Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Brazil

Brazil: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 78.5% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
78.5%
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
35th
of 83 countries
All-time high
78.5%
in 2018
All-time low
46.2%
in 1980
Years of data
16
1980–2018

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Brazil, 1980–2018

0204060801980199920181980: 46.2 %2000: 62 %2004: 65.8 %2006: 68.1 %2007: 68.9 %2008: 69.1 %2009: 69.2 %2010: 70.6 %2011: 72 %2012: 72.8 %2013: 72.3 %2014: 73.6 %2015: 74.3 %2016: 76.6 %2017: 77.8 %2018: 78.5 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Brazil recorded 78.5% for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in 2018. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.

The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 13.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Brazil peaked at 78.5% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 46.2%, in 1980.

Brazil ranks 35th of 83 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Brazil, year by year

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Brazil, 1980 to 2018.
Year % Change
1980 46.2%
2000 62.0% +34.3%
2004 65.8% +6.0%
2006 68.1% +3.5%
2007 68.9% +1.3%
2008 69.1% +0.3%
2009 69.2% +0.1%
2010 70.6% +2.1%
2011 72.0% +1.9%
2012 72.8% +1.2%
2013 72.3% -0.7%
2014 73.6% +1.7%
2015 74.3% +1.0%
2016 76.6% +3.1%
2017 77.8% +1.6%
2018 78.5% +1.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 46.2% 46.2% 46.2% 1
2000s 67.2% 62.0% 69.2% 6
2010s 74.3% 70.6% 78.5% 9

Countries ranked near Brazil

  1. 32 Peru 79.0% compare
  2. 33 Seychelles 79.0% compare
  3. 34 Thailand 78.7% compare
  4. 36 Brunei Darussalam 78.2% compare
  5. 37 Palestine, State of 77.5% compare
  6. 38 Malaysia 75.5% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Brazil

All data for Brazil →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Brazil?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Brazil was 78.5% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Brazil?
The highest recorded value was 78.5% in 2018.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Brazil?
The lowest recorded value was 46.2% in 1980.
How does Brazil rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
Brazil ranks 35th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Brazil?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Brazil 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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Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Brazil. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-both-sexes-percent/brazil/

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About this data

Indicator
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,190 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

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.