Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above)

Comparing 170 countries worldwide. Source: World Bank

Data last updated: January 2024

Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) by Country

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Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) Statistics

Countries Tracked
170
Highest Value
100.0 percent
Korea, Dem. People's Rep.
Lowest Value
26.8 percent
South Sudan

Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) Ranking

Compare Countries by Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above)

Compare literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) and trends between any two countries with detailed historical data and charts.

Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) Statistics and Analysis

Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) varies significantly across countries worldwide, reflecting differences in economic development, healthcare, education, and social factors. Understanding these variations helps assess global trends and identify factors that influence demographic and social outcomes.

The data presented here is sourced from World Bank and updated regularly to ensure accuracy. All statistics are based on the latest available data and include historical trends to provide comprehensive insights into global patterns.

For more detailed analysis, explore our population statistics and country comparison tools to compare multiple indicators and countries side by side.

Data Sources

All data presented on this page is sourced from reputable international organizations and updated regularly to ensure accuracy and reliability.

  • World Bank: Population statistics, demographic data, and economic indicators
  • UN (United Nations): Population data, demographic statistics, and development indicators
  • UNHCR: Refugee statistics and migration data
  • UNESCO: Education statistics and literacy data
  • Our World in Data: Body height and health statistics
  • Numbeo: Quality of life indices
  • IQResearch / Lynn & Vanhanen: IQ statistics

Data is updated monthly. Last update: January 2024

How to read this ranking

This page compares literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) across countries using the latest available country-level observations. Use the ranking to identify high and low values, compare countries with similar regions or income levels, and open country profiles for broader economic and demographic context.

Methodology

GlobalStats selects the latest non-null value for each country from the indicator series and excludes regional aggregates where possible. The primary source for this indicator is World Bank. Data was last updated January 2024.

Key findings

  • Korea, Dem. People's Rep. is among the top countries for literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) with a latest value of 100.0 percent.
  • Tuvalu is among the top countries for literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) with a latest value of 100.0 percent.
  • Uzbekistan is among the top countries for literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) with a latest value of 100.0 percent.
  • The ranking covers 170 countries with available data, supporting broader comparison than short top-20 lists.

Full country coverage

This category includes all countries with available data. Use the table search and region filters on the page to narrow long lists of more than 100 countries.

Historical trends for top countries

Korea, Dem. People's Rep. Russian Federation Uzbekistan San Marino Tuvalu