Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Spain

Spain: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes was 98.6% in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)
98.6%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
6th
of 41 countries
All-time high
98.6%
in 2018
All-time low
97.6%
in 2004
Years of data
14
2004–2018

Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Spain, 2004–2018

0204060801002004201120182004: 97.6 %2005: 98.1 %2006: 98.1 %2007: 98.2 %2008: 97.9 %2009: 98 %2010: 98 %2011: 98 %2012: 98 %2013: 98.2 %2014: 98.3 %2015: 98.3 %2016: 98.4 %2018: 98.6 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Spain is 98.6%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.

The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Spain peaked at 98.6% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 97.6%, in 2004.

Spain ranks 6th of 41 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Spain, year by year

Annual values for Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes (%) in Spain, 2004 to 2018.
Year % Change
2004 97.6%
2005 98.1% +0.5%
2006 98.1% +0.0%
2007 98.2% +0.1%
2008 97.9% -0.3%
2009 98.0% +0.0%
2010 98.0% +0.0%
2011 98.0% -0.1%
2012 98.0% +0.1%
2013 98.2% +0.2%
2014 98.3% +0.1%
2015 98.3% +0.0%
2016 98.4% +0.1%
2018 98.6% +0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 98.0% 97.6% 98.2% 6
2010s 98.2% 98.0% 98.6% 8

Countries ranked near Spain

  1. 3 Republic of Moldova 99.5% compare
  2. 4 Argentina 99.0% compare
  3. 5 Uruguay 98.8% compare
  4. 7 Greece 98.2% compare
  5. 8 Indonesia 97.6% compare
  6. 9 Palestine, State of 97.4% compare

See the full ranking of 41 places →

More reference data data for Spain

All data for Spain →

Frequently asked questions

What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Spain?
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Spain was 98.6% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in Spain?
The highest recorded value was 98.6% in 2018.
What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in Spain?
The lowest recorded value was 97.6% in 2004.
How does Spain rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes?
Spain ranks 6th out of 41 countries with data for 2018.
Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in Spain?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Spain data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Spain. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/adult-literacy-rate-population-15-years-urban-both-sexes-percent/spain/

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About this data

Indicator
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
41 places, 376 data points, 1976–2019
Last refreshed

Total number of adults in urban areas over age 15 who cannot both read and write with understanding a short simple statement on their everyday life. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/