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Education > Literacy Stats: compare key data on Canada & United States

Definitions

  • Adults at high literacy level: Percentage of adults whose level of document literacy is rated 'high'. Data for 1998.
  • Adults at low literacy level: Percentage of adults whose level of document literacy is rated 'low'. Data for 1998
  • Adults at moderate literacy level: Percentage of adults whose level of document literacy is rated 'moderate'. Data for 1998.
  • Adults with at least moderate literacy: Percentage of adult females who have at least a moderate level of literacy, in selected OECD countries. Data for 1998.
  • 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.
  • Female: 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.
  • Male: 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.
  • Reading performance > Access and retrieve: Access and retrieve.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Reading performance > Continuous texts: Continuous texts.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Reading performance > Integrate and interpret: Integrate and interpret.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Reading performance > Non-continuous texts: Non-continuous texts.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Reading performance > Overall: Overall.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Reading performance > Overall reading skills: Overall.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Reading performance > Reflect and evaluate: Reflect and evaluate.

    No date was available from the Wikipedia article, so we used the date of retrieval.

  • Total population: 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.
  • Adults with at least moderate literacy > Female: Percentage of adult females who have at least a moderate level of literacy, in selected OECD countries. Data for 1998.
  • Adults with at least moderate literacy > Male: Percentage of adult males who have at least a moderate level of literacy, in selected OECD countries. Data for 1998.
STAT Canada United States HISTORY
Adults at high literacy level 25.1%
Ranked 4th. 32% more than United States
19%
Ranked 9th.
Adults at low literacy level 42.9%
Ranked 10th.
49.6%
Ranked 7th. 16% more than Canada
Adults at moderate literacy level 32.1%
Ranked 10th. 2% more than United States
31.4%
Ranked 13th.
Adults with at least moderate literacy 57.1%
Ranked 8th. 13% more than United States
50.4%
Ranked 11th.
Definition age 15 and over can read and write age 15 and over can read and write
Female 99%
Ranked 29th. The same as United States
99%
Ranked 17th.

Male 99%
Ranked 39th. The same as United States
99%
Ranked 28th.

Reading performance > Access and retrieve 517
Ranked 7th. 5% more than United States
492
Ranked 25th.
Reading performance > Continuous texts 524
Ranked 4th. 5% more than United States
500
Ranked 13th.
Reading performance > Integrate and interpret 522
Ranked 4th. 5% more than United States
495
Ranked 20th.
Reading performance > Non-continuous texts 527
Ranked 4th. 5% more than United States
503
Ranked 14th.
Reading performance > Overall 524
Ranked 4th. 5% more than United States
500
Ranked 15th.
Reading performance > Overall reading skills 524
Ranked 4th. 5% more than United States
500
Ranked 15th.
Reading performance > Reflect and evaluate 535
Ranked 4th. 4% more than United States
512
Ranked 8th.
Total population 99%
Ranked 30th. The same as United States
99%
Ranked 20th.

Adults with at least moderate literacy > Female 50.5%
Ranked 2nd.
53.6%
Ranked 1st. 6% more than Canada
Adults with at least moderate literacy > Male 49.5%
Ranked 16th. 7% more than United States
46.4%
Ranked 17th.

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