Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Colombia

Colombia: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes was 97.6% in 2018. ▬ Flat

Latest (2018)
97.6%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
14th
of 39 countries
All-time high
97.6%
in 2018
All-time low
94.4%
in 1993
Years of data
13
1993–2018

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Colombia, 1993–2018

0204060801001993200520181993: 94.4 %1996: 95.6 %2005: 96.3 %2006: 95.8 %2007: 96.1 %2008: 96.5 %2009: 96.2 %2010: 96.2 %2011: 96.4 %2014: 96.9 %2015: 97 %2016: 97.3 %2018: 97.6 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Colombia is 97.6%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Colombia peaked at 97.6% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 94.4%, in 1993.

That places Colombia 14th out of 39 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Colombia, year by year

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes (%) in Colombia, 1993 to 2018.
Year % Change
1993 94.4%
1996 95.6% +1.3%
2005 96.3% +0.7%
2006 95.8% -0.5%
2007 96.1% +0.3%
2008 96.5% +0.4%
2009 96.2% -0.3%
2010 96.2% +0.1%
2011 96.4% +0.2%
2014 96.9% +0.5%
2015 97.0% +0.2%
2016 97.3% +0.3%
2018 97.6% +0.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 95.0% 94.4% 95.6% 2
2000s 96.2% 95.8% 96.5% 5
2010s 96.9% 96.2% 97.6% 6

Countries ranked near Colombia

  1. 11 Mexico 97.9% compare
  2. 12 Chile 97.7% compare
  3. 13 Palestine 97.6% compare
  4. 15 Ecuador 97.5% compare
  5. 16 Turkey 97.5% compare
  6. 17 Malaysia 97.4% compare

See the full ranking of 39 places →

More reference data data for Colombia

All data for Colombia →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Colombia?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Colombia was 97.6% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes recorded in Colombia?
The highest recorded value was 97.6% in 2018.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes recorded in Colombia?
The lowest recorded value was 94.4% in 1993.
How does Colombia rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes?
Colombia ranks 14th out of 39 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in Colombia?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Colombia data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Colombia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 01 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-urban-both-sexes-percent/colombia/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
39 places, 366 data points, 1976–2019
Last refreshed

Percentage of the population in urban 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/