Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in IDA blend

IDA blend: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 36.1% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
36.1%
Change on year
up 2.3%
Rank
33rd
of 38 groups
All-time high
37.7%
in 2006
All-time low
24.2%
in 1986
Years of data
40
1980–2019

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in IDA blend, 1980–2019

0102030401980199920191980: 25.4 %1981: 25.3 %1982: 25 %1983: 24.7 %1984: 24.5 %1985: 24.3 %1986: 24.2 %1987: 24.3 %1988: 24.4 %1989: 24.3 %1990: 24.6 %1991: 25.1 %1992: 25.6 %1993: 26.1 %1994: 26.4 %1995: 26.7 %1996: 27.3 %1997: 27.8 %1998: 28.4 %1999: 29.1 %2000: 27.7 %2001: 27.8 %2002: 28.2 %2003: 29.2 %2004: 29.2 %2005: 30 %2006: 37.7 %2007: 31 %2008: 32.5 %2009: 32.9 %2010: 33.2 %2011: 32.9 %2012: 33.9 %2013: 33.6 %2014: 34.7 %2015: 34.3 %2016: 35 %2017: 36.8 %2018: 35.3 %2019: 36.1 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2019, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in IDA blend stood at 36.1%.

That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 9.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in IDA blend peaked at 37.7% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 24.2%, in 1986.

IDA blend ranks 33rd of 38 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 40 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in IDA blend, 1980 to 2019.
Year % Change
1980 25.4%
1981 25.3% -0.3%
1982 25.0% -1.2%
1983 24.7% -1.0%
1984 24.5% -0.9%
1985 24.3% -0.8%
1986 24.2% -0.7%
1987 24.3% +0.5%
1988 24.4% +0.6%
1989 24.3% -0.3%
1990 24.6% +1.0%
1991 25.1% +2.0%
1992 25.6% +1.9%
1993 26.1% +2.2%
1994 26.4% +1.0%
1995 26.7% +1.2%
1996 27.3% +2.0%
1997 27.8% +2.1%
1998 28.4% +2.1%
1999 29.1% +2.3%
2000 27.7% -4.7%
2001 27.8% +0.2%
2002 28.2% +1.8%
2003 29.2% +3.2%
2004 29.2% +0.2%
2005 30.0% +2.6%
2006 37.7% +25.8%
2007 31.0% -17.9%
2008 32.5% +4.9%
2009 32.9% +1.3%
2010 33.2% +0.8%
2011 32.9% -0.8%
2012 33.9% +3.1%
2013 33.6% -1.1%
2014 34.7% +3.3%
2015 34.3% -1.2%
2016 35.0% +2.2%
2017 36.8% +5.1%
2018 35.3% -3.9%
2019 36.1% +2.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 24.6% 24.2% 25.4% 10
1990s 26.7% 24.6% 29.1% 10
2000s 30.6% 27.7% 37.7% 10
2010s 34.6% 32.9% 36.8% 10

Countries ranked near IDA blend

  1. 30 Dominican Republic 79.8% compare
  2. 31 Sri Lanka 79.1% compare
  3. 32 Peru 79.0% compare
  4. 33 Seychelles 79.0% compare
  5. 34 Thailand 78.7% compare
  6. 35 Brazil 78.5% compare
  7. 36 Brunei Darussalam 78.2% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for IDA blend

All data for IDA blend →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in IDA blend?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in IDA blend was 36.1% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in IDA blend?
The highest recorded value was 37.7% in 2006.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in IDA blend?
The lowest recorded value was 24.2% in 1986.
How does IDA blend rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
IDA blend ranks 33rd out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in IDA blend?
Over the last ten years it is up 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this IDA blend 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 blend. 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/ida-blend/

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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.