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

Malaysia: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 96.6% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
96.6%
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
28th
of 83 countries
All-time high
96.7%
in 2017
All-time low
63.4%
in 1980
Years of data
7
1980–2018

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Malaysia, 1980–2018

0204060801001980199920181980: 63.4 %1991: 81.7 %2000: 89 %2010: 94.5 %2016: 96.3 %2017: 96.7 %2018: 96.6 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Malaysia is 96.6%, measured in 2018.

The figure is down 0.1% on the previous year and up 2.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Malaysia peaked at 96.7% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 63.4%, in 1980.

Malaysia ranks 28th of 83 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 63.4% 63.4% 63.4% 1
1990s 81.7% 81.7% 81.7% 1
2000s 89.0% 89.0% 89.0% 1
2010s 96.0% 94.5% 96.7% 4

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 25 Seychelles 97.4% compare
  2. 26 Chile 97.2% compare
  3. 27 Indonesia 96.8% compare
  4. 29 Mexico 96.5% compare
  5. 30 Panama 96.3% compare
  6. 31 Kuwait 96.3% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Malaysia?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Malaysia was 96.6% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 96.7% in 2017.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 63.4% in 1980.
How does Malaysia rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Malaysia ranks 28th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Malaysia 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 Malaysia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 22 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/malaysia/

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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.