China vs IBRD only: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes

China
98.4%
in 2018
IBRD only
89.7%
in 2019
China rank
15th
IBRD only rank
15th

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes over time

  • China
  • IBRD only
020406080100197519972019

How they compare

China currently reports 98.4% against 89.7% in IBRD only, a difference of 8.7%.

That makes China's figure about 1.1 times IBRD only's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 5 shared years of data; in 1982 it was IBRD only ahead.

China ranks 15th and IBRD only ranks 15th of 83 countries.

Across the 4 decades both report, China averaged higher in 3 and IBRD only in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade China IBRD only Difference Ahead
1980s 61.9% 64.1% 2.1% IBRD only
1990s 76.4% 72.0% 4.4% China
2000s 93.9% 82.8% 11.1% China
2010s 97.8% 88.1% 9.6% China

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes, China or IBRD only?
China, at 98.4% against 89.7% in IBRD only as of 2018.
What is the difference in literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes between China and IBRD only?
8.7%, with China ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and IBRD only?
5 years are reported by both, from 1982 to 2018.
How do China and IBRD only rank globally for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
China ranks 15th and IBRD only ranks 15th of 83 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs IBRD only: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/china/ibrd-only/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,220 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population between age 25 and age 64 who can, with understanding, read and write a short, simple statement on their everyday life. Generally, ‘literacy’ also encompasses ‘numeracy’, the ability to make simple arithmetic calculations. This indicator is calculated by dividing the number of literates aged 25-64 years by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.