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

IDA total: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 35.8% in 2016. ▲ Rising

Latest (2016)
35.8%
Change on year
up 5.5%
Rank
35th
of 38 groups
All-time high
35.8%
in 2016
All-time low
23.8%
in 1982
Years of data
28
1981–2016

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in IDA total, 1981–2016

0102030401981199820161981: 23.9 %1982: 23.8 %1983: 23.9 %1984: 23.9 %1986: 24.1 %1987: 24.3 %1988: 24.9 %1989: 25 %1991: 25.7 %1992: 25.9 %1993: 26.1 %1994: 26.5 %1996: 27.4 %1997: 27.7 %1998: 29 %2001: 29.7 %2002: 29.7 %2003: 30.1 %2004: 30.3 %2006: 31.9 %2007: 32.4 %2008: 33.6 %2009: 34.1 %2011: 32.9 %2012: 32.7 %2013: 32.8 %2014: 33.9 %2016: 35.8 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

IDA total recorded 35.8% for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in 2016. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.

The figure is up 5.5% on the previous year and up 12.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in IDA total peaked at 35.8% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 23.8%, in 1982.

IDA total ranks 35th of 38 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in IDA total, 1981 to 2016.
Year % Change
1981 23.9%
1982 23.8% -0.5%
1983 23.9% +0.5%
1984 23.9% +0.2%
1986 24.1% +0.8%
1987 24.3% +0.9%
1988 24.9% +2.2%
1989 25.0% +0.5%
1991 25.7% +2.8%
1992 25.9% +0.6%
1993 26.1% +1.1%
1994 26.5% +1.6%
1996 27.4% +3.1%
1997 27.7% +1.3%
1998 29.0% +4.7%
2001 29.7% +2.3%
2002 29.7% +0.2%
2003 30.1% +1.1%
2004 30.3% +0.8%
2006 31.9% +5.3%
2007 32.4% +1.6%
2008 33.6% +3.5%
2009 34.1% +1.4%
2011 32.9% -3.5%
2012 32.7% -0.5%
2013 32.8% +0.5%
2014 33.9% +3.4%
2016 35.8% +5.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 24.2% 23.8% 25.0% 8
1990s 26.9% 25.7% 29.0% 7
2000s 31.5% 29.7% 34.1% 8
2010s 33.6% 32.7% 35.8% 5

Countries ranked near IDA total

  1. 32 Peru 79.0% compare
  2. 33 Seychelles 79.0% compare
  3. 34 Thailand 78.7% compare
  4. 35 Brazil 78.5% compare
  5. 36 Brunei Darussalam 78.2% compare
  6. 37 Palestine, State of 77.5% compare
  7. 38 Malaysia 75.5% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for IDA total

All data for IDA total →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in IDA total?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in IDA total was 35.8% in 2016, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in IDA total?
The highest recorded value was 35.8% in 2016.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in IDA total?
The lowest recorded value was 23.8% in 1982.
How does IDA total rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
IDA total ranks 35th out of 38 groups with data for 2016.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in IDA total?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this IDA 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 total. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-both-sexes-percent/ida-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.