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

Vietnam: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes was 85.8% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
85.8%
World rank
22nd
of 83 countries
All-time high
85.8%
in 2018
All-time low
37.6%
in 1979
Years of data
6
1979–2018

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Vietnam, 1979–2018

0204060801979199820181979: 37.6 %1989: 54.9 %1999: 59.6 %2000: 64.4 %2009: 76.9 %2018: 85.8 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Vietnam is 85.8%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Vietnam peaked at 85.8% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 37.6%, in 1979.

That places Vietnam 22nd out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes (%) in Vietnam, 1979 to 2018.
Year % Change
1979 37.6%
1989 54.9% +46.1%
1999 59.6% +8.5%
2000 64.4% +8.1%
2009 76.9% +19.3%
2018 85.8% +11.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 37.6% 37.6% 37.6% 1
1980s 54.9% 54.9% 54.9% 1
1990s 59.6% 59.6% 59.6% 1
2000s 70.6% 64.4% 76.9% 2
2010s 85.8% 85.8% 85.8% 1

Countries ranked near Vietnam

  1. 19 Malta 88.2% compare
  2. 20 Venezuela 88.1% compare
  3. 21 Singapore 86.4% compare
  4. 23 China 85.0% compare
  5. 24 Panama 85.0% compare
  6. 25 Colombia 83.3% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Vietnam

All data for Vietnam →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Vietnam?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes in Vietnam was 85.8% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Vietnam?
The highest recorded value was 85.8% in 2018.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes recorded in Vietnam?
The lowest recorded value was 37.6% in 1979.
How does Vietnam rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes?
Vietnam ranks 22nd out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Vietnam?
Over the last ten years it is up 11.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Vietnam 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 Vietnam. 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/viet-nam/

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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.