In the past five decades, the global literacy rate among adults has grown from 67 percent in 1976 to 87.36 percent in 2023. In 1976, males had a literacy rate of 76 percent, compared to a rate of 58 percent among females. This difference of over 17 percent in 1976 has fallen to just seven percent in 2020. Although gaps in literacy rates have fallen across all regions in recent decades, significant disparities remain across much of South Asia and Africa, while the difference is below one percent in Europe and the Americas. Reasons for these differences are rooted in economic and cultural differences across the globe. In poorer societies, families with limited means are often more likely to invest in their sons' education, while their daughters take up a more domestic role. Varieties do exist on national levels, however, and female literacy levels can sometimes exceed the male rate even in impoverished nations, such as Lesotho (where the difference was over 17 percent in 2014); nonetheless, these are exceptions to the norm.

United States - Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Other Small States was 86.25975 % of People Ages 15 and Above in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Other Small States reached a record high of 86.25975 in January of 2023 and a record low of 71.82288 in January of 1983. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Other Small States - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

The statistic shows the degree of adult literacy in China from 1982 to 2020. In 2020, the literacy rate, which is defined as people aged 15 and above who can read and write, had reached about 97.15 percent in China.

Global literacy rates

By 2020, around 86.8 percent of the world population aged 15 years and above had been able to read and write. While in developed regions this figure ranged a lot higher, only around 67 percent of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa was literate. Countries with the lowest literacy rates are also the most underdeveloped worldwide. According to UNESCO, literacy is a human right, especially in a fast-changing and technology-driven world. In China, the literacy rate has developed from 79 percent in 1982 to 97 percent in 2020, indicating that almost one million people per year had become literate over three decades. In India, the situation was entirely different. The second most populous country in the world displayed a literacy rate of merely 76 percent in 2022.

Literacy in China

The dramatic increase in literacy in China has a lot to do with the efficacy of numerous political, economic and educational policies. In 1982, compulsory education was written into the Chinese constitution, postulating a nine-year compulsory education funded by the government. As is shown by the graph above, there was a large gender gap in literacy rate in China as of 1982. Though this gap still existed in 2020, it was narrowed down to three percent, starting from 28 percent in 1982. Since 1990, the national education policy was directed at females, especially from poor and/or minority families. Over the past years, China has achieved gender parity in primary schooling.

However, regional literacy disparities in China should not to be overlooked. Regions with a strong economic background tend to display illiteracy rates below national average. In contrast, economically underdeveloped regions have a much larger share of people who cannot read nor write. Tibet for instance, a region where 92 percent of the population belong to an ethnic minority, showed the highest illiterate rate nationwide, with around 34 percent in 2022.

There is a gender gap in the global literacy rate. Although literacy rates have generally increased worldwide for both men and women, men are on average more literate than women. As of 2023, about 90.6 percent of men and a little less than 84.1 percent of women worldwide were literate. Adult literacy rate is defined as the percentage of people aged 15 years and above who can both read and write with understanding a short, simple statement about their everyday life. Youth literacy rate Not only does the literacy gender gap concern adults, it also exists among the world’s younger generations aged 15 to 24. Despite an overall increase in literacy, young men are still more literate than young women. In fact, the global youth literacy rate as gender parity index was 0.98 as of 2023, indicating that young women are not yet as literate as young men. Gender pay gap Gender gaps occur in many different spheres of global society. One such issue concerns salary gender gaps in professional life. Regarding the controlled gender pay gap, which measures the median salary for men and women with the same job and qualifications, women still earned less than men as of 2024. The difference was even bigger when measuring the median salary for all men and women. However, not everyone worries about gender pay gaps. According to a survey from 2021, 54 percent of the female respondents deemed the gender pay gap a real problem, compared to 45 percent of the male respondents.

Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) in Sudan was reported at 60.7 % in 2018, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Sudan - 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.

India literacy rate for 2022 was 76.32%, a 7.02% increase from 2011.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>India literacy rate for 2011 was <strong>69.30%</strong>, a <strong>6.55% increase</strong> from 2006.</li>
<li>India literacy rate for 2006 was <strong>62.75%</strong>, a <strong>1.74% increase</strong> from 2001.</li>
<li>India literacy rate for 2001 was <strong>61.01%</strong>, a <strong>12.79% increase</strong> from 1991.</li>
</ul>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.

Thailand TH: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 92.868 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 93.702 % for 2013. Thailand TH: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 93.187 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2015, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 96.431 % in 2010 and a record low of 87.982 % in 1980. Thailand TH: 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 Thailand – Table TH.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).

Senegal SN: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 42.818 % in 2013. This records a decrease from the previous number of 52.052 % for 2011. Senegal SN: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 42.354 % from Dec 1988 (Median) to 2013, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 52.052 % in 2011 and a record low of 26.869 % in 1988. Senegal SN: 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 Senegal – Table SN.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).

Argentina AR: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 97.000 % in 2001. This records an increase from the previous number of 96.000 % for 1991. Argentina AR: Literacy Rate: Adult Female: % of Females Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 96.000 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2001, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 97.000 % in 2001 and a record low of 94.000 % in 1980. Argentina AR: 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 Argentina – Table AR.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;

Mozambique MZ: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 50.584 % in 2009. This records an increase from the previous number of 48.159 % for 2003. Mozambique MZ: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 43.433 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2009, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 50.584 % in 2009 and a record low of 26.998 % in 1980. Mozambique MZ: 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 Mozambique – Table MZ.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).

Historical chart and dataset showing Russia literacy rate by year from 1989 to 2021.

The rate of adult literacy as share of the country's population 15 years and above in Brazil increased by 1.7 percentage points (+1.83 percent) in 2022 in comparison to the previous year. With 94.69 percent, the rate of adult literacy thereby reached its highest value in the observed period. 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.

Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) in Mali was reported at 31 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Mali - 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.

Cuba CU: Literacy Rate: Youth: % of People Age 15-24 data was reported at 99.875 % in 2021. This records an increase from the previous number of 99.612 % for 2019. Cuba CU: Literacy Rate: Youth: % of People Age 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 100.000 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2021, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 100.000 % in 2012 and a record low of 99.612 % in 2019. Cuba CU: Literacy Rate: Youth: % of People Age 15-24 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Cuba – Table CU.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;

Brazil BR: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data was reported at 94.690 % in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 93.228 % for 2018. Brazil BR: Literacy Rate: Adult: % of People Aged 15 and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 91.338 % from Dec 1980 (Median) to 2022, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 94.690 % in 2022 and a record low of 74.587 % in 1980. Brazil BR: 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 Brazil – Table BR.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;

Historical chart and dataset showing South Korea literacy rate by year from 2008 to 2018.

Graph and download economic data for Literacy Rate, Adult Total for Small States (SEADTLITRZSSST) from 1987 to 2023 about literacy, adult, and rate.

Historical dataset showing World literacy rate by year from 1976 to 2023.

Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) in World was reported at 87.36 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. World - 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.

Hungary: Literacy rate: The latest value from 2021 is 99.1 percent, unchanged from 99.1 percent in 1990. In comparison, the world average is 86.53 percent, based on data from 48 countries. Historically, the average for Hungary from 1980 to 2021 is 99.07 percent. The minimum value, 99 percent, was reached in 1980 while the maximum of 99.1 percent was recorded in 1990.