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

IDA total: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 61.3% in 2016. ▲ Rising

Latest (2016)
61.3%
Change on year
up 5.0%
Rank
34th
of 38 groups
All-time high
61.3%
in 2016
All-time low
40.2%
in 1981
Years of data
28
1981–2016

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA total, 1981–2016

02040601981199820161981: 40.2 %1982: 40.5 %1983: 40.9 %1984: 41.3 %1986: 42.2 %1987: 42.9 %1988: 43.6 %1989: 44.1 %1991: 45.4 %1992: 46.1 %1993: 47 %1994: 47.8 %1996: 49.1 %1997: 49.9 %1998: 51.4 %2001: 52.7 %2002: 53.1 %2003: 53.9 %2004: 54.8 %2006: 54.5 %2007: 53.9 %2008: 55.3 %2009: 55.8 %2011: 56.3 %2012: 57.3 %2013: 57.4 %2014: 58.4 %2016: 61.3 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2016, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA total stood at 61.3%. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.0% on the previous year and up 12.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA total peaked at 61.3% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 40.2%, in 1981.

IDA total ranks 34th of 38 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) in IDA total, 1981 to 2016.
Year % Change
1981 40.2%
1982 40.5% +0.7%
1983 40.9% +0.9%
1984 41.3% +1.1%
1986 42.2% +2.1%
1987 42.9% +1.5%
1988 43.6% +1.7%
1989 44.1% +1.1%
1991 45.4% +3.0%
1992 46.1% +1.5%
1993 47.0% +1.9%
1994 47.8% +1.7%
1996 49.1% +2.8%
1997 49.9% +1.7%
1998 51.4% +2.9%
2001 52.7% +2.6%
2002 53.1% +0.8%
2003 53.9% +1.4%
2004 54.8% +1.8%
2006 54.5% -0.6%
2007 53.9% -1.1%
2008 55.3% +2.6%
2009 55.8% +0.8%
2011 56.3% +0.9%
2012 57.3% +1.8%
2013 57.4% +0.3%
2014 58.4% +1.6%
2016 61.3% +5.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 42.0% 40.2% 44.1% 8
1990s 48.1% 45.4% 51.4% 7
2000s 54.3% 52.7% 55.8% 8
2010s 58.1% 56.3% 61.3% 5

Countries ranked near IDA total

  1. 31 Kuwait 96.3% compare
  2. 32 Saudi Arabia 96.2% compare
  3. 33 Oman 96.0% compare
  4. 34 Malta 95.9% compare
  5. 35 Colombia 95.8% compare
  6. 36 Paraguay 95.3% compare
  7. 37 Viet Nam 95.3% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for IDA total

All data for IDA total →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA total?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in IDA total was 61.3% in 2016, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in IDA total?
The highest recorded value was 61.3% in 2016.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in IDA total?
The lowest recorded value was 40.2% in 1981.
How does IDA total rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
IDA total ranks 34th out of 38 groups with data for 2016.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in IDA total?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this IDA 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 total. 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-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.