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

Singapore: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 86.4% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
86.4%
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
21st
of 83 countries
All-time high
86.4%
in 2018
All-time low
37.8%
in 1980
Years of data
12
1980–2018

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

0204060801980199920181980: 37.8 %1990: 51 %2000: 60.3 %2010: 75.7 %2011: 79 %2012: 80.3 %2013: 81.5 %2014: 82.6 %2015: 84 %2016: 84.6 %2017: 85.6 %2018: 86.4 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Singapore is 86.4%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 12 years on record.

That represents a change of up 1.0% on the previous year and up 14.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Singapore peaked at 86.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 37.8%, in 1980.

Singapore ranks 21st of 83 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 12 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Singapore, 1980 to 2018.
Year % Change
1980 37.8%
1990 51.0% +34.8%
2000 60.3% +18.3%
2010 75.7% +25.6%
2011 79.0% +4.4%
2012 80.3% +1.6%
2013 81.5% +1.5%
2014 82.6% +1.4%
2015 84.0% +1.7%
2016 84.6% +0.7%
2017 85.6% +1.1%
2018 86.4% +1.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 37.8% 37.8% 37.8% 1
1990s 51.0% 51.0% 51.0% 1
2000s 60.3% 60.3% 60.3% 1
2010s 82.2% 75.7% 86.4% 9

Countries ranked near Singapore

  1. 18 Portugal 88.3% compare
  2. 19 Malta 88.2% compare
  3. 20 Venezuela 88.1% compare
  4. 22 Vietnam 85.8% compare
  5. 23 China 85.0% compare
  6. 24 Panama 85.0% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Singapore

All data for Singapore →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Singapore?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Singapore was 86.4% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Singapore?
The highest recorded value was 86.4% in 2018.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Singapore?
The lowest recorded value was 37.8% in 1980.
How does Singapore rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
Singapore ranks 21st out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Singapore?
Over the last ten years it is up 14.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Singapore 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 Singapore. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-both-sexes-percent/singapore/

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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.