Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 92.5% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
92.5%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
47th
of 83 countries
All-time high
93.0%
in 2016
All-time low
86.4%
in 1981
Years of data
8
1981–2018

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

0204060801001981199920181981: 86.4 %2001: 90.5 %2006: 91.1 %2008: 90.7 %2010: 91.4 %2016: 93 %2017: 92.4 %2018: 92.5 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sri Lanka is 92.5%, measured in 2018.

That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sri Lanka peaked at 93.0% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 86.4%, in 1981.

Sri Lanka ranks 47th of 83 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes (%) in Sri Lanka, 1981 to 2018.
Year % Change
1981 86.4%
2001 90.5% +4.9%
2006 91.1% +0.6%
2008 90.7% -0.5%
2010 91.4% +0.8%
2016 93.0% +1.8%
2017 92.4% -0.7%
2018 92.5% +0.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 86.4% 86.4% 86.4% 1
2000s 90.8% 90.5% 91.1% 3
2010s 92.3% 91.4% 93.0% 4

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 44 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 93.4% compare
  2. 45 Sao Tome and Principe 93.0% compare
  3. 46 Thailand 92.9% compare
  4. 48 Namibia 91.7% compare
  5. 49 El Salvador 89.8% compare
  6. 50 Eswatini 87.9% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sri Lanka?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Sri Lanka was 92.5% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 93.0% in 2016.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 86.4% in 1981.
How does Sri Lanka rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Sri Lanka ranks 47th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/sri-lanka/

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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.