Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD): Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 75.9% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), 1971–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) is 75.9%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) peaked at 75.9% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 31.7%, in 1971.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 25th out of 39 groups with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 49 years of available data.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD), year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 31.7% | — |
| 1972 | 32.0% | +1.2% |
| 1973 | 32.4% | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 32.9% | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 33.3% | +1.4% |
| 1976 | 33.8% | +1.5% |
| 1977 | 34.3% | +1.5% |
| 1978 | 34.9% | +1.9% |
| 1979 | 35.6% | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 36.4% | +2.2% |
| 1981 | 37.1% | +2.1% |
| 1982 | 38.0% | +2.3% |
| 1983 | 38.4% | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 39.3% | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 40.3% | +2.7% |
| 1986 | 41.3% | +2.4% |
| 1987 | 42.4% | +2.6% |
| 1988 | 43.6% | +2.9% |
| 1989 | 44.8% | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 47.7% | +6.6% |
| 1991 | 49.0% | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 50.3% | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 52.0% | +3.4% |
| 1994 | 53.2% | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 55.1% | +3.6% |
| 1996 | 56.6% | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 57.9% | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 59.5% | +2.8% |
| 1999 | 60.9% | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 62.2% | +2.1% |
| 2001 | 63.7% | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 65.0% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 68.5% | +5.4% |
| 2004 | 69.7% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 69.1% | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 69.0% | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 69.7% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 70.6% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 71.2% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 72.0% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 72.3% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 73.2% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 73.4% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 74.7% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 75.6% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 74.0% | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 74.9% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 75.4% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 75.9% | +0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 33.4% | 31.7% | 35.6% | 9 |
| 1980s | 40.2% | 36.4% | 44.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 54.2% | 47.7% | 60.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.9% | 62.2% | 71.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 74.1% | 72.0% | 75.9% | 10 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
- 22 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 97.8% compare
- 23 Türkiye 97.6% compare
- 24 Palestine, State of 97.5% compare
- 25 Seychelles 97.4% compare
- 26 Chile 97.2% compare
- 27 Indonesia 96.8% compare
- 28 Malaysia 96.6% compare
More reference data data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 8.39 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 4.08 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 4.31 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 6.13 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 6.01 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 6.25 years (2019)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 87.4% (2019)
- School life expectancy, pre-primary, both sexes 0.5463 years (2019)
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, adjusted gender parity 1.03 GPIA (2019)
- Teachers in primary education, male 718,414 number (2019)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) →
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) was 75.9% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- The highest recorded value was 75.9% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- The lowest recorded value was 31.7% in 1971.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) ranks 25th out of 39 groups with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan (IDA & IBRD) 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.