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

Turkey: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 80.4% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
80.4%
Change on year
down 8.7%
World rank
29th
of 83 countries
All-time high
88.1%
in 2016
All-time low
23.4%
in 1980
Years of data
17
1975–2017

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Turkey, 1975–2017

204060801975199620171975: 25.8 %1980: 23.4 %1985: 30.9 %1990: 36.4 %2004: 53.1 %2005: 55.4 %2006: 54.9 %2007: 56.9 %2009: 62.1 %2010: 65 %2011: 70.8 %2012: 74.6 %2013: 76.1 %2014: 77.1 %2015: 78.1 %2016: 88.1 %2017: 80.4 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Turkey is 80.4%, measured in 2017.

That represents a change of down 8.7% on the previous year and up 41.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Turkey peaked at 88.1% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 23.4%, in 1980.

That places Turkey 29th out of 83 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 17 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Turkey, 1975 to 2017.
Year % Change
1975 25.8%
1980 23.4% -9.5%
1985 30.9% +32.2%
1990 36.4% +17.9%
2004 53.1% +45.8%
2005 55.4% +4.3%
2006 54.9% -0.9%
2007 56.9% +3.7%
2009 62.1% +9.1%
2010 65.0% +4.7%
2011 70.8% +8.9%
2012 74.6% +5.4%
2013 76.1% +1.9%
2014 77.1% +1.3%
2015 78.1% +1.3%
2016 88.1% +12.9%
2017 80.4% -8.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 25.8% 25.8% 25.8% 1
1980s 27.1% 23.4% 30.9% 2
1990s 36.4% 36.4% 36.4% 1
2000s 56.5% 53.1% 62.1% 5
2010s 76.3% 65.0% 88.1% 8

Countries ranked near Turkey

  1. 26 Macao 81.2% compare
  2. 27 Suriname 81.0% compare
  3. 28 Mexico 80.7% compare
  4. 30 Dominican Republic 79.8% compare
  5. 31 Sri Lanka 79.1% compare
  6. 32 Peru 79.0% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Turkey

All data for Turkey →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Turkey?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Turkey was 80.4% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Turkey?
The highest recorded value was 88.1% in 2016.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Turkey?
The lowest recorded value was 23.4% in 1980.
How does Turkey rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
Turkey ranks 29th out of 83 countries with data for 2017.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Turkey?
Over the last ten years it is up 41.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Turkey 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 Turkey. 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/turkiye/

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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.