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

Colombia: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 83.3% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
83.3%
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
25th
of 83 countries
All-time high
83.3%
in 2018
All-time low
72.3%
in 1996
Years of data
14
1993–2018

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Colombia, 1993–2018

0204060801993200520181993: 72.8 %1996: 72.3 %2004: 75 %2005: 76 %2006: 74.9 %2007: 75.7 %2008: 76.8 %2009: 76.1 %2010: 76.3 %2011: 78.1 %2014: 79.9 %2015: 80.3 %2016: 81.4 %2018: 83.3 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Colombia recorded 83.3% for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in 2018. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.

The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 8.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Colombia peaked at 83.3% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 72.3%, in 1996.

That places Colombia 25th out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Colombia, 1993 to 2018.
Year % Change
1993 72.8%
1996 72.3% -0.7%
2004 75.0% +3.7%
2005 76.0% +1.3%
2006 74.9% -1.4%
2007 75.7% +1.1%
2008 76.8% +1.4%
2009 76.1% -0.9%
2010 76.3% +0.3%
2011 78.1% +2.4%
2014 79.9% +2.2%
2015 80.3% +0.5%
2016 81.4% +1.4%
2018 83.3% +2.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 72.6% 72.3% 72.8% 2
2000s 75.7% 74.9% 76.8% 6
2010s 79.9% 76.3% 83.3% 6

Countries ranked near Colombia

  1. 22 Viet Nam 85.8% compare
  2. 23 China 85.0% compare
  3. 24 Panama 85.0% compare
  4. 26 Macau, China 81.2% compare
  5. 27 Suriname 81.0% compare
  6. 28 Mexico 80.7% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Colombia

All data for Colombia →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Colombia?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Colombia was 83.3% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Colombia?
The highest recorded value was 83.3% in 2018.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Colombia?
The lowest recorded value was 72.3% in 1996.
How does Colombia rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
Colombia ranks 25th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Colombia?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Colombia 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 Colombia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-both-sexes-percent/colombia/

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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.