Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Lower middle income

Lower middle income: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 73.7% in 2019. ▲ Rising

Latest (2019)
73.7%
Change on year
up 0.9%
Rank
25th
of 38 groups
All-time high
73.7%
in 2019
All-time low
42.8%
in 1975
Years of data
45
1975–2019

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Lower middle income, 1975–2019

0204060801975199720191975: 42.8 %1976: 42.9 %1977: 43.4 %1978: 43.9 %1979: 44.5 %1980: 45 %1981: 45.8 %1982: 46.3 %1983: 46.8 %1984: 47.4 %1985: 48.1 %1986: 48.6 %1987: 49.5 %1988: 50 %1989: 50.6 %1990: 51.1 %1991: 51.8 %1992: 52.4 %1993: 53.2 %1994: 53.9 %1995: 54.6 %1996: 55.2 %1997: 56 %1998: 59.7 %1999: 60.3 %2000: 60.5 %2001: 61.3 %2002: 61.9 %2003: 62.9 %2004: 63.7 %2005: 63 %2006: 63.9 %2007: 63.7 %2008: 65 %2009: 65.7 %2010: 67.2 %2011: 67.4 %2012: 68.4 %2013: 68.9 %2014: 69.8 %2015: 70.9 %2016: 71.7 %2017: 72.3 %2018: 73.1 %2019: 73.7 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Lower middle income is 73.7%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 12.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Lower middle income peaked at 73.7% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 42.8%, in 1975.

Lower middle income ranks 25th of 38 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Lower middle income, year by year

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) in Lower middle income, 1975 to 2019.
Year % Change
1975 42.8%
1976 42.9% +0.1%
1977 43.4% +1.2%
1978 43.9% +1.2%
1979 44.5% +1.4%
1980 45.0% +1.2%
1981 45.8% +1.7%
1982 46.3% +1.0%
1983 46.8% +1.1%
1984 47.4% +1.4%
1985 48.1% +1.3%
1986 48.6% +1.1%
1987 49.5% +1.7%
1988 50.0% +1.2%
1989 50.6% +1.2%
1990 51.1% +1.0%
1991 51.8% +1.2%
1992 52.4% +1.3%
1993 53.2% +1.4%
1994 53.9% +1.3%
1995 54.6% +1.3%
1996 55.2% +1.2%
1997 56.0% +1.3%
1998 59.7% +6.8%
1999 60.3% +1.0%
2000 60.5% +0.3%
2001 61.3% +1.2%
2002 61.9% +1.1%
2003 62.9% +1.5%
2004 63.7% +1.3%
2005 63.0% -1.1%
2006 63.9% +1.4%
2007 63.7% -0.2%
2008 65.0% +2.0%
2009 65.7% +1.1%
2010 67.2% +2.2%
2011 67.4% +0.3%
2012 68.4% +1.5%
2013 68.9% +0.7%
2014 69.8% +1.3%
2015 70.9% +1.5%
2016 71.7% +1.3%
2017 72.3% +0.8%
2018 73.1% +1.0%
2019 73.7% +0.9%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 43.5% 42.8% 44.5% 5
1980s 47.8% 45.0% 50.6% 10
1990s 54.8% 51.1% 60.3% 10
2000s 63.2% 60.5% 65.7% 10
2010s 70.3% 67.2% 73.7% 10

Countries ranked near Lower middle income

  1. 22 Venezuela 97.8% compare
  2. 23 Turkey 97.6% compare
  3. 24 Palestine 97.5% compare
  4. 25 Seychelles 97.4% compare
  5. 26 Chile 97.2% compare
  6. 27 Indonesia 96.8% compare
  7. 28 Malaysia 96.6% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Lower middle income

All data for Lower middle income →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Lower middle income?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Lower middle income was 73.7% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Lower middle income?
The highest recorded value was 73.7% in 2019.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Lower middle income?
The lowest recorded value was 42.8% in 1975.
How does Lower middle income rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Lower middle income ranks 25th out of 38 groups with data for 2019.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Lower middle income?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Lower middle 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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Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Lower middle income. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/lower-middle-income/

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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.