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

Vanuatu: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes was 86.8% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
86.8%
World rank
54th
of 83 countries
All-time high
86.8%
in 2018
All-time low
44.3%
in 1979
Years of data
6
1979–2018

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Vanuatu, 1979–2018

0204060801979199820181979: 44.3 %1984: 50.8 %1994: 63.8 %2004: 74.9 %2014: 83.9 %2018: 86.8 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2018, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Vanuatu stood at 86.8%. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

The figure is up 16.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Vanuatu peaked at 86.8% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 44.3%, in 1979.

That places Vanuatu 54th out of 83 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 44.3% 44.3% 44.3% 1
1980s 50.8% 50.8% 50.8% 1
1990s 63.8% 63.8% 63.8% 1
2000s 74.9% 74.9% 74.9% 1
2010s 85.4% 83.9% 86.8% 2

Countries ranked near Vanuatu

  1. 51 South Africa 87.7% compare
  2. 52 Iran, Islamic Republic of 87.4% compare
  3. 53 Honduras 87.1% compare
  4. 55 Zambia 85.0% compare
  5. 56 Lao People's Democratic Republic 83.4% compare
  6. 57 Algeria 82.9% compare

See the full ranking of 122 places →

More reference data data for Vanuatu

All data for Vanuatu →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Vanuatu?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes in Vanuatu was 86.8% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Vanuatu?
The highest recorded value was 86.8% in 2018.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes recorded in Vanuatu?
The lowest recorded value was 44.3% in 1979.
How does Vanuatu rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes?
Vanuatu ranks 54th out of 83 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, both sexes rising or falling in Vanuatu?
Over the last ten years it is up 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Vanuatu 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 Vanuatu. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 18 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-both-sexes-percent/vanuatu/

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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.