Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)

Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC): Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 57.8% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
57.8%
Change on year
up 1.0%
Rank
37th
of 38 groups
All-time high
57.8%
in 2019
All-time low
37.3%
in 1986
Years of data
34
1986–2019

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), 1986–2019

02040601986200220191986: 37.3 %1987: 38 %1988: 38.6 %1989: 39.3 %1990: 40 %1991: 40.6 %1992: 41.2 %1993: 41.8 %1994: 42.5 %1995: 42.7 %1996: 43.4 %1997: 44.4 %1998: 45.5 %1999: 46.3 %2000: 47.2 %2001: 48.1 %2002: 48.2 %2003: 48.9 %2004: 49.5 %2005: 49.6 %2006: 47.6 %2007: 49 %2008: 49 %2009: 49 %2010: 49.9 %2011: 51.7 %2012: 52.9 %2013: 53.7 %2014: 54.7 %2015: 55.2 %2016: 55.8 %2017: 56.8 %2018: 57.3 %2019: 57.8 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) recorded 57.8% for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in 2019. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 18.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) peaked at 57.8% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 37.3%, in 1986.

That places Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 37th out of 38 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), year by year

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), 1986 to 2019.
Year % Change
1986 37.3%
1987 38.0% +1.9%
1988 38.6% +1.6%
1989 39.3% +1.6%
1990 40.0% +1.9%
1991 40.6% +1.4%
1992 41.2% +1.6%
1993 41.8% +1.3%
1994 42.5% +1.8%
1995 42.7% +0.5%
1996 43.4% +1.6%
1997 44.4% +2.3%
1998 45.5% +2.5%
1999 46.3% +1.7%
2000 47.2% +2.0%
2001 48.1% +1.9%
2002 48.2% +0.2%
2003 48.9% +1.4%
2004 49.5% +1.2%
2005 49.6% +0.3%
2006 47.6% -4.0%
2007 49.0% +2.8%
2008 49.0% +0.1%
2009 49.0% -0.0%
2010 49.9% +1.9%
2011 51.7% +3.5%
2012 52.9% +2.5%
2013 53.7% +1.4%
2014 54.7% +1.8%
2015 55.2% +0.9%
2016 55.8% +1.2%
2017 56.8% +1.6%
2018 57.3% +0.9%
2019 57.8% +1.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 38.3% 37.3% 39.3% 4
1990s 42.8% 40.0% 46.3% 10
2000s 48.6% 47.2% 49.6% 10
2010s 54.6% 49.9% 57.8% 10

Countries ranked near Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)

  1. 34 Malta 95.9% compare
  2. 35 Colombia 95.8% compare
  3. 36 Paraguay 95.3% compare
  4. 37 Viet Nam 95.3% compare
  5. 38 Peru 95.0% compare
  6. 39 Suriname 94.8% compare
  7. 40 Brazil 94.4% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)

All data for Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) was 57.8% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
The highest recorded value was 57.8% in 2019.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
The lowest recorded value was 37.3% in 1986.
How does Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) ranks 37th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC)?
Over the last ten years it is up 18.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) 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 Heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC). Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/heavily-indebted-poor-countries-hipc/

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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.