The statistic depicts the literacy rate in Mexico from 2008 to 2020. The literacy rate measures the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can read and write. In 2020, Mexico's literacy rate was around 95.25 percent. The source does not provide data for 2019.Education in MexicoThe literacy rate is commonly defined as the share of people in a country who are older than 15 years and are able to read and write. In Mexico, a state with more than 115 million inhabitants, the literacy rate is above 90 percent, making it significantly higher than the global average. More than 70 percent of Mexico’s population is older than 15 years, a figure than has been quite consistent over the last ten years. Mexico’s compulsory education comprises grades 1 to 9, with an optional secondary education up to grade 12. Literacy is considered basic education. The lowest literacy rates can be found in African countries, the highest in Europe. Additionally, the literacy rate is one of the factors that determines a country’s ranking on the Human Development Index of the United Nations, which ranks the overall well-being of a country’s population. Apart from literacy, it also includes factors such as per-capita income, health and life expectancy and others. Mexico is currently not among the countries with the highest Human Development Index value.

The rate of adult literacy as share of the country's population 15 years and above in Mexico was 95 percent in 2020. Between 1980 and 2020, the rate of adult literacy rose by 12 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

Mexico MX: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 95.845 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 95.549 % for 2015. Mexico MX: Literacy Rate: Adult Male: % of Males Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 94.442 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2016, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 95.845 % in 2016 and a record low of 86.243 % in 1980. Mexico MX: 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 Mexico – Table MX.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 (http://uis.unesco.org/); Weighted average;

Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) in Mexico was reported at 95 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Mexico - Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

As of March 2020, around 4.46 million Mexicans over 15 years of age were unable to write or read, approximately 4.74 percent. Mexico State, the federal entity with the highest share of the population, also registered the highest number of literate people with over 12 million.

Graph and download economic data for Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Mexico (SEADTLITRZSMEX) from 1980 to 2020 about literacy, adult, Mexico, and rate.

Mexico: Female literacy rate, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2022 is 99.17 percent, an increase from 99.1 percent in 2020. In comparison, the world average is 90.04 percent, based on data from 65 countries. Historically, the average for Mexico from 1980 to 2022 is 97.92 percent. The minimum value, 91 percent, was reached in 1980 while the maximum of 99.17 percent was recorded in 2022.

Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) in Mexico was reported at 96 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Mexico - Literacy rate, adult male (% of males ages 15 and above) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Mexico MX: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data was reported at 99.026 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 98.874 % for 2015. Mexico MX: Literacy Rate: Youth Male: % of Males Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 98.376 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2016, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 99.026 % in 2016 and a record low of 93.087 % in 1980. Mexico MX: 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 Mexico – Table MX.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 (http://uis.unesco.org/); Weighted average;

Mexico MX: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 94.860 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 94.472 % for 2015. Mexico MX: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 92.926 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2016, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 94.860 % in 2016 and a record low of 82.989 % in 1980. Mexico MX: 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 Mexico – Table MX.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 (http://uis.unesco.org/); Weighted average;

Mexico: Literacy rate: The latest value from 2020 is 95 percent, unchanged from 95 percent in 2018. In comparison, the world average is 86.55 percent, based on data from 33 countries. Historically, the average for Mexico from 1980 to 2020 is 92.5 percent. The minimum value, 83 percent, was reached in 1980 while the maximum of 95 percent was recorded in 2014.

The youth literacy rate (people aged 15-24) in Mexico was 98.95 percent in 2022. Between 1980 and 2022, the youth literacy rate rose by 6.95 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male (%) in Mexico was reported at 84.49 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Mexico - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Mexico: Youth literacy rate, ages 15-24: The latest value from 2022 is 98.95 percent, a decline from 98.96 percent in 2020. In comparison, the world average is 90.52 percent, based on data from 65 countries. Historically, the average for Mexico from 1980 to 2022 is 97.92 percent. The minimum value, 92 percent, was reached in 1980 while the maximum of 99 percent was recorded in 2009.

Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24) in Mexico was reported at 99.17 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Mexico - Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Mexico MX: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 93.969 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 93.485 % for 2015. Mexico MX: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 91.454 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2016, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 93.969 % in 2016 and a record low of 79.891 % in 1980. Mexico MX: 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 Mexico – Table MX.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 (http://uis.unesco.org/); Weighted average;

Mexico MX: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data was reported at 1.002 Ratio in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.001 Ratio for 2015. Mexico MX: Gender Parity Index (GPI): Literacy Rate: Youth Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 1.000 Ratio from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2016, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.003 Ratio in 2012 and a record low of 0.976 Ratio in 1980. Mexico MX: 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 Mexico – Table MX.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 (http://uis.unesco.org/); Weighted average;

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Mexico was reported at 80.67 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Mexico - Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Literacy rate, youth (ages 15-24), gender parity index (GPI) in Mexico was reported at 1.0043 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Mexico - Ratio of young literate females to males (% ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on August of 2025.

Literacy rate, youth male (% of males ages 15-24) in Mexico was reported at 98.74 % in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Mexico - Literacy rate, youth male (% of males ages 15-24) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.