Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Iran

Iran: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes was 75.3% in 2016. ▲ Rising

Latest (2016)
75.3%
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
26th
of 36 countries
All-time high
75.3%
in 2016
All-time low
10.7%
in 1976
Years of data
10
1976–2016

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Iran, 1976–2016

204060801976199620161976: 10.7 %1991: 35.4 %1996: 47.7 %2005: 64.6 %2006: 64.6 %2008: 66.9 %2012: 70.4 %2013: 72.6 %2014: 73.3 %2016: 75.3 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Iran recorded 75.3% for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in 2016. That is the highest value across all 10 years on record.

The figure is up 2.8% on the previous year and up 16.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Iran peaked at 75.3% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 10.7%, in 1976.

Iran ranks 26th of 36 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes (%) in Iran, 1976 to 2016.
Year % Change
1976 10.7%
1991 35.4% +231.5%
1996 47.7% +34.8%
2005 64.6% +35.4%
2006 64.6% -0.1%
2008 66.9% +3.6%
2012 70.4% +5.2%
2013 72.6% +3.1%
2014 73.3% +1.0%
2016 75.3% +2.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 10.7% 10.7% 10.7% 1
1990s 41.6% 35.4% 47.7% 2
2000s 65.4% 64.6% 66.9% 3
2010s 72.9% 70.4% 75.3% 4

Countries ranked near Iran

  1. 23 El Salvador 80.2% compare
  2. 24 Honduras 78.3% compare
  3. 25 South Africa 77.6% compare
  4. 27 Cambodia 73.4% compare
  5. 28 Guatemala 65.2% compare
  6. 29 Bangladesh 62.6% compare

See the full ranking of 36 places →

More reference data data for Iran

All data for Iran →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Iran?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Iran was 75.3% in 2016, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes recorded in Iran?
The highest recorded value was 75.3% in 2016.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes recorded in Iran?
The lowest recorded value was 10.7% in 1976.
How does Iran rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes?
Iran ranks 26th out of 36 countries with data for 2016.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes rising or falling in Iran?
Over the last ten years it is up 16.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Iran data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Iran. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-rural-both-sexes-percent/iran-islamic-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
36 places, 331 data points, 1976–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population in rural areas 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. For more information, consult the UNESCO Institute of Statistics website: http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/