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

Sri Lanka: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes was 92.2% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
92.2%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
13th
of 36 countries
All-time high
92.6%
in 2016
All-time low
84.2%
in 1981
Years of data
8
1981–2018

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Sri Lanka, 1981–2018

0204060801001981199920181981: 84.2 %2001: 90.2 %2006: 90.8 %2008: 90.4 %2010: 91.1 %2016: 92.6 %2017: 91.9 %2018: 92.2 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2018, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Sri Lanka stood at 92.2%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Sri Lanka peaked at 92.6% in 2016 and was at its lowest, 84.2%, in 1981.

That places Sri Lanka 13th out of 36 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes (%) in Sri Lanka, 1981 to 2018.
Year % Change
1981 84.2%
2001 90.2% +7.0%
2006 90.8% +0.7%
2008 90.4% -0.5%
2010 91.1% +0.8%
2016 92.6% +1.6%
2017 91.9% -0.8%
2018 92.2% +0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 84.2% 84.2% 84.2% 1
2000s 90.5% 90.2% 90.8% 3
2010s 92.0% 91.1% 92.6% 4

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 10 Indonesia 94.7% compare
  2. 11 Chile 94.1% compare
  3. 12 Malaysia 93.7% compare
  4. 14 Paraguay 92.0% compare
  5. 15 Mexico 91.1% compare
  6. 16 Thailand 90.8% compare

See the full ranking of 36 places →

More reference data data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Sri Lanka?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes in Sri Lanka was 92.2% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 92.6% in 2016.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 84.2% in 1981.
How does Sri Lanka rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes?
Sri Lanka ranks 13th out of 36 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, rural, both sexes rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-rural-both-sexes-percent/sri-lanka/

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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/