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

Mexico: Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes was 97.9% in 2018. ▲ Rising

Latest (2018)
97.9%
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
11th
of 39 countries
All-time high
97.9%
in 2018
All-time low
91.1%
in 1990
Years of data
16
1990–2018

Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Mexico, 1990–2018

0204060801001990200420181990: 91.1 %2004: 93.8 %2005: 95.1 %2006: 94.2 %2007: 95.9 %2008: 96.1 %2009: 96.3 %2010: 96.2 %2011: 96.6 %2012: 97.1 %2013: 96.8 %2014: 97.3 %2015: 97.3 %2016: 97.6 %2017: 97.7 %2018: 97.9 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Mexico is 97.9%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.

The figure is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 1.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Mexico peaked at 97.9% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 91.1%, in 1990.

Mexico ranks 11th of 39 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes (%) in Mexico, 1990 to 2018.
Year % Change
1990 91.1%
2004 93.8% +2.9%
2005 95.1% +1.4%
2006 94.2% -1.0%
2007 95.9% +1.8%
2008 96.1% +0.1%
2009 96.3% +0.3%
2010 96.2% -0.1%
2011 96.6% +0.4%
2012 97.1% +0.5%
2013 96.8% -0.3%
2014 97.3% +0.6%
2015 97.3% -0.1%
2016 97.6% +0.3%
2017 97.7% +0.2%
2018 97.9% +0.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 91.1% 91.1% 91.1% 1
2000s 95.3% 93.8% 96.3% 6
2010s 97.2% 96.2% 97.9% 9

Countries ranked near Mexico

  1. 8 Uruguay 98.9% compare
  2. 9 Kuwait 98.8% compare
  3. 10 Indonesia 98.5% compare
  4. 12 Chile 97.7% compare
  5. 13 Palestine 97.6% compare
  6. 14 Colombia 97.6% compare

See the full ranking of 39 places →

More reference data data for Mexico

All data for Mexico →

Frequently asked questions

What is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Mexico?
Literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes in Mexico was 97.9% in 2018, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes recorded in Mexico?
The highest recorded value was 97.9% in 2018.
What is the lowest literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes recorded in Mexico?
The lowest recorded value was 91.1% in 1990.
How does Mexico rank for literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes?
Mexico ranks 11th out of 39 countries with data for 2018.
Is literacy rate, population 25-64 years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in Mexico?
Over the last ten years it is up 1.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Mexico 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 Mexico. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/literacy-rate-population-25-64-years-urban-both-sexes-percent/mexico/

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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/