Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) in Mongolia was reported at 99 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Mongolia - 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.

Historical dataset showing Mongolia literacy rate by year from 2000 to 2020.

Mongolia MN: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 98.175 % in 2010. This records an increase from the previous number of 98.017 % for 2000. Mongolia MN: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 98.096 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2010, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 98.175 % in 2010 and a record low of 98.017 % in 2000. Mongolia MN: 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 Mongolia – Table MN.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).

In 2020, the adult literacy rate among the population above 15 years of age in Mongolia amounted to approximately 99.2 percent, more than in any other country in the Asia-Pacific region. Comparatively, the adult literacy rate in Afghanistan amounted to approximately 37 percent of the population aged 15 years and above in 2021.

Adult literacy rate of Mongolia increased by 2.17% from 96.90 % in 2018 to 99.00 % 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.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Mongolia was reported at 97.32 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Mongolia - 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.

99.0 (%) in 2020. 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.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female (%) in Mongolia was reported at 96.58 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Mongolia - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, female - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on October of 2025.

Mongolia MN: 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 1.015 Ratio for 2000. Mongolia MN: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 1.012 Ratio from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2010, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.015 Ratio in 2000 and a record low of 1.009 Ratio in 2010. Mongolia MN: 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 Mongolia – Table MN.World Bank: 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).

Abstract

The objective of the Population and housing census 2000 is to provide comprehensive and basic statistical data required to study changes in economic, social and demographic status of Mongolia for the last 11 years and its reasons and determinants, to plan economic and social development of the first years of next century and formulate state policies to implement such planned measures and make researches and analysis. As well as, it would be collected compiled new data required to assess a process of first stage of implementation and elaborate for the “Population Development Policy of Mongolia”, which approved by the parliament.

The advantage of census conducting is to be provided comprehensive information for summarizing and evaluating states of population growth, migration, settlement, education, employment, housing condition and behavior of the population groups processed and disaggregated by all administrative units compared with other population data sources. Moreover, census is significant to provide accurate data to international partners at the present time, which Mongolian foreign relations have expanding and collaboration with international organization has becoming more close. The census would be crucial for revision of accuracy and reality of annual population statistics.

Geographic coverage

All aimags, soums, districts, bags, horoos and capital city.

Analysis unit

• Households
• Houses
• Member of households

Universe

a.Population census

The census shall be covered the persons as followed:

• Citizens of Mongolia who are in the country at the time of census;
• Foreigners and persons without citizenship who are living in Mongolia for more than 183 days and foreigners persons without citizenship who are taking permission to stay for over 6 months from the authorized organizations;
• Citizens of Mongolia and their families who worked at the diplomatic representative offices, consulates and in the international organizations in foreign countries at the time of census;
• Citizens of Mongolia who are temporarily absent from Mongolia due to work, study and stay in overseas by personal reasons during the census period;

b.Housing census

The following types of living quarters shall be covered in the housing census: - House - Apartment - Students dormitory - Public dormitory - Other public apartment - Non-living quarters - All types of gers

Another important concept for the measurement of coverage related to the timing of the census. While the enumeration covered the seven-day period from 5-11 January 2000, it is important for the interpretation of the data that the census results relate to a more precise point in time. The night of 4th January 2000 was designated as census night. Generally, this concept of a fixed census night did not cause problems for respondents or enumerators. However, in the few cases where location on census night did introduce difficulty, where, for example, the respondent traveled during census night, the more precise time reference of midnight on census night was introduced.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

None sampled.

Sampling deviation

None reported

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The design of the population and housing questionnaire is fundamental to the census. A housing census was also conducted in which questions were posed that covered conventional and traditional housing (gers) and household characteristics. While most of the questions asked about conventional housing followed international recommendations, the questions about gers clearly reflected the uniqueness of the Mongolian culture. Population and housing census 2000 questionnaire included: 1 Social and demographic characteristics - Name - Relation to household head - Date of birth - Age - Sex - Marital status - Citizenship - Ethnicity 2 Geographical and migration characteristics - Residential status - Duration of residence - Place of birth - Place of residence five years ago 3 Educational characteristics - Educational level - Literacy - School attendance 4 Economic characteristics - Activity status - Occupation - Industry - Employment status - Unemployment

Questionnaire and Population and Housing Census 2000_ Enumerator_Manual are provided as external resources.

Cleaning operations

During the early planning stages it was clear that the existing hardware and peripherals in NSO were not sufficient to enable it to process a modern census. However, with the financial assistance of UNFPA, under the MON/97/P10 project, “Strengthening the Capacity of the National Statistical Office in Data Processing, Analysis and Dissemination”, and the MON/97/P04 project, “Strengthening the Population and Reproductive Health Database for Mongolia”, NSO was provided with new equipment, components and software. It was thus able to establish the basis for strengthening the technical capacity required for the 2000 census. The NSO purchased a range of equipment including 38 Compaq computers, two ACER server computers and other equipment.

On the software side, the NSO decided to process the census using IMPS (Integrated Microcomputer Processing System). Apart from the use of IMPS, the NSO developed other census applications, for example, using the CLIPPER and VISUAL BASIC languages. A special application to speed coding named SEARCH was also developed. Data entry was designed for LAN using a Windows NT Server V4.0 as the control center. The system facilitated data processing, restricting archiving and control functions to the server. Daily progress reports were also provided as part of the Data Control System. Editing was completed in two stages. In the first stage records were edited manually and in the second they were automatically edited using the editing module of the IMPS package, Concor. The BPCS staff monitored editing work. All editing was completed by 15 October 2000.

Response rate

None reported

Sampling error estimates

None reported

Data appraisal

None reported

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.

Abstract

Mongolia has struggled throughout its transition to maintain the levels of education and literacy that were accomplishments of the previous centrally planned system. To cope with the new economic reality, the Government of Mongolia implemented a series of reforms during the 1990's and early 2000's. Mongolia centralized education finance in 2002 after an attempt to decentralize the sector.

Mongolia's education expenditure - as a percentage of total public expenditure - is among the highest of the transition countries. This is, at least in part, due to the high cost of delivering education services in a sparsely populated land with very harsh winters.

This study examines how resources are allocated across schools and how they are used within schools. The survey included detailed interviews with principals, accountants, education managers, teachers and parents from 118 schools in urban and rural areas. Representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance and provincial education offices were also interviewed regarding school budgets.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Ministry of Education,
• Ministry of Finance,
• Provincial Treasury Offices,
• Provincial Government Offices,
• Schools.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The final dataset has information on 118 schools from 22 different provinces (aimag), including Ulaanbaatar, the capital. In terms of their location, 27 percent of the schools in the sample were in Ulaanbaatar, 25 percent were provincial center schools, 35 percent were district (soum) center schools, and the remaining 14 percent were village (bagh) schools.

Sampling deviation

Out of the 120 schools selected for the PETS sample, two were unreachable during data collection. One of them (Dulguun village school, a grade 4 school in the administrative center of Zuunbayan-Ulaan district) had been closed due to a recent sharp decrease in enrollment as a result of out-migration. The other (Bugant school, a grade 10 school in the administrative center of Bugant district) was unreachable due to harsh weather conditions in winter.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The questionnaires were designed for central level, provincial level and school level respondents.

At the central level, data were collected from Budgetary Expenditures Department, the Ministry of Finance, and Finance Department, the Ministry of Education.

At the provincial (aimag) level, questions were asked to respondents from Aimag Treasury Offices and Education and Culture Departments, Aimag Government Offices.

At the school level, the following employees were interviewed: principals, accountants, education managers, 8th Grade Class Teachers, 8th Grade Regular Teachers, 8th Grade Class Monitors and 8th Grade Class Parents.

mn：非文盲率：成年男性：15岁及以上男性百分比在12-01-2010达98.175%，相较于12-01-2000的98.017%有所增长。mn：非文盲率：成年男性：15岁及以上男性百分比数据按年更新，12-01-2000至12-01-2010期间平均值为98.096%，共2份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于12-01-2010，达98.175%，而历史最低值则出现于12-01-2000，为98.017%。CEIC提供的mn：非文盲率：成年男性：15岁及以上男性百分比数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于全球数据库的蒙古 – 表 MN.世行.WDI：教育统计。

Time series data for the statistic Administration of a nationally-representative learning assessment at the end of primary in reading (number) and country Mongolia. Indicator Definition: