Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IBRD only

IBRD only: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 89.7% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
89.7%
Change on year
up 0.4%
Rank
15th
of 38 groups
All-time high
89.7%
in 2019
All-time low
58.7%
in 1975
Years of data
45
1975–2019

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IBRD only, 1975–2019

0204060801975199720191975: 58.7 %1976: 58.8 %1977: 59 %1978: 59.9 %1979: 60.7 %1980: 61.3 %1981: 62.4 %1982: 64.1 %1983: 64.1 %1984: 65 %1985: 65.9 %1986: 66.7 %1987: 67.5 %1988: 70.3 %1989: 71.1 %1990: 72 %1991: 72.6 %1992: 73.4 %1993: 74.2 %1994: 74.9 %1995: 75.7 %1996: 76.4 %1997: 79.5 %1998: 81.4 %1999: 81.9 %2000: 82.8 %2001: 82.9 %2002: 83.4 %2003: 84 %2004: 84.5 %2005: 84.5 %2006: 84.5 %2007: 85.3 %2008: 85.7 %2009: 86.2 %2010: 86.9 %2011: 87.2 %2012: 87.6 %2013: 87.8 %2014: 88.3 %2015: 88.7 %2016: 88.9 %2017: 89.1 %2018: 89.3 %2019: 89.7 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

IBRD only recorded 89.7% for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in 2019. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.

That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and up 4.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IBRD only peaked at 89.7% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 58.7%, in 1975.

That places IBRD only 15th out of 38 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 59.4% 58.7% 60.7% 5
1980s 65.9% 61.3% 71.1% 10
1990s 76.2% 72.0% 81.9% 10
2000s 84.4% 82.8% 86.2% 10
2010s 88.3% 86.9% 89.7% 10

Countries ranked near IBRD only

  1. 12 Uruguay 98.9% compare
  2. 13 Greece 98.8% compare
  3. 14 Portugal 98.6% compare
  4. 15 China (People's Republic of) 98.4% compare
  5. 16 Jordan 98.4% compare
  6. 17 Philippines 98.2% compare
  7. 18 Maldives 98.2% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for IBRD only

All data for IBRD only →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IBRD only?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IBRD only was 89.7% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in IBRD only?
The highest recorded value was 89.7% in 2019.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in IBRD only?
The lowest recorded value was 58.7% in 1975.
How does IBRD only rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
IBRD only ranks 15th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in IBRD only?
Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this IBRD only 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 IBRD only. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 17 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/ibrd-only/

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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.