Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Arab World
Arab World: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 37.8% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Arab World, 1977–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Arab World is 37.8%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 43 years on record.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and up 32.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Arab World peaked at 37.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 14.9%, in 1977.
That places Arab World 27th out of 38 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Arab World, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 14.9% | — |
| 1978 | 15.1% | +1.3% |
| 1979 | 15.3% | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 15.5% | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 15.6% | +1.1% |
| 1982 | 15.8% | +1.3% |
| 1983 | 15.5% | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 15.6% | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 15.6% | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 16.4% | +5.0% |
| 1987 | 16.0% | -2.4% |
| 1988 | 16.2% | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 16.4% | +1.4% |
| 1990 | 16.6% | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 16.7% | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 17.1% | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 16.9% | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 17.2% | +1.9% |
| 1995 | 17.6% | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 18.9% | +7.8% |
| 1997 | 18.7% | -1.4% |
| 1998 | 19.5% | +4.3% |
| 1999 | 20.0% | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 21.0% | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 21.2% | +0.6% |
| 2002 | 22.5% | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 28.8% | +27.9% |
| 2004 | 29.3% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 23.2% | -20.8% |
| 2006 | 24.3% | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 24.7% | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 26.0% | +5.5% |
| 2009 | 28.5% | +9.3% |
| 2010 | 29.6% | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 32.1% | +8.4% |
| 2012 | 33.1% | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 33.5% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 36.7% | +9.6% |
| 2015 | 37.2% | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 34.9% | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 36.7% | +5.1% |
| 2018 | 37.0% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 37.8% | +2.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 15.1% | 14.9% | 15.3% | 3 |
| 1980s | 15.8% | 15.5% | 16.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.9% | 16.6% | 20.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.9% | 21.0% | 29.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.8% | 29.6% | 37.8% | 10 |
Countries ranked near Arab World
More reference data data for Arab World
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry age 9.83 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry age 4.80 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry age 5.03 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 5.6 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 5.44 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 5.75 years (2019)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general progr 90.3% (2019)
- School life expectancy, pre-primary, both sexes 0.6009 years (2019)
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, adjusted gender parity i 1.1 GPIA (2019)
- Teachers in primary education, male 870,261 number (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Arab World?
- Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Arab World was 37.8% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Arab World?
- The highest recorded value was 37.8% in 2019.
- What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Arab World?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.9% in 1977.
- How does Arab World rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
- Arab World ranks 27th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
- Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Arab World?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Arab World data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the population age 65 and above 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 65 years and over by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.