Ratio in 2008 and a record low of 0.982 Ratio in 1981. Sri Lanka LK: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Sri Lanka – Table LK.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Gender parity index for youth literacy rate is the ratio of females to males 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).

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male (%) in Sri Lanka was reported at 85.1 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on September of 2025.

Sri Lanka: Youth literacy rate, ages 15-24: Pour cet indicateur, UNESCO fournit des données pour la Sri Lanka de 1981 à 2022. La valeur moyenne pour Sri Lanka pendant cette période était de 97.75 pour cent avec un minimum de 91 pour cent en 1981 et un maximum de 99 pour cent en 2016.

Literacy rate, youth (ages 15-24), gender parity index (GPI) in Sri Lanka was reported at 1 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sri Lanka - Ratio of young literate females to males (% ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Abstract

Computers offer exciting approaches to teaching that were not even dreamed of twenty years ago, but the extent to which the educational potential of computer technology will be realized, remains to be seen. Use of computers can revolutionize teaching and learning and could bring advances that would improve education dramatically. Ordinary students would make massive gains and bright students could meet greater challenges. Wherever illiteracy is a problem, it would be eliminated and handicapped students would have vast new vistas opened to them.

Teacher attitudes toward computer technology may be a significant factor in the use of computers in education. Computer literate individuals will reap greater benefits than their counterparts who lack that knowledge. To promote computer literacy of both teachers and students, the government is investing considerably. To evaluate the impact of these investments and thereby help ensure that the intended results are achieved, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) literacy of students and teachers should be measured periodically. The Department of Census and Statistics and the Ministry of Education conducted a census on Computer Literacy of Academic Staff of Government Schools, Approved Private Schools and Pirivenas to find out the computer literacy levels of teachers and ICT related facilities and hardware available in schools. This census was conducted on 2nd November 2006.

Geographic coverage

National Coverage - Government Schools

Analysis unit

School Teacher

Universe

All Government Schools All Approved Private Schools All Pirivenas

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

Two census Schedules were used to collect data in this study. The first - Census Schedule 1 - was a structured questionnaire to get the information on the teacher's own perceptions on their competencies in ICT. The ICT literacy of teachers was not measured by actually testing it by administering a test by the teachers' own perceptions of their competencies. A brief description of the information collected by using Census Schedule 1 is given below.

Part A : School Information
Part B : Demographic Characteristics
Part C : Knowledge on Computers
Part D : Use of Application Software
Part E : Use of Computers
Part F : Use of Internet
Part G : Use E-Mail
Part H : Knowledge on Hardware
Part  I : Use of Computers for Teaching

The second schedule was used to get the information on the ICT related facilities available in schools and summary of three questions of the first schedule. These questions are number of teachers in the school who are aware about the computers and those who are computer literate and those who can read and understand documents written in English language.

Cleaning operations

Data editing and coding done by the Census and Statistic Department staff.

Verification of the data is done by the Education Ministry Staff.