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

Pakistan: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 52.3% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
52.3%
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
76th
of 83 countries
All-time high
52.3%
in 2017
All-time low
23.3%
in 1981
Years of data
13
1981–2017

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Pakistan, 1981–2017

02040601981199920171981: 23.3 %1998: 38 %2005: 43.7 %2006: 47.8 %2007: 46.5 %2008: 49 %2009: 48.2 %2010: 48.7 %2011: 48 %2012: 50 %2013: 48.8 %2014: 50.2 %2017: 52.3 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Pakistan is 52.3%, measured in 2017. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 12.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Pakistan peaked at 52.3% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 23.3%, in 1981.

That places Pakistan 76th out of 83 countries with data for 2017, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Pakistan, year by year

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) in Pakistan, 1981 to 2017.
Year % Change
1981 23.3%
1998 38.0% +63.0%
2005 43.7% +14.9%
2006 47.8% +9.3%
2007 46.5% -2.6%
2008 49.0% +5.2%
2009 48.2% -1.5%
2010 48.7% +1.0%
2011 48.0% -1.3%
2012 50.0% +4.0%
2013 48.8% -2.3%
2014 50.2% +2.8%
2017 52.3% +4.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 23.3% 23.3% 23.3% 1
1990s 38.0% 38.0% 38.0% 1
2000s 47.0% 43.7% 49.0% 5
2010s 49.7% 48.0% 52.3% 6

Countries ranked near Pakistan

  1. 73 Togo 59.0% compare
  2. 74 Nigeria 57.4% compare
  3. 75 Mozambique 57.2% compare
  4. 77 Senegal 44.0% compare
  5. 78 Côte d'Ivoire 42.5% compare
  6. 79 Central African Republic 37.2% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Pakistan

All data for Pakistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Pakistan?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Pakistan was 52.3% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Pakistan?
The highest recorded value was 52.3% in 2017.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Pakistan?
The lowest recorded value was 23.3% in 1981.
How does Pakistan rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Pakistan ranks 76th out of 83 countries with data for 2017.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Pakistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this 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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Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Pakistan. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/pakistan/

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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.