High income OECD countries Compared by Education > Literacy > Total population
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DEFINITION:
This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of our source. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons.
CONTENTS
| # | COUNTRY | AMOUNT | DATE | GRAPH | HISTORY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| =1 | Norway | 100% | 2008 | ||
| =1 | Finland | 100% | 2000 | ||
| =1 | Luxembourg | 100% | 2000 | ||
| =4 | Estonia | 99.8% | 2003 | ||
| =4 | Poland | 99.8% | 2003 | ||
| 6 | Slovenia | 99.7% | 2008 | ||
| 7 | Slovakia | 99.6% | 2004 | ||
| =8 | Belgium | 99% | 2003 | ||
| =8 | Canada | 99% | 2003 | ||
| =8 | Netherlands | 99% | 2003 | ||
| =8 | France | 99% | 2003 | ||
| =8 | Ireland | 99% | 2003 | ||
| =8 | Australia | 99% | 2003 | ||
| =8 | Denmark | 99% | 2003 | ||
| =8 | United Kingdom | 99% | 2003 | ||
| =8 | New Zealand | 99% | 2003 | ||
| =8 | Czech Republic | 99% | 2003 | ||
| =8 | United States | 99% | 2003 | ||
| =8 | Sweden | 99% | 2003 | ||
| =8 | Switzerland | 99% | 2003 | ||
| =8 | Iceland | 99% | 2003 | ||
| =8 | Germany | 99% | 2003 | ||
| =8 | Japan | 99% | 2002 | ||
| 24 | Italy | 98.6% | 2003 | ||
| 25 | South Korea | 98.1% | 2003 | ||
| 26 | Austria | 98% | 2008 | ||
| 27 | Spain | 97.9% | 2003 | ||
| 28 | Greece | 97.5% | 2003 | ||
| 29 | Israel | 97.1% | 2004 | ||
| 30 | Chile | 96.2% | 2003 | ||
| 31 | Portugal | 93.3% | 2003 |
Citation
Interesting observations about Education > Literacy > Total population
- All of the top 4 countries by literacy > total population are Christian.
- All of the top 2 countries by literacy > total population are Cold countries'.
- All of the top 3 countries by literacy > total population are European.
- All of the top 2 countries by literacy > total population are Tourist destination.
- All of the top 2 countries by literacy > total population are Landlocked.
- All of the top 2 countries by literacy > total population are Catholic.
- Finland has ranked in the top 2 for literacy > total population since 1980.
- Bermuda has ranked in the top 3 for literacy > total population since 1970.
- Barbados has ranked in the top 3 for literacy > total population since 1995.
- Japan has ranked in the top 4 for literacy > total population since 1995.
