Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in China (People’s Republic of)

China (People’s Republic of): Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 85.0% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
85.0%
World rank
23rd
of 83 countries
All-time high
85.0%
in 2018
All-time low
24.1%
in 1982
Years of data
5
1982–2018

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in China (People’s Republic of), 1982–2018

204060801982200020181982: 24.1 %1990: 24.9 %2000: 58.7 %2010: 73.9 %2018: 85 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2018, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in China (People’s Republic of) stood at 85.0%. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

That represents a change of up 14.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in China (People’s Republic of) peaked at 85.0% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 24.1%, in 1982.

That places China (People’s Republic of) 23rd out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in China (People’s Republic of), year by year

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in China (People’s Republic of), 1982 to 2018.
Year % Change
1982 24.1%
1990 24.9% +3.3%
2000 58.7% +135.5%
2010 73.9% +25.9%
2018 85.0% +14.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 24.1% 24.1% 24.1% 1
1990s 24.9% 24.9% 24.9% 1
2000s 58.7% 58.7% 58.7% 1
2010s 79.4% 73.9% 85.0% 2

Countries ranked near China (People’s Republic of)

  1. 20 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 88.1% compare
  2. 21 Singapore 86.4% compare
  3. 22 Viet Nam 85.8% compare
  4. 24 Panama 85.0% compare
  5. 25 Colombia 83.3% compare
  6. 26 Macau (China) 81.2% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for China (People’s Republic of)

All data for China (People’s Republic of) →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in China (People’s Republic of)?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in China (People’s Republic of) was 85.0% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in China (People’s Republic of)?
The highest recorded value was 85.0% in 2018.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in China (People’s Republic of)?
The lowest recorded value was 24.1% in 1982.
How does China (People’s Republic of) rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
China (People’s Republic of) ranks 23rd out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in China (People’s Republic of)?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this China (People’s Republic of) 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 China (People’s Republic of). Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-both-sexes-percent/china/

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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.