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

Malaysia: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes was 93.7% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
93.7%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
12th
of 36 countries
All-time high
93.7%
in 2018
All-time low
73.6%
in 1991
Years of data
6
1991–2018

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Malaysia, 1991–2018

0204060801001991200420181991: 73.6 %2000: 81.2 %2010: 90.6 %2016: 92.4 %2017: 93.4 %2018: 93.7 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Malaysia is 93.7%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 6 years on record.

The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Malaysia peaked at 93.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 73.6%, in 1991.

Malaysia ranks 12th of 36 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes (%) in Malaysia, 1991 to 2018.
Year % Change
1991 73.6%
2000 81.2% +10.3%
2010 90.6% +11.5%
2016 92.4% +2.0%
2017 93.4% +1.0%
2018 93.7% +0.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 73.6% 73.6% 73.6% 1
2000s 81.2% 81.2% 81.2% 1
2010s 92.5% 90.6% 93.7% 4

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 9 Turkey 94.9% compare
  2. 10 Indonesia 94.7% compare
  3. 11 Chile 94.1% compare
  4. 13 Sri Lanka 92.2% compare
  5. 14 Paraguay 92.0% compare
  6. 15 Mexico 91.1% compare

See the full ranking of 36 places →

More reference data data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Malaysia?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Malaysia was 93.7% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 93.7% in 2018.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 73.6% in 1991.
How does Malaysia rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes?
Malaysia ranks 12th out of 36 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Malaysia 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 Malaysia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-rural-both-sexes-percent/malaysia/

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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/