Historical chart and dataset showing Costa Rica literacy rate by year from 1984 to 2021.

The rate of adult literacy as share of the country's population 15 years and above in Costa Rica saw no significant changes in 2021 in comparison to the previous year 2011 and remained at around 98.04 percent. Nevertheless, 2021 still represents a peak in the rate of adult literacy in Costa Rica. The adult literacy rate refers to the share of individuals aged 15 years and older who can read and write as well as understand simple expressions about their daily lives.

Costa Rica CR: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 98.100 % in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 94.119 % for 2018. Costa Rica CR: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 95.000 % from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2021, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.100 % in 2021 and a record low of 93.000 % in 1984. Costa Rica CR: 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 Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Social: 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 (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;Weighted average;

In 2021, the youth literacy rate (people aged 15-24) in Costa Rica increased by 19 percentage points (+23.59 percent) compared to 2018. With 99.53 percent, the youth literacy rate thereby reached its highest value in the observed period. The youth literacy rate refers to the share of individuals between the ages of 15 and 24 and who can read and write as well as understand simple expressions about their daily lives.

Costa Rica CR: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 97.990 % in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 97.000 % for 2011. Costa Rica CR: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 96.000 % from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2021, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 97.990 % in 2021 and a record low of 93.000 % in 1984. Costa Rica CR: 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 Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Social: 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 (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;Weighted average;

Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) in Costa Rica was reported at 98.04 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Costa Rica - 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.

In 2011, the literacy rate of people ages 15 years and over in Costa Rica was estimated at about 97 percent. Between 1984 and 2011, the rate rose by approximately four percentage points.

Costa Rica CR: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data was reported at 99.610 % in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 99.634 % for 2018. Costa Rica CR: Literacy Rate: Youth Female: % of Females Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 99.000 % from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2021, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.634 % in 2018 and a record low of 98.000 % in 2000. Costa Rica CR: 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 Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Social: 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 (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;Weighted average;

Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) in Costa Rica was reported at 97.99 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Costa Rica - Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Costa Rica: Male literacy rate, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2021 is 99.46 percent, an increase from 74.78 percent in 2018. In comparison, the world average is 94.32 percent, based on data from 58 countries. Historically, the average for Costa Rica from 1984 to 2021 is 93.45 percent. The minimum value, 74.78 percent, was reached in 2018 while the maximum of 99.46 percent was recorded in 2021.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female (%) in Costa Rica was reported at 93.18 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Costa Rica - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Costa Rica CR: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 98.040 % in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 97.407 % for 2011. Costa Rica CR: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 96.137 % from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2021, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.040 % in 2021 and a record low of 92.629 % in 1984. Costa Rica CR: 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 Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Social: 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 (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed September 19, 2023. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;Weighted average;

Costa Rica CR: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data was reported at 99.460 % in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 74.780 % for 2018. Costa Rica CR: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 97.000 % from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2021, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.460 % in 2021 and a record low of 74.780 % in 2018. Costa Rica CR: 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 Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Social: 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 (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;Weighted average;

Costa Rica CR: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data was reported at 1.002 Ratio in 2021. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.134 Ratio for 2018. Costa Rica CR: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 1.000 Ratio from Dec 1984 (Median) to 2021, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.134 Ratio in 2018 and a record low of 1.000 Ratio in 2011. Costa Rica CR: 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 Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Social: 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 (UIS). UIS.Stat Bulk Data Download Service. Accessed April 5, 2025. https://apiportal.uis.unesco.org/bdds.;Weighted average;

The average for 2021 based on 3 countries was 94.81 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.

Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24) in Costa Rica was reported at 99.61 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Costa Rica - Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Costa Rica: Literacy rate: Pour cet indicateur, UNESCO fournit des données pour la Costa Rica de 1984 à 2021. La valeur moyenne pour Costa Rica pendant cette période était de 95.76 pour cent avec un minimum de 93 pour cent en 1984 et un maximum de 98.04 pour cent en 2021.

The average for 2021 based on 12 countries was 98.27 percent. The highest value was in Costa Rica: 99.53 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.

Literacy rate, youth (ages 15-24), gender parity index (GPI) in Costa Rica was reported at 1.0015 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Costa Rica - 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.

This dataset tracks annual reading and language arts proficiency from 2010 to 2022 for Republica De Costa Rica vs. Puerto Rico and Puerto Rico Department Of Education School District