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

Portugal: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 98.6% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
98.6%
World rank
14th
of 83 countries
All-time high
98.6%
in 2018
All-time low
81.0%
in 1981
Years of data
5
1981–2018

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Portugal, 1981–2018

0204060801001981199920181981: 81 %1991: 91.6 %2001: 95.6 %2011: 98.3 %2018: 98.6 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Portugal recorded 98.6% for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in 2018. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.

The figure is up 0.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Portugal peaked at 98.6% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 81.0%, in 1981.

That places Portugal 14th out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.

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

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) in Portugal, 1981 to 2018.
Year % Change
1981 81.0%
1991 91.6% +13.1%
2001 95.6% +4.4%
2011 98.3% +2.8%
2018 98.6% +0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 81.0% 81.0% 81.0% 1
1990s 91.6% 91.6% 91.6% 1
2000s 95.6% 95.6% 95.6% 1
2010s 98.5% 98.3% 98.6% 2

Countries ranked near Portugal

  1. 11 Albania 99.0% compare
  2. 12 Uruguay 98.9% compare
  3. 13 Greece 98.8% compare
  4. 15 China 98.4% compare
  5. 16 Jordan 98.4% compare
  6. 17 Philippines 98.2% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Portugal

All data for Portugal →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Portugal?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Portugal was 98.6% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Portugal?
The highest recorded value was 98.6% in 2018.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Portugal?
The lowest recorded value was 81.0% in 1981.
How does Portugal rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Portugal ranks 14th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Portugal?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Portugal 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 Portugal. 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/portugal/

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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.