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

Portugal: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 88.3% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
88.3%
World rank
18th
of 83 countries
All-time high
88.3%
in 2018
All-time low
46.4%
in 1981
Years of data
5
1981–2018

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Portugal, 1981–2018

0204060801981199920181981: 46.4 %1991: 61.1 %2001: 66.1 %2011: 80.5 %2018: 88.3 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2018, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Portugal stood at 88.3%. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Portugal peaked at 88.3% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 46.4%, in 1981.

That places Portugal 18th out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.

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

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Portugal, 1981 to 2018.
Year % Change
1981 46.4%
1991 61.1% +31.5%
2001 66.1% +8.1%
2011 80.5% +21.8%
2018 88.3% +9.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 46.4% 46.4% 46.4% 1
1990s 61.1% 61.1% 61.1% 1
2000s 66.1% 66.1% 66.1% 1
2010s 84.4% 80.5% 88.3% 2

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 15 Jordan 90.7% compare
  2. 16 Chile 90.4% compare
  3. 17 Maldives 90.2% compare
  4. 19 Malta 88.2% compare
  5. 20 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 88.1% compare
  6. 21 Singapore 86.4% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Portugal

All data for Portugal →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Portugal?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Portugal was 88.3% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Portugal?
The highest recorded value was 88.3% in 2018.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Portugal?
The lowest recorded value was 46.4% in 1981.
How does Portugal rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
Portugal ranks 18th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Portugal?
Over the last ten years it is up 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Portugal 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 Portugal. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-both-sexes-percent/portugal/

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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.