Education > Literacy > Total population: Countries Compared
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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 | Holy See (Vatican City) | 100% | 2011 | ||
=1 | Liechtenstein | 100% | 2008 | ||
=1 | Norway | 100% | 2008 | ||
=1 | Andorra | 100% | 2008 | ||
=1 | Georgia | 100% | 2004 | ||
=1 | Greenland | 100% | 2001 | ||
=1 | Luxembourg | 100% | 2000 | ||
=1 | Finland | 100% | 2000 | ||
=9 | Estonia | 99.8% | 2003 | ||
=9 | Latvia | 99.8% | 2003 | ||
=9 | Poland | 99.8% | 2003 | ||
=12 | Slovenia | 99.7% | 2008 | ||
=12 | Samoa | 99.7% | 2003 | ||
=12 | Ukraine | 99.7% | 2003 | ||
=12 | Barbados | 99.7% | 2002 | ||
=16 | Slovakia | 99.6% | 2004 | ||
=16 | Lithuania | 99.6% | 2003 | ||
=16 | Russia | 99.6% | 2003 | ||
=16 | Belarus | 99.6% | 2003 | ||
20 | Kazakhstan | 99.5% | 1999 | ||
=21 | Tajikistan | 99.4% | 2003 | ||
=21 | Hungary | 99.4% | 2003 | ||
23 | Uzbekistan | 99.3% | 2003 | ||
=24 | Moldova | 99.1% | 2005 | ||
=24 | Mongolia | 99.1% | 2003 | ||
=26 | North Korea | 99% | 2011 | ||
=26 | Canada | 99% | 2003 | ||
=26 | Netherlands | 99% | 2003 | ||
=26 | Monaco | 99% | 2003 | ||
=26 | France | 99% | 2003 | ||
=26 | Ireland | 99% | 2003 | ||
=26 | Australia | 99% | 2003 | ||
=26 | Denmark | 99% | 2003 | ||
=26 | United Kingdom | 99% | 2003 | ||
=26 | New Zealand | 99% | 2003 | ||
=26 | Czech Republic | 99% | 2003 | ||
=26 | United States | 99% | 2003 | ||
=26 | Sweden | 99% | 2003 | ||
=26 | Belgium | 99% | 2003 | ||
=26 | Switzerland | 99% | 2003 | ||
=26 | Iceland | 99% | 2003 | ||
=26 | Germany | 99% | 2003 | ||
=26 | Japan | 99% | 2002 | ||
=26 | Guam | 99% | 1990 | ||
=26 | Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 99% | 1982 | ||
Group of 7 countries (G7) average (profile) | 98.93% | 2003 | |||
46 | Tonga | 98.9% | 1999 | ||
=47 | Azerbaijan | 98.8% | 2003 | ||
=47 | Guyana | 98.8% | 2003 | ||
=47 | Turkmenistan | 98.8% | 1999 | ||
50 | Kyrgyzstan | 98.7% | 1999 | ||
=51 | Italy | 98.6% | 2003 | ||
=51 | Trinidad and Tobago | 98.6% | 2003 | ||
=51 | Armenia | 98.6% | 2003 | ||
=51 | Bulgaria | 98.6% | 2003 | ||
55 | Croatia | 98.5% | 2003 | ||
High income OECD countries average (profile) | 98.45% | 2003 | |||
European Union average (profile) | 98.43% | 2003 | |||
56 | Romania | 98.4% | 2003 | ||
57 | South Korea | 98.1% | 2003 | ||
=58 | Austria | 98% | 2008 | ||
=58 | Bermuda | 98% | 2005 | ||
=58 | Uruguay | 98% | 2003 | ||
=58 | French Polynesia | 98% | 1977 | ||
=58 | Cayman Islands | 98% | 1970 | ||
=58 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 98% | 1970 | ||
64 | Spain | 97.9% | 2003 | ||
=65 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 97.8% | 2003 | ||
=65 | British Virgin Islands | 97.8% | 1991 | ||
NATO countries average (profile) | 97.7% | 2003 | |||
67 | Martinique | 97.7% | 2003 | ||
68 | Cyprus | 97.6% | 2003 | ||
69 | Greece | 97.5% | 2003 | ||
70 | Aruba | 97.3% | 2000 | ||
=71 | Israel | 97.1% | 2004 | ||
=71 | Argentina | 97.1% | 2003 | ||
=73 | Cuba | 97% | 2003 | ||
=73 | American Samoa | 97% | 1980 | ||
=73 | Northern Mariana Islands | 97% | 1980 | ||
=73 | Montserrat | 97% | 1970 | ||
=77 | Netherlands Antilles | 96.7% | 2003 | ||
=77 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 96.7% | 2000 | ||
79 | Serbia and Montenegro | 96.4% | 2003 | ||
=80 | Chile | 96.2% | 2003 | ||
=80 | New Caledonia | 96.2% | 1996 | ||
82 | Taiwan | 96.1% | 2003 | ||
=83 | San Marino | 96% | 2011 | ||
=83 | Costa Rica | 96% | 2003 | ||
=83 | Thailand | 96% | 2003 | ||
=83 | Grenada | 96% | 2003 | ||
=83 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 96% | 1970 | ||
88 | Philippines | 95.9% | 2003 | ||
Non-religious countries average (profile) | 95.75% | 2003 | |||
89 | The Bahamas | 95.6% | 2003 | ||
=90 | Cook Islands | 95% | 2010 | ||
=90 | Niue | 95% | 2008 | ||
=90 | Anguilla | 95% | 1984 | ||
93 | Macau | 94.5% | 2003 | ||
=94 | Belize | 94.1% | 2003 | ||
=94 | Puerto Rico | 94.1% | 2002 | ||
=96 | Dominica | 94% | 2003 | ||
=96 | Hong Kong | 94% | 2003 | ||
=96 | Paraguay | 94% | 2003 | ||
=96 | Vietnam | 94% | 2003 | ||
100 | Maldives | 93.8% | 2006 | ||
=101 | Fiji | 93.7% | 2003 | ||
=101 | Marshall Islands | 93.7% | 1999 | ||
103 | Venezuela | 93.4% | 2003 | ||
=104 | Kuwait | 93.3% | 2005 | ||
=104 | Portugal | 93.3% | 2003 | ||
106 | Singapore | 93.2% | 2003 | ||
107 | Peru | 92.9% | 2007 | ||
108 | Malta | 92.8% | 2005 | ||
109 | Panama | 92.6% | 2003 | ||
110 | Ecuador | 92.5% | 2003 | ||
=111 | West Bank | 92.4% | 2004 | ||
=111 | Gaza Strip | 92.4% | 2004 | ||
113 | Sri Lanka | 92.3% | 2003 | ||
114 | Palau | 92% | 1980 | ||
115 | Seychelles | 91.9% | 2003 | ||
116 | Brunei | 91.8% | 2003 | ||
117 | China | 91.6% | 2007 | ||
Emerging markets average (profile) | 91.07% | 2003 | |||
118 | Zimbabwe | 90.7% | 2003 | ||
=119 | Colombia | 90.4% | 2005 | ||
=119 | Indonesia | 90.4% | 2004 | ||
121 | Saint Lucia | 90.1% | 2001 | ||
=122 | Burma | 89.9% | 2006 | ||
=122 | Jordan | 89.9% | 2003 | ||
124 | Suriname | 89.6% | 2004 | ||
Heavily indebted countries average (profile) | 89.51% | 2003 | |||
125 | Bahrain | 89.1% | 2003 | ||
Former Spanish colonies average (profile) | 89.02% | 2003 | |||
=126 | Qatar | 89% | 2004 | ||
=126 | Federated States of Micronesia | 89% | 1980 | ||
=128 | Malaysia | 88.9% | 2003 | ||
=128 | Reunion | 88.9% | 2003 | ||
130 | Brazil | 88.6% | 2004 | ||
131 | Jamaica | 87.9% | 2003 | ||
=132 | Turkey | 87.4% | 2004 | ||
=132 | Lebanon | 87.4% | 2003 | ||
134 | Bolivia | 87.2% | 2003 | ||
135 | Albania | 86.5% | 2003 | ||
136 | South Africa | 86.4% | 2003 | ||
137 | Mexico | 86.1% | 2005 | ||
138 | Antigua and Barbuda | 85.8% | 2003 | ||
139 | Equatorial Guinea | 85.7% | 2003 | ||
140 | Mauritius | 85.6% | 2003 | ||
141 | Kenya | 85.1% | 2003 | ||
142 | Sao Tome and Principe | 84.9% | 2001 | ||
143 | Lesotho | 84.8% | 2003 | ||
144 | Dominican Republic | 84.7% | 2003 | ||
145 | Namibia | 84% | 2003 | ||
146 | Congo, Republic of the | 83.8% | 2003 | ||
147 | Libya | 82.6% | 2003 | ||
148 | Swaziland | 81.6% | 2003 | ||
Former British colonies average (profile) | 81.47% | 2003 | |||
149 | Oman | 81.4% | 2003 | ||
150 | Botswana | 81.2% | 2003 | ||
151 | El Salvador | 81.1% | 2007 | ||
152 | Zambia | 80.6% | 2003 | ||
153 | Syria | 79.6% | 2004 | ||
154 | Iran | 79.4% | 2003 | ||
155 | Cameroon | 79% | 2003 | ||
156 | Saudi Arabia | 78.8% | 2003 | ||
157 | Tanzania | 78.2% | 2003 | ||
158 | United Arab Emirates | 77.9% | 2003 | ||
159 | Cape Verde | 76.6% | 2003 | ||
160 | Honduras | 76.2% | 2003 | ||
OPEC countries average (profile) | 75.65% | 2003 | |||
Middle Eastern and North Africa average (profile) | 74.94% | 2003 | |||
161 | Ghana | 74.8% | 2003 | ||
162 | Tunisia | 74.3% | 2004 | ||
163 | Vanuatu | 74% | 1999 | ||
164 | Cambodia | 73.6% | 2004 | ||
165 | Laos | 73% | 2005 | ||
166 | Egypt | 71.4% | 2005 | ||
167 | Guatemala | 70.6% | 2003 | ||
168 | Rwanda | 70.4% | 2003 | ||
169 | Algeria | 70% | 2003 | ||
170 | Uganda | 69.9% | 2003 | ||
171 | Madagascar | 68.9% | 2003 | ||
172 | Nigeria | 68% | 2003 | ||
Muslim countries average (profile) | 67.94% | 2003 | |||
173 | Djibouti | 67.9% | 2003 | ||
174 | Nicaragua | 67.5% | 2003 | ||
175 | Angola | 67.4% | 2001 | ||
176 | Papua New Guinea | 66% | 2003 | ||
177 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 65.5% | 2003 | ||
178 | Gabon | 63.2% | 1995 | ||
Sub-Saharan Africa average (profile) | 63.06% | 2003 | |||
179 | Malawi | 62.7% | 2003 | ||
180 | Sudan | 61.1% | 2003 | ||
181 | Togo | 60.9% | 2003 | ||
182 | India | 59.5% | 2003 | ||
=183 | Eritrea | 58.6% | 2003 | ||
=183 | East Timor | 58.6% | 2002 | ||
185 | Liberia | 57.5% | 2003 | ||
Former French colonies average (profile) | 56.56% | 2003 | |||
186 | Comoros | 56.5% | 2003 | ||
failed states average (profile) | 53.52% | 2003 | |||
187 | Haiti | 52.9% | 2003 | ||
188 | Morocco | 52.3% | 2004 | ||
189 | Burundi | 51.6% | 2003 | ||
190 | Central African Republic | 51% | 2003 | ||
191 | Cote d'Ivoire | 50.9% | 2003 | ||
192 | Yemen | 50.2% | 2003 | ||
193 | Wallis and Futuna | 50% | 1969 | ||
194 | Pakistan | 49.9% | 2005 | ||
South Asia average (profile) | 48.83% | 2003 | |||
195 | Mozambique | 47.8% | 2003 | ||
196 | Chad | 47.5% | 2003 | ||
197 | Bhutan | 47% | 2003 | ||
198 | Mali | 46.4% | 2003 | ||
199 | Nepal | 45.2% | 2003 | ||
200 | Bangladesh | 43.1% | 2003 | ||
201 | Ethiopia | 42.7% | 2003 | ||
202 | Guinea-Bissau | 42.4% | 2003 | ||
203 | Mauritania | 41.7% | 2003 | ||
204 | Iraq | 40.4% | 2003 | ||
205 | Senegal | 40.2% | 2003 | ||
206 | The Gambia | 40.1% | 2003 | ||
207 | Somalia | 37.8% | 2001 | ||
208 | Sierra Leone | 35.1% | 2004 | ||
209 | Benin | 34.7% | 2002 | ||
210 | Guinea | 29.5% | 2003 | ||
211 | Niger | 28.7% | 2005 | ||
212 | Afghanistan | 28.1% | 2000 | ||
213 | Burkina Faso | 21.8% | 2003 |