Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA & IBRD total

IDA & IBRD total: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 83.6% in 2016. ▲ Rising

Latest (2016)
83.6%
Change on year
up 1.1%
Rank
20th
of 38 groups
All-time high
83.6%
in 2016
All-time low
55.4%
in 1976
Years of data
32
1976–2016

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA & IBRD total, 1976–2016

0204060801976199620161976: 55.4 %1977: 55.6 %1978: 56.4 %1979: 57.2 %1981: 58.8 %1982: 60.3 %1983: 60.3 %1984: 61.2 %1986: 62.8 %1987: 63.6 %1988: 66 %1989: 66.8 %1991: 68.2 %1992: 69 %1993: 69.8 %1994: 70.5 %1996: 71.9 %1997: 74.7 %1998: 76.4 %2001: 77.9 %2002: 78.3 %2003: 78.9 %2004: 79.4 %2006: 79.3 %2007: 79.8 %2008: 80.3 %2009: 80.7 %2011: 81.5 %2012: 82 %2013: 82.2 %2014: 82.7 %2016: 83.6 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2016, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA & IBRD total stood at 83.6%. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.

The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 5.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA & IBRD total peaked at 83.6% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 55.4%, in 1976.

IDA & IBRD total ranks 20th of 38 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA & IBRD total, year by year

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) in IDA & IBRD total, 1976 to 2016.
Year % Change
1976 55.4%
1977 55.6% +0.5%
1978 56.4% +1.4%
1979 57.2% +1.4%
1981 58.8% +2.9%
1982 60.3% +2.5%
1983 60.3% +0.1%
1984 61.2% +1.5%
1986 62.8% +2.6%
1987 63.6% +1.3%
1988 66.0% +3.8%
1989 66.8% +1.1%
1991 68.2% +2.2%
1992 69.0% +1.1%
1993 69.8% +1.1%
1994 70.5% +1.1%
1996 71.9% +2.0%
1997 74.7% +3.8%
1998 76.4% +2.4%
2001 77.9% +1.9%
2002 78.3% +0.5%
2003 78.9% +0.8%
2004 79.4% +0.7%
2006 79.3% -0.2%
2007 79.8% +0.7%
2008 80.3% +0.7%
2009 80.7% +0.5%
2011 81.5% +1.0%
2012 82.0% +0.6%
2013 82.2% +0.3%
2014 82.7% +0.6%
2016 83.6% +1.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 56.2% 55.4% 57.2% 4
1980s 62.5% 58.8% 66.8% 8
1990s 71.5% 68.2% 76.4% 7
2000s 79.3% 77.9% 80.7% 8
2010s 82.4% 81.5% 83.6% 5

Countries ranked near IDA & IBRD total

  1. 17 Philippines 98.2% compare
  2. 18 Maldives 98.2% compare
  3. 19 Brunei Darussalam 98.1% compare
  4. 20 Bahrain 98.1% compare
  5. 21 Macao 98.0% compare
  6. 22 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 97.8% compare
  7. 23 Türkiye 97.6% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for IDA & IBRD total

All data for IDA & IBRD total →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA & IBRD total?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA & IBRD total was 83.6% in 2016, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in IDA & IBRD total?
The highest recorded value was 83.6% in 2016.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in IDA & IBRD total?
The lowest recorded value was 55.4% in 1976.
How does IDA & IBRD total rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
IDA & IBRD total ranks 20th out of 38 groups with data for 2016.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in IDA & IBRD total?
Over the last ten years it is up 5.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this IDA & IBRD total 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 IDA & IBRD total. 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/ida-and-ibrd-total/

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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.