Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in China

China: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 98.4% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
98.4%
World rank
15th
of 83 countries
All-time high
98.4%
in 2018
All-time low
61.9%
in 1982
Years of data
5
1982–2018

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in China, 1982–2018

0204060801001982200020181982: 61.9 %1990: 76.4 %2000: 93.9 %2010: 97.1 %2018: 98.4 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2018, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in China stood at 98.4%. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

That represents a change of up 1.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in China peaked at 98.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 61.9%, in 1982.

China ranks 15th of 83 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 61.9% 61.9% 61.9% 1
1990s 76.4% 76.4% 76.4% 1
2000s 93.9% 93.9% 93.9% 1
2010s 97.8% 97.1% 98.4% 2

Countries ranked near China

  1. 12 Uruguay 98.9% compare
  2. 13 Greece 98.8% compare
  3. 14 Portugal 98.6% compare
  4. 16 Jordan 98.4% compare
  5. 17 Philippines 98.2% compare
  6. 18 Maldives 98.2% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in China?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in China was 98.4% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 98.4% in 2018.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 61.9% in 1982.
How does China rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
China ranks 15th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in China. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 20 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
122 places, 2,220 data points, 1970–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population between age 25 and age 64 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 25-64 years by the corresponding age group population and multiplying the result by 100.