Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 79.7% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, 1973–2019
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 is 79.7%, measured in 2019. That is the highest value across all 47 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 7.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan peaked at 79.7% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 36.1%, in 1973.
That places Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 22nd 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 47 years of available data.
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 36.1% | — |
| 1974 | 36.5% | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 37.0% | +1.3% |
| 1976 | 37.5% | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 38.1% | +1.4% |
| 1978 | 38.7% | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 39.4% | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 40.2% | +1.9% |
| 1981 | 41.0% | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 41.9% | +2.2% |
| 1983 | 42.3% | +1.1% |
| 1984 | 43.2% | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 44.2% | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 45.0% | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 46.0% | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 47.2% | +2.7% |
| 1989 | 48.4% | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 51.1% | +5.6% |
| 1991 | 52.3% | +2.4% |
| 1992 | 53.6% | +2.4% |
| 1993 | 55.2% | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 56.3% | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 58.1% | +3.2% |
| 1996 | 59.6% | +2.5% |
| 1997 | 60.8% | +2.1% |
| 1998 | 62.3% | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 63.7% | +2.2% |
| 2000 | 64.9% | +2.0% |
| 2001 | 66.4% | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 67.8% | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 70.9% | +4.6% |
| 2004 | 72.1% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 71.7% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 71.8% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 72.6% | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 73.6% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 74.3% | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 75.1% | +1.1% |
| 2011 | 76.1% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 76.9% | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 77.3% | +0.4% |
| 2014 | 78.4% | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 79.3% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 78.0% | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 78.8% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 79.3% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 79.7% | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 37.6% | 36.1% | 39.4% | 7 |
| 1980s | 43.9% | 40.2% | 48.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 57.3% | 51.1% | 63.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 70.6% | 64.9% | 74.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 77.9% | 75.1% | 79.7% | 10 |
Countries ranked near Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- 19 Brunei Darussalam 98.1% compare
- 20 Bahrain 98.1% compare
- 21 Macau, China 98.0% compare
- 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
More reference data data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 9.59 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 4.67 million number (2019)
- School age population, one year before than official primary entry 4.92 million number (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, both sexes 6.07 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, female 5.96 years (2019)
- School life expectancy, primary, male 6.17 years (2019)
- Share of all students in secondary education enrolled in general 88.9% (2019)
- School life expectancy, pre-primary, both sexes 0.633 years (2019)
- Gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education, adjusted gender parity 1.07 GPIA (2019)
- Teachers in primary education, male 864,804 number (2019)
All data for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan →
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan was 79.7% 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?
- The highest recorded value was 79.7% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.1% in 1973.
- How does Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
- Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan ranks 22nd 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?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan 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.