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

Malaysia: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 75.5% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
75.5%
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
38th
of 83 countries
All-time high
75.5%
in 2018
All-time low
23.1%
in 1980
Years of data
7
1980–2018

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Malaysia, 1980–2018

204060801980199920181980: 23.1 %1991: 32.9 %2000: 44.3 %2010: 58.5 %2016: 73.2 %2017: 74.8 %2018: 75.5 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Malaysia recorded 75.5% for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in 2018. That is the highest value across all 7 years on record.

The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 29.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Malaysia peaked at 75.5% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 23.1%, in 1980.

That places Malaysia 38th out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Malaysia, 1980 to 2018.
Year % Change
1980 23.1%
1991 32.9% +42.3%
2000 44.3% +34.8%
2010 58.5% +31.9%
2016 73.2% +25.1%
2017 74.8% +2.2%
2018 75.5% +0.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 23.1% 23.1% 23.1% 1
1990s 32.9% 32.9% 32.9% 1
2000s 44.3% 44.3% 44.3% 1
2010s 70.5% 58.5% 75.5% 4

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 35 Brazil 78.5% compare
  2. 36 Brunei Darussalam 78.2% compare
  3. 37 Palestine, State of 77.5% compare
  4. 39 Indonesia 74.3% compare
  5. 40 Ecuador 73.0% compare
  6. 41 Kuwait 72.7% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Malaysia?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Malaysia was 75.5% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 75.5% in 2018.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 23.1% in 1980.
How does Malaysia rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
Malaysia ranks 38th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is up 29.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Malaysia 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 Malaysia. 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/malaysia/

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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.