Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Low income
Low income: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 56.0% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Low income, 1988–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2019, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Low income stood at 56.0%. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 13.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Low income peaked at 56.0% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 41.5%, in 1988.
That places Low income 38th out of 38 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 32 years of available data.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Low income, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 41.5% | — |
| 1989 | 41.9% | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 42.4% | +1.3% |
| 1991 | 43.0% | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 43.5% | +1.1% |
| 1993 | 43.9% | +1.0% |
| 1994 | 44.5% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 44.8% | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 45.4% | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 46.3% | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 47.2% | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 47.8% | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 48.3% | +1.0% |
| 2001 | 49.1% | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 49.0% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 49.4% | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 49.8% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 50.1% | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 47.7% | -4.7% |
| 2007 | 48.7% | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 49.1% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 49.5% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 50.0% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 51.6% | +3.3% |
| 2012 | 51.9% | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 52.7% | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 53.2% | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 53.8% | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 54.4% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 55.2% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 55.6% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 56.0% | +0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 41.7% | 41.5% | 41.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 44.9% | 42.4% | 47.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 49.1% | 47.7% | 50.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 53.5% | 50.0% | 56.0% | 10 |
Countries ranked near Low income
More reference data data for Low income
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 2,206 (2026)
- CPI Price, nominal 259.59 (2025)
- CPI Price, nominal, seas. adj. 248.16 (2026)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 6.17 years (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 18.98 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 9.37 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 9.61 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 6.43 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 5.91 years (2019)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 94.0% (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Low income?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Low income was 56.0% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Low income?
- The highest recorded value was 56.0% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Low income?
- The lowest recorded value was 41.5% in 1988.
- How does Low income rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Low income ranks 38th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Low income?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Low income 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.