Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Small states

Small states: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 73.1% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
73.1%
Change on year
up 0.7%
Rank
16th
of 38 groups
All-time high
73.1%
in 2019
All-time low
58.6%
in 1986
Years of data
35
1985–2019

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Small states, 1985–2019

0204060801985200220191985: 58.6 %1986: 58.6 %1987: 58.7 %1988: 59.1 %1989: 59.1 %1990: 59.1 %1991: 58.8 %1992: 59.3 %1993: 59.6 %1994: 60 %1995: 60.4 %1996: 60.9 %1997: 61.4 %1998: 62.2 %1999: 62.9 %2000: 62.8 %2001: 63 %2002: 63.8 %2003: 64.7 %2004: 65.3 %2005: 66.1 %2006: 66.3 %2007: 66.1 %2008: 67 %2009: 67.1 %2010: 68.6 %2011: 69 %2012: 69.8 %2013: 69.7 %2014: 70.2 %2015: 71.2 %2016: 71.6 %2017: 72.1 %2018: 72.6 %2019: 73.1 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Small states is 73.1%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 8.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Small states peaked at 73.1% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 58.6%, in 1986.

That places Small states 16th out of 38 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Small states, 1985 to 2019.
Year % Change
1985 58.6%
1986 58.6% -0.0%
1987 58.7% +0.1%
1988 59.1% +0.7%
1989 59.1% +0.0%
1990 59.1% +0.1%
1991 58.8% -0.5%
1992 59.3% +0.9%
1993 59.6% +0.5%
1994 60.0% +0.5%
1995 60.4% +0.8%
1996 60.9% +0.8%
1997 61.4% +0.7%
1998 62.2% +1.4%
1999 62.9% +1.1%
2000 62.8% -0.2%
2001 63.0% +0.4%
2002 63.8% +1.3%
2003 64.7% +1.4%
2004 65.3% +0.9%
2005 66.1% +1.3%
2006 66.3% +0.3%
2007 66.1% -0.3%
2008 67.0% +1.4%
2009 67.1% +0.2%
2010 68.6% +2.2%
2011 69.0% +0.5%
2012 69.8% +1.2%
2013 69.7% -0.2%
2014 70.2% +0.7%
2015 71.2% +1.4%
2016 71.6% +0.5%
2017 72.1% +0.7%
2018 72.6% +0.7%
2019 73.1% +0.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 58.8% 58.6% 59.1% 5
1990s 60.5% 58.8% 62.9% 10
2000s 65.2% 62.8% 67.1% 10
2010s 70.8% 68.6% 73.1% 10

Countries ranked near Small states

  1. 13 Philippines 94.3% compare
  2. 14 Albania 93.4% compare
  3. 15 Jordan 90.7% compare
  4. 16 Chile 90.4% compare
  5. 17 Maldives 90.2% compare
  6. 18 Portugal 88.3% compare
  7. 19 Malta 88.2% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Small states

All data for Small states →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Small states?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Small states was 73.1% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Small states?
The highest recorded value was 73.1% in 2019.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Small states?
The lowest recorded value was 58.6% in 1986.
How does Small states rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
Small states ranks 16th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Small states?
Over the last ten years it is up 8.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Small states 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 Small states. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 23 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-both-sexes-percent/small-states/

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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.