Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in IDA & IBRD total

IDA & IBRD total: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 68.5% in 2016. ▲ Rising

Latest (2016)
68.5%
Change on year
up 2.6%
Rank
20th
of 38 groups
All-time high
68.5%
in 2016
All-time low
38.1%
in 1977
Years of data
32
1976–2016

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in IDA & IBRD total, 1976–2016

02040601976199620161976: 38.1 %1977: 38.1 %1978: 38.1 %1979: 38.1 %1981: 38.3 %1982: 38.8 %1983: 38.6 %1984: 38.8 %1986: 39.3 %1987: 40.2 %1988: 45 %1989: 45.4 %1991: 46 %1992: 46.2 %1993: 46.6 %1994: 46.8 %1996: 47.6 %1997: 54.4 %1998: 56.1 %2001: 55.9 %2002: 56 %2003: 56.6 %2004: 56.7 %2006: 58 %2007: 61 %2008: 61.2 %2009: 62.5 %2011: 64.6 %2012: 65.3 %2013: 65.8 %2014: 66.8 %2016: 68.5 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

IDA & IBRD total recorded 68.5% for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in 2016. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.

The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 18.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in IDA & IBRD total peaked at 68.5% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 38.1%, in 1977.

IDA & IBRD total ranks 20th of 38 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in IDA & IBRD total, year by year

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in IDA & IBRD total, 1976 to 2016.
Year % Change
1976 38.1%
1977 38.1% -0.0%
1978 38.1% +0.1%
1979 38.1% -0.0%
1981 38.3% +0.6%
1982 38.8% +1.3%
1983 38.6% -0.5%
1984 38.8% +0.5%
1986 39.3% +1.1%
1987 40.2% +2.4%
1988 45.0% +12.0%
1989 45.4% +0.7%
1991 46.0% +1.3%
1992 46.2% +0.5%
1993 46.6% +0.9%
1994 46.8% +0.5%
1996 47.6% +1.7%
1997 54.4% +14.4%
1998 56.1% +3.1%
2001 55.9% -0.4%
2002 56.0% +0.2%
2003 56.6% +1.1%
2004 56.7% +0.1%
2006 58.0% +2.3%
2007 61.0% +5.1%
2008 61.2% +0.4%
2009 62.5% +2.0%
2011 64.6% +3.5%
2012 65.3% +1.0%
2013 65.8% +0.7%
2014 66.8% +1.6%
2016 68.5% +2.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 38.1% 38.1% 38.1% 4
1980s 40.6% 38.3% 45.4% 8
1990s 49.1% 46.0% 56.1% 7
2000s 58.5% 55.9% 62.5% 8
2010s 66.2% 64.6% 68.5% 5

Countries ranked near IDA & IBRD total

  1. 17 Maldives 90.2% compare
  2. 18 Portugal 88.3% compare
  3. 19 Malta 88.2% compare
  4. 20 Venezuela 88.1% compare
  5. 21 Singapore 86.4% compare
  6. 22 Vietnam 85.8% compare
  7. 23 China 85.0% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for IDA & IBRD total

All data for IDA & IBRD total →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in IDA & IBRD total?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in IDA & IBRD total was 68.5% in 2016, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in IDA & IBRD total?
The highest recorded value was 68.5% in 2016.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in IDA & IBRD total?
The lowest recorded value was 38.1% in 1977.
How does IDA & IBRD total rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
IDA & IBRD total ranks 20th out of 38 groups with data for 2016.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in IDA & IBRD total?
Over the last ten years it is up 18.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this IDA & IBRD total 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 IDA & IBRD total. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-both-sexes-percent/ida-and-ibrd-total/

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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.