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

Malaysia: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes was 97.4% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
97.4%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
17th
of 39 countries
All-time high
97.6%
in 2017
All-time low
88.6%
in 1991
Years of data
6
1991–2018

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

0204060801001991200420181991: 88.6 %2000: 93.2 %2010: 96.3 %2016: 97.5 %2017: 97.6 %2018: 97.4 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2018, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Malaysia stood at 97.4%.

That represents a change of down 0.2% 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 Malaysia peaked at 97.6% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 88.6%, in 1991.

Malaysia ranks 17th of 39 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes (%) in Malaysia, 1991 to 2018.
Year % Change
1991 88.6%
2000 93.2% +5.1%
2010 96.3% +3.4%
2016 97.5% +1.2%
2017 97.6% +0.1%
2018 97.4% -0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 88.6% 88.6% 88.6% 1
2000s 93.2% 93.2% 93.2% 1
2010s 97.2% 96.3% 97.6% 4

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 14 Colombia 97.6% compare
  2. 15 Ecuador 97.5% compare
  3. 16 Türkiye 97.5% compare
  4. 18 Peru 97.2% compare
  5. 19 Paraguay 97.1% compare
  6. 20 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 96.7% compare

See the full ranking of 39 places →

More reference data data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Malaysia?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Malaysia was 97.4% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 97.6% in 2017.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 88.6% in 1991.
How does Malaysia rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes?
Malaysia ranks 17th out of 39 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. 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, 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 Malaysia. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-urban-both-sexes-percent/malaysia/

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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/