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

Malaysia: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes was 63.7% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
63.7%
Change on year
up 0.6%
World rank
16th
of 37 countries
All-time high
63.7%
in 2018
All-time low
26.7%
in 1991
Years of data
6
1991–2018

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in Malaysia, 1991–2018

02040601991200420181991: 26.7 %2000: 33.9 %2010: 46.4 %2016: 63 %2017: 63.4 %2018: 63.7 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Malaysia recorded 63.7% for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in 2018. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 37.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in Malaysia peaked at 63.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 26.7%, in 1991.

That places Malaysia 16th out of 37 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes (%) in Malaysia, 1991 to 2018.
Year % Change
1991 26.7%
2000 33.9% +27.2%
2010 46.4% +36.8%
2016 63.0% +35.8%
2017 63.4% +0.6%
2018 63.7% +0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 26.7% 26.7% 26.7% 1
2000s 33.9% 33.9% 33.9% 1
2010s 59.1% 46.4% 63.7% 4

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 13 Dominican Republic 71.7% compare
  2. 14 Colombia 67.0% compare
  3. 15 Indonesia 66.8% compare
  4. 17 Paraguay 62.4% compare
  5. 18 Mexico 61.7% compare
  6. 19 Ecuador 57.0% compare

See the full ranking of 37 places →

More reference data data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in Malaysia?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in Malaysia was 63.7% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 63.7% in 2018.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 26.7% in 1991.
How does Malaysia rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes?
Malaysia ranks 16th out of 37 countries with data for 2018.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is up 37.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Malaysia 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 Malaysia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-rural-both-sexes-percent/malaysia/

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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/