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

Sri Lanka: Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes was 77.2% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
77.2%
Change on year
down 2.1%
World rank
9th
of 37 countries
All-time high
79.5%
in 2016
All-time low
66.4%
in 1981
Years of data
8
1981–2018

Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in Sri Lanka, 1981–2018

0204060801981199920181981: 66.4 %2001: 75.3 %2006: 71.8 %2008: 72.8 %2010: 75.5 %2016: 79.5 %2017: 78.9 %2018: 77.2 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Sri Lanka recorded 77.2% for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in 2018.

That represents a change of down 2.1% on the previous year and up 6.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in Sri Lanka peaked at 79.5% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 66.4%, in 1981.

That places Sri Lanka 9th out of 37 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.

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

Annual values for Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes (%) in Sri Lanka, 1981 to 2018.
Year % Change
1981 66.4%
2001 75.3% +13.5%
2006 71.8% -4.6%
2008 72.8% +1.3%
2010 75.5% +3.8%
2016 79.5% +5.2%
2017 78.9% -0.7%
2018 77.2% -2.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 66.4% 66.4% 66.4% 1
2000s 73.3% 71.8% 75.3% 3
2010s 77.8% 75.5% 79.5% 4

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 6 Greece 87.5% compare
  2. 7 Kuwait 78.8% compare
  3. 8 Chile 77.9% compare
  4. 10 Thailand 75.0% compare
  5. 11 Turkey 73.0% compare
  6. 12 Palestine 71.9% compare

See the full ranking of 37 places →

More reference data data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in Sri Lanka?
Elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes in Sri Lanka was 77.2% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 79.5% in 2016.
What is the lowest elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 66.4% in 1981.
How does Sri Lanka rank for elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes?
Sri Lanka ranks 9th out of 37 countries with data for 2018.
Is elderly literacy rate, population 65+ years, rural, both sexes rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is up 6.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/elderly-literacy-rate-population-65-years-rural-both-sexes-percent/sri-lanka/

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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/