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

Egypt: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 67.5% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
67.5%
World rank
69th
of 83 countries
All-time high
69.0%
in 2012
All-time low
33.5%
in 1976
Years of data
9
1976–2017

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Egypt, 1976–2017

02040601976199620171976: 33.5 %1986: 37.4 %1996: 49.2 %2005: 62.9 %2006: 60 %2010: 66.6 %2012: 69 %2013: 67.8 %2017: 67.5 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2017, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Egypt stood at 67.5%.

That represents a change of up 12.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Egypt peaked at 69.0% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 33.5%, in 1976.

That places Egypt 69th out of 83 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Egypt, year by year

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) in Egypt, 1976 to 2017.
Year % Change
1976 33.5%
1986 37.4% +11.5%
1996 49.2% +31.8%
2005 62.9% +27.8%
2006 60.0% -4.7%
2010 66.6% +11.2%
2012 69.0% +3.6%
2013 67.8% -1.7%
2017 67.5% -0.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 33.5% 33.5% 33.5% 1
1980s 37.4% 37.4% 37.4% 1
1990s 49.2% 49.2% 49.2% 1
2000s 61.4% 60.0% 62.9% 2
2010s 67.8% 66.6% 69.0% 4

Countries ranked near Egypt

  1. 66 Bangladesh 70.7% compare
  2. 67 Rwanda 70.4% compare
  3. 68 Uganda 69.9% compare
  4. 70 Burundi 60.8% compare
  5. 71 Nepal 60.7% compare
  6. 72 Malawi 59.1% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Egypt

All data for Egypt →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Egypt?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Egypt was 67.5% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Egypt?
The highest recorded value was 69.0% in 2012.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Egypt?
The lowest recorded value was 33.5% in 1976.
How does Egypt rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Egypt ranks 69th out of 83 countries with data for 2017.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Egypt?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Egypt 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 Egypt. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/egypt-arab-rep/

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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.