Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Pre-demographic dividend

Pre-demographic dividend: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 33.6% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
33.6%
Change on year
up 2.2%
Rank
38th
of 38 groups
All-time high
33.6%
in 2019
All-time low
17.3%
in 1986
Years of data
34
1986–2019

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Pre-demographic dividend, 1986–2019

01020301986200220191986: 17.3 %1987: 17.5 %1988: 17.8 %1989: 18 %1990: 18 %1991: 18.6 %1992: 18.6 %1993: 18.9 %1994: 19.2 %1995: 19.6 %1996: 20.1 %1997: 20.8 %1998: 21.8 %1999: 22.5 %2000: 22 %2001: 22.3 %2002: 22.8 %2003: 23.4 %2004: 23.6 %2005: 24.2 %2006: 30.2 %2007: 26.2 %2008: 28.1 %2009: 28.1 %2010: 28.6 %2011: 28.3 %2012: 28.6 %2013: 29.3 %2014: 29.8 %2015: 30 %2016: 30.9 %2017: 31.9 %2018: 32.9 %2019: 33.6 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2019, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Pre-demographic dividend stood at 33.6%. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 19.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Pre-demographic dividend peaked at 33.6% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 17.3%, in 1986.

That places Pre-demographic dividend 38th out of 38 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Pre-demographic dividend, year by year

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Pre-demographic dividend, 1986 to 2019.
Year % Change
1986 17.3%
1987 17.5% +1.2%
1988 17.8% +1.9%
1989 18.0% +0.9%
1990 18.0% -0.1%
1991 18.6% +3.7%
1992 18.6% -0.3%
1993 18.9% +2.1%
1994 19.2% +1.2%
1995 19.6% +2.4%
1996 20.1% +2.3%
1997 20.8% +3.7%
1998 21.8% +4.8%
1999 22.5% +3.3%
2000 22.0% -2.4%
2001 22.3% +1.6%
2002 22.8% +2.1%
2003 23.4% +2.4%
2004 23.6% +0.9%
2005 24.2% +2.7%
2006 30.2% +24.8%
2007 26.2% -13.3%
2008 28.1% +7.3%
2009 28.1% -0.2%
2010 28.6% +1.7%
2011 28.3% -0.9%
2012 28.6% +1.0%
2013 29.3% +2.3%
2014 29.8% +1.8%
2015 30.0% +0.9%
2016 30.9% +2.9%
2017 31.9% +3.4%
2018 32.9% +2.9%
2019 33.6% +2.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 17.6% 17.3% 18.0% 4
1990s 19.8% 18.0% 22.5% 10
2000s 25.1% 22.0% 30.2% 10
2010s 30.4% 28.3% 33.6% 10

Countries ranked near Pre-demographic dividend

  1. 35 Brazil 78.5% compare
  2. 36 Brunei 78.2% compare
  3. 37 Palestine 77.5% compare
  4. 38 Malaysia 75.5% compare
  5. 39 Indonesia 74.3% compare
  6. 40 Ecuador 73.0% compare
  7. 41 Kuwait 72.7% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Pre-demographic dividend

All data for Pre-demographic dividend →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Pre-demographic dividend?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Pre-demographic dividend was 33.6% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Pre-demographic dividend?
The highest recorded value was 33.6% in 2019.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Pre-demographic dividend?
The lowest recorded value was 17.3% in 1986.
How does Pre-demographic dividend rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
Pre-demographic dividend ranks 38th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Pre-demographic dividend?
Over the last ten years it is up 19.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Pre-demographic dividend 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 Pre-demographic dividend. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-both-sexes-percent/pre-demographic-dividend/

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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.