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

Pakistan: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes was 40.9% in 2017. ▲ Rising

Latest (2017)
40.9%
Change on year
up 7.4%
World rank
33rd
of 36 countries
All-time high
40.9%
in 2017
All-time low
14.9%
in 1981
Years of data
13
1981–2017

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Pakistan, 1981–2017

0102030401981199920171981: 14.9 %1998: 26.1 %2005: 33.3 %2006: 36.6 %2007: 35.2 %2008: 39.1 %2009: 36.7 %2010: 37.5 %2011: 36.1 %2012: 38.8 %2013: 37.2 %2014: 38.1 %2017: 40.9 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Pakistan recorded 40.9% for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in 2017. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.

That represents a change of up 7.4% on the previous year and up 16.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Pakistan peaked at 40.9% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 14.9%, in 1981.

Pakistan ranks 33rd of 36 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes (%) in Pakistan, 1981 to 2017.
Year % Change
1981 14.9%
1998 26.1% +75.1%
2005 33.3% +27.6%
2006 36.6% +9.9%
2007 35.2% -3.9%
2008 39.1% +11.3%
2009 36.7% -6.3%
2010 37.5% +2.2%
2011 36.1% -3.5%
2012 38.8% +7.2%
2013 37.2% -4.0%
2014 38.1% +2.3%
2017 40.9% +7.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 14.9% 14.9% 14.9% 1
1990s 26.1% 26.1% 26.1% 1
2000s 36.2% 33.3% 39.1% 5
2010s 38.1% 36.1% 40.9% 6

Countries ranked near Pakistan

  1. 30 Egypt 58.7% compare
  2. 31 Uganda 57.8% compare
  3. 32 Morocco 47.4% compare
  4. 34 Senegal 35.6% compare
  5. 35 Mali 19.8% compare
  6. 36 Burkina Faso 17.7% compare

See the full ranking of 36 places →

More reference data data for Pakistan

All data for Pakistan →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Pakistan?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Pakistan was 40.9% in 2017, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes recorded in Pakistan?
The highest recorded value was 40.9% in 2017.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes recorded in Pakistan?
The lowest recorded value was 14.9% in 1981.
How does Pakistan rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes?
Pakistan ranks 33rd out of 36 countries with data for 2017.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes rising or falling in Pakistan?
Over the last ten years it is up 16.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Pakistan 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 Pakistan. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-rural-both-sexes-percent/pakistan/

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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/