Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Kuwait

Kuwait: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 96.3% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
96.3%
Change on year
up 0.0%
World rank
31st
of 83 countries
All-time high
96.3%
in 2018
All-time low
55.4%
in 1975
Years of data
14
1975–2018

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Kuwait, 1975–2018

0204060801001975199620181975: 55.4 %1980: 64 %1985: 70.9 %1995: 75.5 %2005: 92.8 %2006: 93.1 %2007: 93.5 %2008: 93.8 %2010: 94.5 %2012: 95.8 %2013: 95.7 %2015: 95.9 %2017: 96.3 %2018: 96.3 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2018, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Kuwait stood at 96.3%. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.

The figure is up 2.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Kuwait peaked at 96.3% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 55.4%, in 1975.

That places Kuwait 31st out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) in Kuwait, 1975 to 2018.
Year % Change
1975 55.4% —
1980 64.0% +15.5%
1985 70.9% +10.8%
1995 75.5% +6.4%
2005 92.8% +22.9%
2006 93.1% +0.3%
2007 93.5% +0.5%
2008 93.8% +0.3%
2010 94.5% +0.7%
2012 95.8% +1.4%
2013 95.7% -0.1%
2015 95.9% +0.2%
2017 96.3% +0.4%
2018 96.3% +0.0%

Kuwait compared with similar countries

  • Kuwait's 96.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 98.0%, 98% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
  • Kuwait's 96.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 94.7%, 1.0× the median. (14 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 55.4% 55.4% 55.4% 1
1980s 67.5% 64.0% 70.9% 2
1990s 75.5% 75.5% 75.5% 1
2000s 93.3% 92.8% 93.8% 4
2010s 95.7% 94.5% 96.3% 6

Countries ranked near Kuwait

  1. 28 Malaysia 96.6% compare
  2. 29 Mexico 96.5% compare
  3. 30 Panama 96.3% compare
  4. 32 Saudi Arabia 96.2% compare
  5. 33 Oman 96.0% compare
  6. 34 Malta 95.9% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Kuwait

All data for Kuwait →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Kuwait?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Kuwait was 96.3% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Kuwait?
The highest recorded value was 96.3% in 2018.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Kuwait?
The lowest recorded value was 55.4% in 1975.
How does Kuwait rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Kuwait ranks 31st out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Kuwait?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Kuwait 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 Kuwait. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 29 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/kuwait/

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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.