Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in Bangladesh

Bangladesh: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes was 30.9% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
30.9%
Change on year
down 2.8%
World rank
28th
of 37 countries
All-time high
31.8%
in 2018
All-time low
17.5%
in 1981
Years of data
12
1981–2019

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in Bangladesh, 1981–2019

01020301981200020191981: 17.5 %1991: 20.3 %2001: 25.9 %2011: 25.2 %2012: 21.5 %2013: 26.3 %2014: 27.8 %2015: 24.6 %2016: 31.5 %2017: 31 %2018: 31.8 %2019: 30.9 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2019, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in Bangladesh stood at 30.9%.

The figure is down 2.8% on the previous year and up 22.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in Bangladesh peaked at 31.8% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 17.5%, in 1981.

That places Bangladesh 28th out of 37 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

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

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes (%) in Bangladesh, 1981 to 2019.
Year % Change
1981 17.5%
1991 20.3% +15.7%
2001 25.9% +27.7%
2011 25.2% -2.6%
2012 21.5% -14.7%
2013 26.3% +22.1%
2014 27.8% +5.8%
2015 24.6% -11.5%
2016 31.5% +28.1%
2017 31.0% -1.6%
2018 31.8% +2.5%
2019 30.9% -2.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 17.5% 17.5% 17.5% 1
1990s 20.3% 20.3% 20.3% 1
2000s 25.9% 25.9% 25.9% 1
2010s 27.8% 21.5% 31.8% 9

Countries ranked near Bangladesh

  1. 25 Honduras 45.8% compare
  2. 26 Uganda 34.4% compare
  3. 27 Guatemala 31.0% compare
  4. 29 South Africa 23.7% compare
  5. 30 Senegal 22.4% compare
  6. 31 Pakistan 19.8% compare

See the full ranking of 37 places →

More reference data data for Bangladesh

All data for Bangladesh →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in Bangladesh?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in Bangladesh was 30.9% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes recorded in Bangladesh?
The highest recorded value was 31.8% in 2018.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes recorded in Bangladesh?
The lowest recorded value was 17.5% in 1981.
How does Bangladesh rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes?
Bangladesh ranks 28th out of 37 countries with data for 2019.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes rising or falling in Bangladesh?
Over the last ten years it is up 22.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Bangladesh data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in Bangladesh. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-rural-both-sexes-percent/bangladesh/

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About this data

Indicator
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
37 places, 335 data points, 1976–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population age 65 and above in rural areas 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. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/