Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Least developed countries

Least developed countries: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 35.1% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
35.1%
Change on year
up 1.1%
Rank
36th
of 38 groups
All-time high
35.1%
in 2019
All-time low
20.7%
in 1982
Years of data
39
1981–2019

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Least developed countries, 1981–2019

0102030401981200020191981: 20.8 %1982: 20.7 %1983: 21 %1984: 21 %1985: 21.2 %1986: 21.3 %1987: 21.4 %1988: 22.1 %1989: 22.3 %1990: 22.3 %1991: 22.9 %1992: 22.7 %1993: 23 %1994: 23.4 %1995: 24.2 %1996: 24.4 %1997: 24.8 %1998: 26.7 %1999: 27.1 %2000: 27.6 %2001: 28.1 %2002: 27.6 %2003: 27.8 %2004: 28 %2005: 28.4 %2006: 29 %2007: 29.3 %2008: 31.6 %2009: 31.7 %2010: 31.7 %2011: 29.5 %2012: 28.6 %2013: 29.4 %2014: 30.8 %2015: 31 %2016: 33.5 %2017: 34.1 %2018: 34.8 %2019: 35.1 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2019, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Least developed countries stood at 35.1%. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 10.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Least developed countries peaked at 35.1% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 20.7%, in 1982.

That places Least developed countries 36th out of 38 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Least developed countries, year by year

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Least developed countries, 1981 to 2019.
Year % Change
1981 20.8%
1982 20.7% -0.5%
1983 21.0% +1.1%
1984 21.0% +0.4%
1985 21.2% +0.8%
1986 21.3% +0.5%
1987 21.4% +0.7%
1988 22.1% +3.2%
1989 22.3% +0.7%
1990 22.3% -0.0%
1991 22.9% +2.8%
1992 22.7% -0.9%
1993 23.0% +1.1%
1994 23.4% +1.9%
1995 24.2% +3.3%
1996 24.4% +0.8%
1997 24.8% +1.8%
1998 26.7% +7.6%
1999 27.1% +1.6%
2000 27.6% +1.9%
2001 28.1% +1.6%
2002 27.6% -1.6%
2003 27.8% +0.7%
2004 28.0% +0.5%
2005 28.4% +1.6%
2006 29.0% +2.1%
2007 29.3% +1.1%
2008 31.6% +7.6%
2009 31.7% +0.6%
2010 31.7% +0.1%
2011 29.5% -7.2%
2012 28.6% -3.0%
2013 29.4% +3.0%
2014 30.8% +4.5%
2015 31.0% +0.7%
2016 33.5% +8.1%
2017 34.1% +1.7%
2018 34.8% +2.0%
2019 35.1% +1.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 21.3% 20.7% 22.3% 9
1990s 24.1% 22.3% 27.1% 10
2000s 28.9% 27.6% 31.7% 10
2010s 31.8% 28.6% 35.1% 10

Countries ranked near Least developed countries

  1. 33 Seychelles 79.0% compare
  2. 34 Thailand 78.7% compare
  3. 35 Brazil 78.5% compare
  4. 36 Brunei Darussalam 78.2% compare
  5. 37 Palestine, State of 77.5% compare
  6. 38 Malaysia 75.5% compare
  7. 39 Indonesia 74.3% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Least developed countries

All data for Least developed countries →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Least developed countries?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Least developed countries was 35.1% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Least developed countries?
The highest recorded value was 35.1% in 2019.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Least developed countries?
The lowest recorded value was 20.7% in 1982.
How does Least developed countries rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
Least developed countries ranks 36th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Least developed countries?
Over the last ten years it is up 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Least developed countries 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 Least developed countries. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-both-sexes-percent/least-developed-countries-un-classification/

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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.