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

Uruguay: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 98.9% in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)
98.9%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
12th
of 83 countries
All-time high
98.9%
in 2018
All-time low
94.7%
in 1975
Years of data
16
1975–2018

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Uruguay, 1975–2018

0204060801001975199620181975: 94.7 %1985: 96.4 %1996: 97.6 %2006: 98.3 %2007: 98.4 %2008: 98.5 %2009: 98.7 %2010: 98.6 %2011: 98.7 %2012: 98.7 %2013: 98.7 %2014: 98.8 %2015: 98.8 %2016: 98.8 %2017: 98.8 %2018: 98.9 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Uruguay is 98.9%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Uruguay peaked at 98.9% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 94.7%, in 1975.

Uruguay ranks 12th of 83 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 94.7% 94.7% 94.7% 1
1980s 96.4% 96.4% 96.4% 1
1990s 97.6% 97.6% 97.6% 1
2000s 98.5% 98.3% 98.7% 4
2010s 98.8% 98.6% 98.9% 9

Countries ranked near Uruguay

  1. 9 Argentina 99.2% compare
  2. 10 Singapore 99.1% compare
  3. 11 Albania 99.0% compare
  4. 13 Greece 98.8% compare
  5. 14 Portugal 98.6% compare
  6. 15 China (People’s Republic of) 98.4% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Uruguay

All data for Uruguay →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Uruguay?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Uruguay was 98.9% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Uruguay?
The highest recorded value was 98.9% in 2018.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Uruguay?
The lowest recorded value was 94.7% in 1975.
How does Uruguay rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Uruguay ranks 12th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Uruguay?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Uruguay 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 Uruguay. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 19 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/uruguay/

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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.