Malaysia vs Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD): Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes

Malaysia
96.6%
in 2018
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
75.9%
in 2019
Malaysia rank
28th
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) rank
25th

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

  • Malaysia
  • Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
406080100197119952019

How they compare

Malaysia currently reports 96.6% against 75.9% in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), a difference of 20.7%.

That makes Malaysia's figure about 1.3 times Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)'s.

Across all 7 years both countries report, Malaysia has been ahead every year.

Malaysia ranks 28th and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) ranks 25th of 83 countries.

Malaysia has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Malaysia Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) Difference Ahead
1980s 63.4% 36.4% 27.0% Malaysia
1990s 81.7% 49.0% 32.7% Malaysia
2000s 89.0% 62.2% 26.8% Malaysia
2010s 96.0% 74.1% 22.0% Malaysia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes, Malaysia or Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
Malaysia, at 96.6% against 75.9% in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) as of 2018.
What is the difference in literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes between Malaysia and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
20.7%, with Malaysia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Malaysia and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
7 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2018.
How do Malaysia and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) rank globally for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Malaysia ranks 28th and Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) ranks 25th 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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Malaysia vs Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD): Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/malaysia/middle-east-north-africa-afghanistan-and-pakistan-ida-and-ibrd/

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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.