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

IDA only: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 62.0% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
62.0%
Change on year
up 0.9%
Rank
30th
of 38 groups
All-time high
62.0%
in 2019
All-time low
37.6%
in 1981
Years of data
39
1981–2019

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA only, 1981–2019

02040601981200020191981: 37.6 %1982: 37.9 %1983: 38.3 %1984: 38.8 %1985: 39.3 %1986: 39.7 %1987: 40.3 %1988: 41 %1989: 41.5 %1990: 42.1 %1991: 42.6 %1992: 43.1 %1993: 43.6 %1994: 44.5 %1995: 45.1 %1996: 45.7 %1997: 46.6 %1998: 48.2 %1999: 49 %2000: 49.8 %2001: 50.7 %2002: 50.9 %2003: 51.6 %2004: 52.2 %2005: 52.6 %2006: 51.6 %2007: 51.5 %2008: 53.5 %2009: 53.7 %2010: 54.4 %2011: 54.2 %2012: 54.8 %2013: 55.6 %2014: 56.6 %2015: 58 %2016: 60.1 %2017: 60.8 %2018: 61.4 %2019: 62 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2019, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA only stood at 62.0%. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.

The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 15.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA only peaked at 62.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 37.6%, in 1981.

That places IDA only 30th out of 38 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 39 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) in IDA only, 1981 to 2019.
Year % Change
1981 37.6%
1982 37.9% +0.7%
1983 38.3% +1.1%
1984 38.8% +1.3%
1985 39.3% +1.2%
1986 39.7% +1.2%
1987 40.3% +1.4%
1988 41.0% +1.8%
1989 41.5% +1.2%
1990 42.1% +1.4%
1991 42.6% +1.3%
1992 43.1% +1.1%
1993 43.6% +1.1%
1994 44.5% +2.0%
1995 45.1% +1.3%
1996 45.7% +1.4%
1997 46.6% +1.9%
1998 48.2% +3.6%
1999 49.0% +1.5%
2000 49.8% +1.6%
2001 50.7% +1.9%
2002 50.9% +0.5%
2003 51.6% +1.2%
2004 52.2% +1.2%
2005 52.6% +0.8%
2006 51.6% -1.9%
2007 51.5% -0.1%
2008 53.5% +3.9%
2009 53.7% +0.4%
2010 54.4% +1.2%
2011 54.2% -0.4%
2012 54.8% +1.2%
2013 55.6% +1.5%
2014 56.6% +1.6%
2015 58.0% +2.5%
2016 60.1% +3.6%
2017 60.8% +1.2%
2018 61.4% +1.0%
2019 62.0% +0.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 39.4% 37.6% 41.5% 9
1990s 45.1% 42.1% 49.0% 10
2000s 51.8% 49.8% 53.7% 10
2010s 57.8% 54.2% 62.0% 10

Countries ranked near IDA only

  1. 27 Indonesia 96.8% compare
  2. 28 Malaysia 96.6% compare
  3. 29 Mexico 96.5% compare
  4. 30 Panama 96.3% compare
  5. 31 Kuwait 96.3% compare
  6. 32 Saudi Arabia 96.2% compare
  7. 33 Oman 96.0% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for IDA only

All data for IDA only →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA only?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA only was 62.0% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in IDA only?
The highest recorded value was 62.0% in 2019.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in IDA only?
The lowest recorded value was 37.6% in 1981.
How does IDA only rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
IDA only ranks 30th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in IDA only?
Over the last ten years it is up 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this IDA 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 IDA only. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/ida-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.