Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 60.5% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Least developed countries, 1981–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Least developed countries is 60.5%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 39 years on record.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 16.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Least developed countries peaked at 60.5% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 35.9%, in 1981.
Least developed countries ranks 35th of 38 groups on this measure, 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 Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 35.9% | — |
| 1982 | 36.2% | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 36.6% | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 37.1% | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 37.5% | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 38.0% | +1.2% |
| 1987 | 38.6% | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 39.3% | +1.9% |
| 1989 | 39.8% | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 40.4% | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 40.9% | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 41.4% | +1.2% |
| 1993 | 41.9% | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 42.8% | +2.2% |
| 1995 | 43.5% | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 44.1% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 45.0% | +2.0% |
| 1998 | 46.7% | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 47.5% | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 48.0% | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 48.9% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 49.0% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 49.7% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 50.3% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 50.8% | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 49.6% | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 49.3% | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 51.3% | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 51.9% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 52.3% | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 52.0% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 52.7% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 53.6% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 54.5% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 56.1% | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 58.4% | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 59.2% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 59.9% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 60.5% | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 37.7% | 35.9% | 39.8% | 9 |
| 1990s | 43.4% | 40.4% | 47.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.9% | 48.0% | 51.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.9% | 52.0% | 60.5% | 10 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
More reference data data for Least developed countries
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry age 27.34 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry age 13.50 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry age 13.85 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 6.29 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 6.11 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 6.46 years (2019)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general progr 94.9% (2019)
- School life expectancy, pre-primary, both sexes 0.6598 years (2019)
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, adjusted gender parity i 0.7262 GPIA (2019)
- Teachers in primary education, male 2.33 million number (2019)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Least developed countries?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Least developed countries was 60.5% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 60.5% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.9% in 1981.
- How does Least developed countries rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Least developed countries ranks 35th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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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About this data
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.