Last updated March 28, 2025
| 1. |  | Andorra | 100% |
| 1. |  | Azerbaijan | 100% |
| 1. |  | Finland | 100% |
| 1. |  | Greenland | 100% |
| 1. |  | Guam | 100% |
| 1. |  | Kazakhstan | 100% |
| 1. |  | Liechtenstein | 100% |
| 1. |  | Luxembourg | 100% |
| 1. |  | North Korea | 100% |
| 1. |  | Norway | 100% |
| 1. |  | Slovakia | 100% |
| 1. |  | Ukraine | 100% |
| 1. |  | Uzbekistan | 100% |
| 1. |  | Georgia | 100% |
| 15. |  | Belarus | 99.9% |
| 15. |  | Estonia | 99.9% |
| 15. |  | Latvia | 99.9% |
| 15. |  | San Marino | 99.9% |
| 19. |  | Armenia | 99.8% |
| 19. |  | Lithuania | 99.8% |
| 19. |  | Poland | 99.8% |
| 19. |  | Tajikistan | 99.8% |
| 23. |  | Cuba | 99.7% |
| 23. |  | Russia | 99.7% |
| 23. |  | Slovenia | 99.7% |
| 23. |  | Turkmenistan | 99.7% |
| 27. |  | Barbados | 99.6% |
| 27. |  | Kyrgyzstan | 99.6% |
| 27. |  | Moldova | 99.6% |
| 30. |  | Croatia | 99.4% |
| 30. |  | Cyprus | 99.4% |
| 30. |  | Tonga | 99.4% |
| 33. |  | Italy | 99.2% |
| 34. |  | Fiji | 99.1% |
| 34. |  | Hungary | 99.1% |
| 34. |  | Samoa | 99.1% |
| 37. |  | Albania | 99% |
| 37. |  | Antigua and Barbuda | 99% |
| 37. |  | Argentina | 99% |
| 37. |  | Australia | 99% |
| 37. |  | Belgium | 99% |
| 37. |  | Canada | 99% |
| 37. |  | Czech Republic | 99% |
| 37. |  | Denmark | 99% |
| 37. |  | France | 99% |
| 37. |  | Germany | 99% |
| 37. |  | Iceland | 99% |
| 37. |  | Ireland | 99% |
| 37. |  | Japan | 99% |
| 37. |  | Micronesia | 99% |
| 37. |  | Monaco | 99% |
| 37. |  | Mongolia | 99% |
| 37. |  | Montenegro | 99% |
| 37. |  | Netherlands | 99% |
| 37. |  | New Zealand | 99% |
| 37. |  | Serbia | 99% |
| 37. |  | Sweden | 99% |
| 37. |  | Switzerland | 99% |
| 37. |  | Tuvalu | 99% |
| 37. |  | United Kingdom | 99% |
| 37. |  | United States | 99% |
| 62. |  | Cayman Islands | 98.9% |
| 62. |  | Romania | 98.9% |
| 64. |  | South Korea | 98.8% |
| 64. |  | Uruguay | 98.8% |
| 66. |  | Grenada | 98.6% |
| 66. |  | Spain | 98.6% |
| 68. |  | Taiwan | 98.5% |
| 69. |  | Bulgaria | 98.4% |
| 69. |  | Jordan | 98.4% |
| 69. |  | North Macedonia | 98.4% |
| 72. |  | Marshall Islands | 98.3% |
| 73. |  | Aruba | 98% |
| 73. |  | Austria | 98% |
| 73. |  | Bahrain | 98% |
| 73. |  | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 98% |
| 73. |  | Costa Rica | 98% |
| 73. |  | Palestine | 98% |
| 73. |  | Trinidad and Tobago | 98% |
| 73. |  | United Arab Emirates | 98% |
| 81. |  | Greece | 97.9% |
| 81. |  | Maldives | 97.9% |
| 83. |  | Israel | 97.8% |
| 84. |  | Brunei | 97.6% |
| 84. |  | Saudi Arabia | 97.6% |
| 86. |  | Singapore | 97.5% |
| 86. |  | Venezuela | 97.5% |
| 88. |  | Macau | 97.1% |
| 89. |  | American Samoa | 97% |
| 89. |  | Chile | 97% |
| 89. |  | China | 97% |
| 89. |  | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 97% |
| 89. |  | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 97% |
| 94. |  | New Caledonia | 96.9% |
| 95. |  | Turkey | 96.7% |
| 96. |  | Palau | 96.6% |
| 97. |  | Kuwait | 96.5% |
| 98. |  | Philippines | 96.3% |
| 99. |  | Bahamas | 96% |
| 99. |  | Indonesia | 96% |
| 101. |  | Portugal | 95.9% |
| 101. |  | Seychelles | 95.9% |
| 103. |  | Vietnam | 95.8% |
| 104. |  | Oman | 95.7% |
| 104. |  | Panama | 95.7% |
| 106. |  | Colombia | 95.6% |
| 107. |  | Dominican Republic | 95.5% |
| 108. |  | Equatorial Guinea | 95.3% |
| 109. |  | Mexico | 95.2% |
| 110. |  | Lebanon | 95% |
| 110. |  | Malaysia | 95% |
| 110. |  | Nauru | 95% |
| 110. |  | South Africa | 95% |
| 110. |  | Suriname | 95% |
| 115. |  | Malta | 94.9% |
| 116. |  | Sao Tome and Principe | 94.8% |
| 117. |  | Brazil | 94.7% |
| 118. |  | Paraguay | 94.5% |
| 118. |  | Peru | 94.5% |
| 120. |  | Thailand | 94.1% |
| 121. |  | Bolivia | 94% |
| 122. |  | Ecuador | 93.9% |
| 123. |  | Qatar | 93.5% |
| 124. |  | Puerto Rico | 92.4% |
| 125. |  | Namibia | 92.3% |
| 125. |  | Sri Lanka | 92.3% |
| 127. |  | Mauritius | 92.2% |
| 128. |  | Dominica | 92% |
| 129. |  | Libya | 91% |
| 130. |  | Cape Verde | 90.8% |
| 131. |  | El Salvador | 90% |
| 131. |  | Guyana | 90% |
| 131. |  | Saint Lucia | 90% |
| 134. |  | Ivory Coast | 89.9% |
| 135. |  | Zimbabwe | 89.7% |
| 136. |  | Myanmar | 89.1% |
| 136. |  | Vanuatu | 89.1% |
| 138. |  | Eswatini | 89% |
| 138. |  | Iran | 89% |
| 140. |  | Jamaica | 88.7% |
| 141. |  | Botswana | 88.5% |
| 141. |  | Honduras | 88.5% |
| 143. |  | Laos | 88% |
| 144. |  | Zambia | 86.7% |
| 145. |  | Syria | 86.4% |
| 146. |  | Gabon | 86% |
| 147. |  | Iraq | 85.6% |
| 148. |  | Cambodia | 84% |
| 148. |  | Guatemala | 84% |
| 150. |  | Kenya | 83% |
| 150. |  | Nicaragua | 83% |
| 152. |  | Tunisia | 82.7% |
| 153. |  | Lesotho | 82% |
| 153. |  | Tanzania | 82% |
| 155. |  | Algeria | 81.4% |
| 156. |  | Belize | 81% |
| 156. |  | DR Congo | 81% |
| 158. |  | Republic of the Congo | 80.6% |
| 159. |  | Ghana | 80% |
| 160. |  | Uganda | 79% |
| 161. |  | Cameroon | 78% |
| 162. |  | Madagascar | 77.3% |
| 163. |  | Morocco | 77% |
| 163. |  | Solomon Islands | 77% |
| 165. |  | Eritrea | 76.6% |
| 166. |  | Burundi | 76% |
| 166. |  | India | 76% |
| 168. |  | Rwanda | 75.9% |
| 169. |  | Bangladesh | 74.9% |
| 170. |  | Egypt | 73.1% |
| 171. |  | Angola | 72% |
| 171. |  | Bhutan | 72% |
| 173. |  | Nepal | 71.2% |
| 174. |  | Yemen | 70.1% |
| 175. |  | Timor Leste | 68.1% |
| 176. |  | Malawi | 68% |
| 177. |  | Mauritania | 67% |
| 178. |  | Togo | 66.5% |
| 179. |  | Papua New Guinea | 64.2% |
| 180. |  | Mozambique | 63.4% |
| 181. |  | Comoros | 62% |
| 181. |  | Nigeria | 62% |
| 183. |  | Haiti | 61.7% |
| 184. |  | Sudan | 60.7% |
| 185. |  | Gambia | 59% |
| 186. |  | Pakistan | 58% |
| 186. |  | Senegal | 58% |
| 188. |  | Guinea Bissau | 52.9% |
| 189. |  | Ethiopia | 51.8% |
| 190. |  | Sierra Leone | 48.6% |
| 191. |  | Liberia | 48.3% |
| 192. |  | Benin | 47% |
| 193. |  | Burkina Faso | 46% |
| 194. |  | Guinea | 45.3% |
| 195. |  | Somalia | 41% |
| 196. |  | Niger | 38% |
| 197. |  | Central African Republic | 37.5% |
| 198. |  | Afghanistan | 37.3% |
| 199. |  | South Sudan | 34.5% |
| 200. |  | Mali | 31% |
| 201. |  | Chad | 27% |
Literacy is one of the most crucial stepping stones toward individual development, poverty reduction, and overall societal progress. By empowering individuals with the ability to read and write, we unlock their potential and open doors for countless opportunities across all aspects of life. As we cast a global lens on the literacy landscape, we witness stark uneven literacy rates among different countries. This is a testament to ongoing disparities and the work still needed to ensure access to quality education for all.
Key Insights:
| Region ↕ | Total Literacy Rate 2025↕ | Male Literacy Rate 2025↕ | Female Literacy Rate 2025↕ | Youth Literacy Rate 2025↕ | Adult Literacy Rate 2025↕ | Elderly Literacy Rate 2025↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 37.3% | 52.10% | 22.60% | 65% | 31.7% | 20.3% |
| Albania | 99% | 98.70% | 98.20% | 99.2% | 97.2% | 86.9% |
| Algeria | 81.4% | 87.40% | 75.30% | 93.8% | 75.1% | 19.5% |
| American Samoa | 97% | 97.7% | 97.3% | 92.7% | ||
| Andorra | 100% | 100% | 100% | |||
| Angola | 72% | 77.4% | 66% | 27% | ||
| Antigua and Barbuda | 99% | 98.40% | 99.40% | 98.9% | ||
| Argentina | 99% | 98.90% | 99.10% | 99.5% | 99.1% | 97.9% |
| Armenia | 99.8% | 99.80% | 99.70% | 99.8% | 99.7% | 98.9% |
| Aruba | 98% | 97.80% | 97.80% | 99.1% | 96.8% | 88.9% |
| Australia | 99% | 96.6% | ||||
| Austria | 98% | |||||
| Azerbaijan | 100% | 99.90% | 99.70% | 99.9% | 99.8% | 98.4% |
| Bahamas | 96% | |||||
| Bahrain | 98% | 99.90% | 94.90% | 97% | 86.5% | 42.3% |
| Bangladesh | 74.9% | 77.80% | 72% | 94.9% | 74.7% | 39.4% |
| Barbados | 99.6% | 99.60% | 99.60% | 99.9% | 99.6% | 98.5% |
| Belarus | 99.9% | 99.90% | 99.90% | 99.8% | 99.6% | 98.6% |
| Belgium | 99% | |||||
| Belize | 81% | 77.6% | 70.3% | 44.8% | ||
| Benin | 47% | 56.90% | 35% | 52.5% | 32.9% | 7% |
| Bhutan | 72% | 77.90% | 62.80% | 87.3% | 57% | 14.9% |
| Bolivia | 94% | 94.90% | 94% | 99.4% | 92.5% | 67.5% |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 98% | 99.40% | 98.10% | 99.7% | 97% | 86% |
| Botswana | 88.5% | 88% | 88.90% | 97.7% | 87.7% | 40.7% |
| Brazil | 94.7% | 94.40% | 94.90% | 99.7% | 92% | 74.3% |
| Brunei | 97.6% | 98.30% | 96.90% | 99.4% | 96.1% | 61.6% |
| Bulgaria | 98.4% | 98.70% | 98.20% | 97.9% | 98.4% | 97.5% |
| Burkina Faso | 46% | 54.50% | 37.80% | 50.1% | 34.6% | 8.4% |
| Burundi | 76% | 81.30% | 68.40% | 79.6% | 61.6% | 24.9% |
| Cambodia | 84% | 88.40% | 79.80% | 92.2% | 80.5% | 53.1% |
| Cameroon | 78% | 80.6% | 71.3% | 26.1% | ||
| Canada | 99% | |||||
| Cape Verde | 90.8% | 94.20% | 87.40% | 98.1% | 86.8% | 36.8% |
| Cayman Islands | 98.9% | 98.70% | 99% | 98.9% | 98.9% | 94.7% |
| Central African Republic | 37.5% | 49.20% | 26.20% | 36.4% | 36.8% | 35.7% |
| Chad | 27% | 35.40% | 18.20% | 30.8% | 22.3% | 7% |
| Chile | 97% | 97.10% | 97% | 99.4% | 96.9% | 89.9% |
| China | 97% | 98.50% | 95.20% | 99.8% | 96.8% | 73.9% |
| Colombia | 95.6% | 95.40% | 95.90% | 98.7% | 94.7% | 81.4% |
| Comoros | 62% | 67% | 56.90% | 71.6% | 49.2% | 12.8% |
| Costa Rica | 98% | 98% | 98.10% | 99.1% | 97.4% | 90.4% |
| Croatia | 99.4% | 99.70% | 99.20% | 99.7% | 99.1% | 97.1% |
| Cuba | 99.7% | 99.60% | 99.70% | 99.9% | 99.8% | 99.2% |
| Cyprus | 99.4% | 99.60% | 99.20% | 99.8% | 98.7% | 93.8% |
| Czech Republic | 99% | 99% | 99% | |||
| DR Congo | 81% | 89.50% | 70.80% | 85% | 77% | 48% |
| Denmark | 99% | |||||
| Dominica | 92% | |||||
| Dominican Republic | 95.5% | 95.40% | 95.60% | 98.8% | 93.8% | 79.8% |
| Ecuador | 93.9% | 94.90% | 93.10% | 99.1% | 94.4% | 77.7% |
| Egypt | 73.1% | 78.80% | 67.40% | 93.9% | 71.2% | 43.2% |
| El Salvador | 90% | 91.30% | 87.30% | 98% | 88.5% | 65.7% |
| Equatorial Guinea | 95.3% | 97.40% | 93% | 98.2% | 95% | 67.2% |
| Eritrea | 76.6% | 84.40% | 68.90% | 87% | 64.7% | 20.9% |
| Estonia | 99.9% | 99.90% | 99.90% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.7% |
| Eswatini | 89% | 88.30% | 88.50% | 93.5% | 83.1% | 45.2% |
| Ethiopia | 51.8% | 57.20% | 44.40% | 55% | 39% | 13.6% |
| Fiji | 99.1% | 99.10% | 99.10% | |||
| Finland | 100% | |||||
| France | 99% | |||||
| Gabon | 86% | 86.20% | 84.70% | 88.5% | 82.3% | 60.6% |
| Gambia | 59% | 65.20% | 51.20% | 60.8% | 42% | 10.4% |
| Georgia | 100% | 99.60% | 99.70% | 99.7% | 99.6% | 99.1% |
| Germany | 99% | |||||
| Ghana | 80% | 83.50% | 74.50% | 85.7% | 71.5% | 34.9% |
| Greece | 97.9% | 98.50% | 97.40% | 98.8% | 97.4% | 92.5% |
| Greenland | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | ||
| Grenada | 98.6% | 98.60% | 98.60% | 99.2% | 98.6% | 96.2% |
| Guam | 100% | 99.80% | 99.70% | 99.9% | 99.4% | 95.9% |
| Guatemala | 84% | 87.70% | 79.30% | 94.4% | 81.3% | 50.7% |
| Guinea | 45.3% | 61.20% | 31.30% | 46.3% | 32% | 13.1% |
| Guinea Bissau | 52.9% | 67% | 39.90% | 60.4% | 45.6% | 19.5% |
| Guyana | 90% | 89.30% | 88.40% | 96.7% | 85.6% | 49.9% |
| Haiti | 61.7% | 65.30% | 58.30% | 72.3% | 48.7% | 8.5% |
| Honduras | 88.5% | 88.20% | 88.70% | 96.1% | 89% | 66.3% |
| Hungary | 99.1% | 99.10% | 99.10% | 98.8% | 99.1% | 99.1% |
| Iceland | 99% | |||||
| India | 76% | 82.40% | 65.80% | 95.7% | 75.4% | 45.4% |
| Indonesia | 96% | 97.40% | 94.60% | 99.7% | 95.4% | 70.1% |
| Iran | 89% | 92.40% | 88.70% | 98.1% | 85.5% | 36.8% |
| Iraq | 85.6% | 91.20% | 79.90% | 93.5% | 85.6% | 20.4% |
| Ireland | 99% | |||||
| Israel | 97.8% | 98.70% | 96.80% | 98.6% | 91.8% | 79.8% |
| Italy | 99.2% | 99.40% | 99% | 99.9% | 98.8% | 96.7% |
| Ivory Coast | 89.9% | 93.10% | 86.70% | 53% | 43.9% | 18% |
| Jamaica | 88.7% | 84% | 93.10% | 96.3% | 88.1% | 66.6% |
| Japan | 99% | |||||
| Jordan | 98.4% | 98.70% | 98.40% | 99.1% | 97.9% | 87.7% |
| Kazakhstan | 100% | 99.80% | 99.70% | 99.9% | 99.8% | 99.5% |
| Kenya | 83% | 85.50% | 79.80% | 86.5% | 78.7% | 54% |
| Kuwait | 96.5% | 97.10% | 95.40% | 99.2% | 96.1% | 69.5% |
| Kyrgyzstan | 99.6% | 99.70% | 99.50% | 99.8% | 99.2% | 92.5% |
| Laos | 88% | 91.40% | 81.40% | 92.5% | 84.7% | 58.6% |
| Latvia | 99.9% | 99.90% | 99.90% | 99.8% | 99.9% | 99.9% |
| Lebanon | 95% | 96.90% | 93.30% | 99.2% | 91.2% | 60.2% |
| Lesotho | 82% | 81% | 72.90% | 86.6% | 76.6% | 51.4% |
| Liberia | 48.3% | 62.70% | 34.10% | 49.1% | 42.9% | 32.8% |
| Libya | 91% | 96.70% | 85.60% | 99.6% | 86.1% | 24.2% |
| Liechtenstein | 100% | |||||
| Lithuania | 99.8% | 99.80% | 99.80% | 99.9% | 99.8% | 99.8% |
| Luxembourg | 100% | |||||
| Macau | 97.1% | 98.50% | 95.90% | 99.8% | 96.5% | 81.2% |
| Madagascar | 77.3% | 78.80% | 75.80% | 76.8% | 71.6% | 49.4% |
| Malawi | 68% | 71.20% | 63.70% | 72.9% | 62.1% | 35.1% |
| Malaysia | 95% | 96.20% | 93.60% | 98.2% | 89.5% | 47.1% |
| Maldives | 97.9% | 97.60% | 98.40% | 99.3% | 98.6% | 92.8% |
| Mali | 31% | 46.20% | 25.70% | 49.4% | 33.1% | 13.6% |
| Malta | 94.9% | 93.40% | 96.40% | 98.9% | 93.3% | 85.8% |
| Marshall Islands | 98.3% | 98.30% | 98.20% | 98.5% | 98.3% | 89.4% |
| Mauritania | 67% | 71.80% | 62.20% | 56.1% | 45.5% | 26.6% |
| Mauritius | 92.2% | 93.50% | 90.50% | 98.1% | 93.2% | 64.6% |
| Mexico | 95.2% | 96.10% | 94.50% | 99.1% | 94.9% | 78.9% |
| Micronesia | 99% | |||||
| Moldova | 99.6% | 99.70% | 99.50% | 99.5% | 99.1% | 95.8% |
| Monaco | 99% | |||||
| Mongolia | 99% | 99.10% | 99.20% | 98.5% | 98.3% | 94.6% |
| Montenegro | 99% | 99.40% | 98.50% | 99.2% | 98.4% | 93.9% |
| Morocco | 77% | 84.80% | 67.40% | 97.7% | 73.8% | 34.1% |
| Mozambique | 63.4% | 74.10% | 53.80% | 70.5% | 56% | 26% |
| Myanmar | 89.1% | 92.40% | 86.30% | 84.8% | 75.6% | 58.2% |
| Namibia | 92.3% | 90.60% | 92.30% | 94.4% | 88.3% | 56.7% |
| Nauru | 95% | |||||
| Nepal | 71.2% | 81% | 63.30% | 84.8% | 68% | 20.8% |
| Netherlands | 99% | |||||
| New Caledonia | 96.9% | 97.30% | 96.50% | 99.2% | 97.8% | 90.6% |
| New Zealand | 99% | |||||
| Nicaragua | 83% | 82.40% | 82.80% | 87% | 78% | 49.2% |
| Niger | 38% | 45.80% | 29% | 39.8% | 30.6% | 13.7% |
| Nigeria | 62% | 71.30% | 52.70% | 66.4% | 51.1% | 21.6% |
| North Korea | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| North Macedonia | 98.4% | 99.10% | 97.60% | 98.7% | 96.1% | 82.5% |
| Norway | 100% | |||||
| Oman | 95.7% | 97% | 92.70% | 98.7% | 96.1% | 41.9% |
| Pakistan | 58% | 69.30% | 46.50% | 74.5% | 59.1% | 27.1% |
| Palau | 96.6% | 96.80% | 96.30% | 98.7% | 96.6% | 84.7% |
| Palestine | 98% | 98.80% | 96.20% | 99% | 97% | 63.9% |
| Panama | 95.7% | 98.80% | 95.40% | 97.6% | 94.1% | 80.9% |
| Papua New Guinea | 64.2% | 65.60% | 62.80% | 67.9% | 61.6% | 33% |
| Paraguay | 94.5% | 94.90% | 94.20% | 98.5% | 94.7% | 77.8% |
| Peru | 94.5% | 97% | 92% | 98.9% | 94.1% | 77.7% |
| Philippines | 96.3% | 95.70% | 96.90% | 98.1% | 96.4% | 90.1% |
| Poland | 99.8% | 99.80% | 99.80% | 99.8% | 98.7% | 93% |
| Portugal | 95.9% | 97.80% | 95.90% | 99.4% | 94.5% | 80.5% |
| Puerto Rico | 92.4% | 92.40% | 92.40% | 98.8% | 92.4% | 84.5% |
| Qatar | 93.5% | 92.40% | 94.70% | 95.9% | 89% | 41% |
| Republic of the Congo | 80.6% | 85.90% | 75.40% | 80.9% | 79.3% | 73.1% |
| Romania | 98.9% | 99.10% | 98.70% | 99% | 98.6% | 96.8% |
| Russia | 99.7% | 99.70% | 99.70% | 99.7% | 99.7% | 99.2% |
| Rwanda | 75.9% | 78.70% | 73.30% | 85.1% | 70.8% | 24.3% |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 97% | |||||
| Saint Lucia | 90% | |||||
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 97% | 98% | 95.6% | 91% | ||
| Samoa | 99.1% | 99% | 99.30% | 99.2% | 99% | 96.3% |
| San Marino | 99.9% | 99.90% | 99.90% | |||
| Sao Tome and Principe | 94.8% | 96.50% | 91.10% | 96.7% | 90.1% | 49.6% |
| Saudi Arabia | 97.6% | 98.60% | 96% | 99.2% | 94.4% | 51.4% |
| Senegal | 58% | 68.40% | 45.40% | 69.5% | 51.9% | 21.5% |
| Serbia | 99% | 99.90% | 99.10% | 99.7% | 98.8% | 96.6% |
| Seychelles | 95.9% | 95.40% | 96.40% | 99% | 94% | 71.5% |
| Sierra Leone | 48.6% | 56.30% | 41.30% | 57% | 32.4% | 3.7% |
| Singapore | 97.5% | 98.90% | 96.10% | 99.9% | 97% | 84% |
| Slovakia | 100% | |||||
| Slovenia | 99.7% | 99.70% | 99.70% | 99.8% | 99.7% | 99.3% |
| Solomon Islands | 77% | 76.6% | ||||
| Somalia | 41% | |||||
| South Africa | 95% | 95.50% | 94.50% | 99% | 94.4% | 72.1% |
| South Korea | 98.8% | 99.20% | 98.40% | |||
| South Sudan | 34.5% | 40.30% | 28.90% | 36.7% | 26.8% | 11% |
| Spain | 98.6% | 99% | 98% | 99.6% | 98.3% | 94.7% |
| Sri Lanka | 92.3% | 93% | 91.60% | 98.9% | 91.9% | 81% |
| Sudan | 60.7% | 65.40% | 56.10% | 65.8% | 53.5% | 24.3% |
| Suriname | 95% | 96.50% | 93.40% | 97.7% | 92.9% | 76% |
| Sweden | 99% | |||||
| Switzerland | 99% | |||||
| Syria | 86.4% | 91.70% | 81% | 92.5% | 80.8% | 39% |
| Taiwan | 98.5% | 99.70% | 97.30% | |||
| Tajikistan | 99.8% | 99.80% | 99.70% | 99.9% | 99.8% | 98.1% |
| Tanzania | 82% | 85.50% | 78.20% | 85.8% | 77.9% | 43.5% |
| Thailand | 94.1% | 95.50% | 92.80% | 98.1% | 92.9% | 78.7% |
| Timor Leste | 68.1% | 71.90% | 64.20% | 79.5% | 58.3% | 11.2% |
| Togo | 66.5% | 80% | 55.10% | 84.3% | 63.7% | 20.4% |
| Tonga | 99.4% | 99.40% | 99.50% | 99.4% | 99.4% | 98.9% |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 98% | 99.20% | 98.70% | 99.3% | 96.9% | 82.8% |
| Tunisia | 82.7% | 89.10% | 82.70% | 96.2% | 79% | 39.8% |
| Turkey | 96.7% | 99.10% | 94.40% | 99.6% | 96.2% | 88.1% |
| Turkmenistan | 99.7% | 99.80% | 99.60% | 99.8% | 99.7% | 97.6% |
| Tuvalu | 99% | |||||
| Uganda | 79% | 84% | 74.30% | 83.7% | 70.2% | 36.1% |
| Ukraine | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| United Arab Emirates | 98% | 98.80% | 97.20% | 95% | 90% | 42.1% |
| United Kingdom | 99% | |||||
| United States | 99% | |||||
| Uruguay | 98.8% | 98.50% | 99% | 98.9% | 98.6% | 97.1% |
| Uzbekistan | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 99.8% |
| Vanuatu | 89.1% | 89.80% | 88.40% | 95.3% | 84.7% | 44.2% |
| Venezuela | 97.5% | 97.40% | 97.70% | 98.8% | 97.1% | 88.1% |
| Vietnam | 95.8% | 97% | 94.60% | 97.1% | 95.8% | 76.9% |
| Yemen | 70.1% | 85.10% | 55% | 77% | 54.1% | 13.7% |
| Zambia | 86.7% | 90.60% | 83.10% | 88.7% | 83% | 52.3% |
| Zimbabwe | 89.7% | 88.30% | 89.70% | 90.4% | 88.7% | 81.1% |
The top countries with the highest literacy rates are Finland, Norway, Luxembourg, Andorra, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Uzbekistan, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. Finland, Norway, Luxembourg, Andorra, Greenland, Liechtenstein, and Uzbekistan have an impeccable score with a 100% literacy rate. This means that every citizen in these seven countries is literate, reflecting the high standard of education in these countries.
Latvia follows closely with a literacy rate of 99.89%, making it the eighth country with the highest literacy. Coming in at ninth and tenth, Estonia and Lithuania both have very high literacy rates of 99.82%.
10 countries with the highest literacy rates:
Among all nations worldwide, the lowest literacy rates are found primarily in African and Middle-Eastern countries. These countries, according to data, are Niger, Guinea, South Sudan, Mali, Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, Somalia, Afghanistan, Benin, and Chad.
Niger is the country with the lowest literacy rate, standing at a meager 19.10%. Following closely behind is Guinea, with a literacy rate of 30.47%. South Sudan's literacy rate is 31.98%, making it the third country with the lowest literacy rate.
Mali, with a literacy rate of 33.07%, is the fourth country on the list. The Central African Republic and Burkina Faso are not far behind, with their literacy rates standing at 36.75% and 37.75% respectively.
Somalia and Afghanistan have very similar literacy rates, at 37.80% and 38.17% respectively. Benin's literacy rate is 38.45%, while Chad wraps up our list with a literacy rate of 40.02%.
10 Countries With Lowest Literacy Rates:
Total Literacy Rate
37.3%
Ranked in World
#198
Male Literacy Rate
52.10%
Ranked in World
#160
Female Literacy Rate
22.60%
Ranked in World
#164
Youth Literacy Rate
65%
Ranked in World
#149
Adult Literacy Rate
31.7%
Ranked in World
#161
Elderly Literacy Rate
20.3%
Ranked in World
#144
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Male Literacy Rate
98.70%
Ranked in World
#50
Female Literacy Rate
98.20%
Ranked in World
#46
Youth Literacy Rate
99.2%
Ranked in World
#44
Adult Literacy Rate
97.2%
Ranked in World
#46
Elderly Literacy Rate
86.9%
Ranked in World
#51
Total Literacy Rate
81.4%
Ranked in World
#155
Male Literacy Rate
87.40%
Ranked in World
#119
Female Literacy Rate
75.30%
Ranked in World
#125
Youth Literacy Rate
93.8%
Ranked in World
#110
Adult Literacy Rate
75.1%
Ranked in World
#122
Elderly Literacy Rate
19.5%
Ranked in World
#145
Total Literacy Rate
97%
Ranked in World
#89
Youth Literacy Rate
97.7%
Ranked in World
#89
Adult Literacy Rate
97.3%
Ranked in World
#45
Elderly Literacy Rate
92.7%
Ranked in World
#38
Total Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Male Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Female Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Total Literacy Rate
72%
Ranked in World
#171
Youth Literacy Rate
77.4%
Ranked in World
#137
Adult Literacy Rate
66%
Ranked in World
#133
Elderly Literacy Rate
27%
Ranked in World
#130
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Male Literacy Rate
98.40%
Ranked in World
#61
Female Literacy Rate
99.40%
Ranked in World
#26
Adult Literacy Rate
98.9%
Ranked in World
#26
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Male Literacy Rate
98.90%
Ranked in World
#45
Female Literacy Rate
99.10%
Ranked in World
#31
Youth Literacy Rate
99.5%
Ranked in World
#35
Adult Literacy Rate
99.1%
Ranked in World
#21
Elderly Literacy Rate
97.9%
Ranked in World
#19
Total Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#19
Male Literacy Rate
99.80%
Ranked in World
#13
Female Literacy Rate
99.70%
Ranked in World
#12
Youth Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#15
Adult Literacy Rate
99.7%
Ranked in World
#11
Elderly Literacy Rate
98.9%
Ranked in World
#13
Total Literacy Rate
98%
Ranked in World
#73
Male Literacy Rate
97.80%
Ranked in World
#65
Female Literacy Rate
97.80%
Ranked in World
#52
Youth Literacy Rate
99.1%
Ranked in World
#52
Adult Literacy Rate
96.8%
Ranked in World
#53
Elderly Literacy Rate
88.9%
Ranked in World
#47
Australia has a total literacy rate of 99%. In the Australian Curriculum, literacy is seen as the ability to confidently interpret and use language for learning, communication, and participation in society. It involves listening, reading, viewing, speaking, writing, and creating across various contexts and purposes. In this light, the country has made progress in literacy over time. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, between 2008 and 2018, the percentage of Year 5 students meeting or exceeding the national minimum standard in literacy grew. Reading increased 4 percentage points from 91% to 95% during this period. These improvements in literacy reflect Australia’s commitment to education, but ongoing efforts are essential to ensure all students continue to develop strong literacy skills.
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Youth Literacy Rate
96.6%
Ranked in World
#98
Total Literacy Rate
98%
Ranked in World
#73
Total Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Male Literacy Rate
99.90%
Ranked in World
#6
Female Literacy Rate
99.70%
Ranked in World
#12
Youth Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#5
Adult Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#6
Elderly Literacy Rate
98.4%
Ranked in World
#17
Total Literacy Rate
96%
Ranked in World
#99
Total Literacy Rate
98%
Ranked in World
#73
Male Literacy Rate
99.90%
Ranked in World
#6
Female Literacy Rate
94.90%
Ranked in World
#76
Youth Literacy Rate
97%
Ranked in World
#95
Adult Literacy Rate
86.5%
Ranked in World
#99
Elderly Literacy Rate
42.3%
Ranked in World
#112
Total Literacy Rate
74.9%
Ranked in World
#169
Male Literacy Rate
77.80%
Ranked in World
#140
Female Literacy Rate
72%
Ranked in World
#130
Youth Literacy Rate
94.9%
Ranked in World
#106
Adult Literacy Rate
74.7%
Ranked in World
#123
Elderly Literacy Rate
39.4%
Ranked in World
#118
Total Literacy Rate
99.6%
Ranked in World
#27
Male Literacy Rate
99.60%
Ranked in World
#26
Female Literacy Rate
99.60%
Ranked in World
#21
Youth Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#5
Adult Literacy Rate
99.6%
Ranked in World
#15
Elderly Literacy Rate
98.5%
Ranked in World
#16
Total Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#15
Male Literacy Rate
99.90%
Ranked in World
#6
Female Literacy Rate
99.90%
Ranked in World
#6
Youth Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#15
Adult Literacy Rate
99.6%
Ranked in World
#15
Elderly Literacy Rate
98.6%
Ranked in World
#15
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
81%
Ranked in World
#156
Youth Literacy Rate
77.6%
Ranked in World
#136
Adult Literacy Rate
70.3%
Ranked in World
#130
Elderly Literacy Rate
44.8%
Ranked in World
#108
Total Literacy Rate
47%
Ranked in World
#192
Male Literacy Rate
56.90%
Ranked in World
#157
Female Literacy Rate
35%
Ranked in World
#157
Youth Literacy Rate
52.5%
Ranked in World
#156
Adult Literacy Rate
32.9%
Ranked in World
#158
Elderly Literacy Rate
7%
Ranked in World
#160
Total Literacy Rate
72%
Ranked in World
#171
Male Literacy Rate
77.90%
Ranked in World
#139
Female Literacy Rate
62.80%
Ranked in World
#140
Youth Literacy Rate
87.3%
Ranked in World
#119
Adult Literacy Rate
57%
Ranked in World
#141
Elderly Literacy Rate
14.9%
Ranked in World
#148
Total Literacy Rate
94%
Ranked in World
#121
Male Literacy Rate
94.90%
Ranked in World
#90
Female Literacy Rate
94%
Ranked in World
#85
Youth Literacy Rate
99.4%
Ranked in World
#37
Adult Literacy Rate
92.5%
Ranked in World
#82
Elderly Literacy Rate
67.5%
Ranked in World
#81
Total Literacy Rate
98%
Ranked in World
#73
Male Literacy Rate
99.40%
Ranked in World
#30
Female Literacy Rate
98.10%
Ranked in World
#49
Youth Literacy Rate
99.7%
Ranked in World
#25
Adult Literacy Rate
97%
Ranked in World
#48
Elderly Literacy Rate
86%
Ranked in World
#52
Total Literacy Rate
88.5%
Ranked in World
#141
Male Literacy Rate
88%
Ranked in World
#117
Female Literacy Rate
88.90%
Ranked in World
#101
Youth Literacy Rate
97.7%
Ranked in World
#89
Adult Literacy Rate
87.7%
Ranked in World
#97
Elderly Literacy Rate
40.7%
Ranked in World
#116
Total Literacy Rate
94.7%
Ranked in World
#117
Male Literacy Rate
94.40%
Ranked in World
#93
Female Literacy Rate
94.90%
Ranked in World
#76
Youth Literacy Rate
99.7%
Ranked in World
#25
Adult Literacy Rate
92%
Ranked in World
#84
Elderly Literacy Rate
74.3%
Ranked in World
#74
Total Literacy Rate
97.6%
Ranked in World
#84
Male Literacy Rate
98.30%
Ranked in World
#62
Female Literacy Rate
96.90%
Ranked in World
#59
Youth Literacy Rate
99.4%
Ranked in World
#37
Adult Literacy Rate
96.1%
Ranked in World
#59
Elderly Literacy Rate
61.6%
Ranked in World
#88
Total Literacy Rate
98.4%
Ranked in World
#69
Male Literacy Rate
98.70%
Ranked in World
#50
Female Literacy Rate
98.20%
Ranked in World
#46
Youth Literacy Rate
97.9%
Ranked in World
#88
Adult Literacy Rate
98.4%
Ranked in World
#36
Elderly Literacy Rate
97.5%
Ranked in World
#21
Total Literacy Rate
46%
Ranked in World
#193
Male Literacy Rate
54.50%
Ranked in World
#159
Female Literacy Rate
37.80%
Ranked in World
#156
Youth Literacy Rate
50.1%
Ranked in World
#157
Adult Literacy Rate
34.6%
Ranked in World
#156
Elderly Literacy Rate
8.4%
Ranked in World
#159
Total Literacy Rate
76%
Ranked in World
#166
Male Literacy Rate
81.30%
Ranked in World
#132
Female Literacy Rate
68.40%
Ranked in World
#133
Youth Literacy Rate
79.6%
Ranked in World
#134
Adult Literacy Rate
61.6%
Ranked in World
#137
Elderly Literacy Rate
24.9%
Ranked in World
#134
Total Literacy Rate
84%
Ranked in World
#148
Male Literacy Rate
88.40%
Ranked in World
#113
Female Literacy Rate
79.80%
Ranked in World
#119
Youth Literacy Rate
92.2%
Ranked in World
#115
Adult Literacy Rate
80.5%
Ranked in World
#111
Elderly Literacy Rate
53.1%
Ranked in World
#95
Total Literacy Rate
78%
Ranked in World
#161
Youth Literacy Rate
80.6%
Ranked in World
#133
Adult Literacy Rate
71.3%
Ranked in World
#127
Elderly Literacy Rate
26.1%
Ranked in World
#132
Canada has a total literacy rate of 99%. Although it is seen as a highly literate country, nearly half of adult Canadians have literacy skills below a high school level, affecting their work and daily life. The Employment and Social Development Canada has released the "Evaluation of Literacy and Essential Skills" report that assesses the relevance and performance of federal initiatives aimed at enhancing workplace literacy from 2011 to 2016. It highlights the persistent need for literacy programs and the federal government's key role in addressing this issue. It also recommends improved communication with provinces and territories, development of formal partnership strategies, and updating performance measurement tools to better reflect recent changes. Besides the government, there are some national charitable organizations dedicated to enhancing literacy across Canada, like ABC Life Literacy Canada. It develops and distributes free foundational learning materials, advocates for literacy skills programming, and builds sector capacity by connecting the adult literacy community.
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
90.8%
Ranked in World
#130
Male Literacy Rate
94.20%
Ranked in World
#94
Female Literacy Rate
87.40%
Ranked in World
#107
Youth Literacy Rate
98.1%
Ranked in World
#81
Adult Literacy Rate
86.8%
Ranked in World
#98
Elderly Literacy Rate
36.8%
Ranked in World
#120
Total Literacy Rate
98.9%
Ranked in World
#62
Male Literacy Rate
98.70%
Ranked in World
#50
Female Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#35
Youth Literacy Rate
98.9%
Ranked in World
#61
Adult Literacy Rate
98.9%
Ranked in World
#26
Elderly Literacy Rate
94.7%
Ranked in World
#31
Total Literacy Rate
37.5%
Ranked in World
#197
Male Literacy Rate
49.20%
Ranked in World
#161
Female Literacy Rate
26.20%
Ranked in World
#162
Youth Literacy Rate
36.4%
Ranked in World
#163
Adult Literacy Rate
36.8%
Ranked in World
#155
Elderly Literacy Rate
35.7%
Ranked in World
#123
Total Literacy Rate
27%
Ranked in World
#201
Male Literacy Rate
35.40%
Ranked in World
#165
Female Literacy Rate
18.20%
Ranked in World
#165
Youth Literacy Rate
30.8%
Ranked in World
#164
Adult Literacy Rate
22.3%
Ranked in World
#164
Elderly Literacy Rate
7%
Ranked in World
#160
Total Literacy Rate
97%
Ranked in World
#89
Male Literacy Rate
97.10%
Ranked in World
#72
Female Literacy Rate
97%
Ranked in World
#58
Youth Literacy Rate
99.4%
Ranked in World
#37
Adult Literacy Rate
96.9%
Ranked in World
#51
Elderly Literacy Rate
89.9%
Ranked in World
#45
Total Literacy Rate
97%
Ranked in World
#89
Male Literacy Rate
98.50%
Ranked in World
#57
Female Literacy Rate
95.20%
Ranked in World
#75
Youth Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#15
Adult Literacy Rate
96.8%
Ranked in World
#53
Elderly Literacy Rate
73.9%
Ranked in World
#75
Total Literacy Rate
95.6%
Ranked in World
#106
Male Literacy Rate
95.40%
Ranked in World
#87
Female Literacy Rate
95.90%
Ranked in World
#69
Youth Literacy Rate
98.7%
Ranked in World
#71
Adult Literacy Rate
94.7%
Ranked in World
#68
Elderly Literacy Rate
81.4%
Ranked in World
#59
Total Literacy Rate
62%
Ranked in World
#181
Male Literacy Rate
67%
Ranked in World
#148
Female Literacy Rate
56.90%
Ranked in World
#144
Youth Literacy Rate
71.6%
Ranked in World
#143
Adult Literacy Rate
49.2%
Ranked in World
#147
Elderly Literacy Rate
12.8%
Ranked in World
#154
Total Literacy Rate
98%
Ranked in World
#73
Male Literacy Rate
98%
Ranked in World
#64
Female Literacy Rate
98.10%
Ranked in World
#49
Youth Literacy Rate
99.1%
Ranked in World
#52
Adult Literacy Rate
97.4%
Ranked in World
#43
Elderly Literacy Rate
90.4%
Ranked in World
#43
Total Literacy Rate
99.4%
Ranked in World
#30
Male Literacy Rate
99.70%
Ranked in World
#20
Female Literacy Rate
99.20%
Ranked in World
#28
Youth Literacy Rate
99.7%
Ranked in World
#25
Adult Literacy Rate
99.1%
Ranked in World
#21
Elderly Literacy Rate
97.1%
Ranked in World
#22
Total Literacy Rate
99.7%
Ranked in World
#23
Male Literacy Rate
99.60%
Ranked in World
#26
Female Literacy Rate
99.70%
Ranked in World
#12
Youth Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#5
Adult Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#6
Elderly Literacy Rate
99.2%
Ranked in World
#9
Total Literacy Rate
99.4%
Ranked in World
#30
Male Literacy Rate
99.60%
Ranked in World
#26
Female Literacy Rate
99.20%
Ranked in World
#28
Youth Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#15
Adult Literacy Rate
98.7%
Ranked in World
#30
Elderly Literacy Rate
93.8%
Ranked in World
#35
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Male Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#42
Female Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#35
Total Literacy Rate
81%
Ranked in World
#156
Male Literacy Rate
89.50%
Ranked in World
#110
Female Literacy Rate
70.80%
Ranked in World
#131
Youth Literacy Rate
85%
Ranked in World
#127
Adult Literacy Rate
77%
Ranked in World
#117
Elderly Literacy Rate
48%
Ranked in World
#104
Denmark has a literacy rate of 99%. In the 2023 OECD Survey of Adult Skills, Danish adults aged 16-65 scored an average of 273 points in literacy, surpassing the OECD average. Only 18% of Danish adults scored at Level 1 or below, indicating low literacy proficiency, compared to the OECD average of 26%. 15% achieved Levels 4 or 5, denoting high proficiency, exceeding the OECD average of 12%. However, foreign illiteracy is a concern in Denmark. The country offers free Danish language courses for foreign residents for three years under the standard integration program. The courses have three levels, with Level 1 designed for low-educated learners and those unfamiliar with the Roman alphabet. Early modules focus on basic conversation, literacy, and integration into Danish society, covering everyday language, work, rights, and cultural values.
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
92%
Ranked in World
#128
Total Literacy Rate
95.5%
Ranked in World
#107
Male Literacy Rate
95.40%
Ranked in World
#87
Female Literacy Rate
95.60%
Ranked in World
#72
Youth Literacy Rate
98.8%
Ranked in World
#66
Adult Literacy Rate
93.8%
Ranked in World
#77
Elderly Literacy Rate
79.8%
Ranked in World
#65
Total Literacy Rate
93.9%
Ranked in World
#122
Male Literacy Rate
94.90%
Ranked in World
#90
Female Literacy Rate
93.10%
Ranked in World
#89
Youth Literacy Rate
99.1%
Ranked in World
#52
Adult Literacy Rate
94.4%
Ranked in World
#71
Elderly Literacy Rate
77.7%
Ranked in World
#70
Total Literacy Rate
73.1%
Ranked in World
#170
Male Literacy Rate
78.80%
Ranked in World
#136
Female Literacy Rate
67.40%
Ranked in World
#134
Youth Literacy Rate
93.9%
Ranked in World
#109
Adult Literacy Rate
71.2%
Ranked in World
#128
Elderly Literacy Rate
43.2%
Ranked in World
#111
Total Literacy Rate
90%
Ranked in World
#131
Male Literacy Rate
91.30%
Ranked in World
#105
Female Literacy Rate
87.30%
Ranked in World
#108
Youth Literacy Rate
98%
Ranked in World
#86
Adult Literacy Rate
88.5%
Ranked in World
#94
Elderly Literacy Rate
65.7%
Ranked in World
#85
Total Literacy Rate
95.3%
Ranked in World
#108
Male Literacy Rate
97.40%
Ranked in World
#68
Female Literacy Rate
93%
Ranked in World
#91
Youth Literacy Rate
98.2%
Ranked in World
#79
Adult Literacy Rate
95%
Ranked in World
#66
Elderly Literacy Rate
67.2%
Ranked in World
#82
Total Literacy Rate
76.6%
Ranked in World
#165
Male Literacy Rate
84.40%
Ranked in World
#126
Female Literacy Rate
68.90%
Ranked in World
#132
Youth Literacy Rate
87%
Ranked in World
#120
Adult Literacy Rate
64.7%
Ranked in World
#134
Elderly Literacy Rate
20.9%
Ranked in World
#140
Total Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#15
Male Literacy Rate
99.90%
Ranked in World
#6
Female Literacy Rate
99.90%
Ranked in World
#6
Youth Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#5
Adult Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#4
Elderly Literacy Rate
99.7%
Ranked in World
#6
Total Literacy Rate
89%
Ranked in World
#138
Male Literacy Rate
88.30%
Ranked in World
#114
Female Literacy Rate
88.50%
Ranked in World
#104
Youth Literacy Rate
93.5%
Ranked in World
#111
Adult Literacy Rate
83.1%
Ranked in World
#106
Elderly Literacy Rate
45.2%
Ranked in World
#107
Total Literacy Rate
51.8%
Ranked in World
#189
Male Literacy Rate
57.20%
Ranked in World
#156
Female Literacy Rate
44.40%
Ranked in World
#153
Youth Literacy Rate
55%
Ranked in World
#154
Adult Literacy Rate
39%
Ranked in World
#154
Elderly Literacy Rate
13.6%
Ranked in World
#151
Total Literacy Rate
99.1%
Ranked in World
#34
Male Literacy Rate
99.10%
Ranked in World
#36
Female Literacy Rate
99.10%
Ranked in World
#31
Finland has a total literacy rate of 100%. The OECD country note with results from the 2023 Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC) provides a picture of adults’ proficiency in literacy – the ability to understand and respond appropriately to written texts (PIAAC’s definition). Finland demonstrates exceptionally high literacy skills and remains among the best-performing countries. About 35% of adults in Finland scored at the highest proficiency levels (Levels 4 and 5), way above the OECD average of 12%. These adults can analyze and interpret lengthy, complex texts, discern subtle or hidden meanings, and apply prior knowledge to comprehend information and complete tasks. As an example of a government-run initiative, Finland's National Literacy Program focuses on improving literacy by incorporating multiliteracy and multilingualism into education. It aims to strengthen reading skills across all age groups by creating supportive structures and policies. The program is implemented nationwide in both Finnish and Swedish to ensure broad accessibility.
Total Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
France has a total literacy rate of 99%. In the 2023 OECD Survey of Adult Skills, French adults aged 16-65 scored an average of 255 points in literacy, which is below the OECD average. 28% of French adults scored at Level 1 or below, indicating low literacy proficiency, while only 9% achieved Levels 4 or 5 that pertain to high proficiency. To tackle this, there is the National Agency for the Fight Against Illiteracy (ANLCI) in France. The ANLCI aims to ensure that no individual completes a professional integration or training programme while still facing illiteracy or digital illiteracy. This objective is pursued by providing a clearer understanding of basic skill deficiencies and supporting local initiatives through partnerships.
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
86%
Ranked in World
#146
Male Literacy Rate
86.20%
Ranked in World
#120
Female Literacy Rate
84.70%
Ranked in World
#112
Youth Literacy Rate
88.5%
Ranked in World
#118
Adult Literacy Rate
82.3%
Ranked in World
#108
Elderly Literacy Rate
60.6%
Ranked in World
#89
Total Literacy Rate
59%
Ranked in World
#185
Male Literacy Rate
65.20%
Ranked in World
#153
Female Literacy Rate
51.20%
Ranked in World
#150
Youth Literacy Rate
60.8%
Ranked in World
#150
Adult Literacy Rate
42%
Ranked in World
#153
Elderly Literacy Rate
10.4%
Ranked in World
#157
Total Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Male Literacy Rate
99.60%
Ranked in World
#26
Female Literacy Rate
99.70%
Ranked in World
#12
Youth Literacy Rate
99.7%
Ranked in World
#25
Adult Literacy Rate
99.6%
Ranked in World
#15
Elderly Literacy Rate
99.1%
Ranked in World
#11
Germany has a total literacy rate of 99%. The OECD country note, derived from the 2023 Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC), provides an overview of adults' literacy proficiency, which PIAAC defines as the ability to understand and engage effectively with written texts. Adults in Germany show around average proficiency in literacy compared with adults in the other countries participating in the survey. In Germany, 14% of adults (16-65) achieve the highest literacy levels (4 or 5), slightly above the 12% average across participating countries. These adults can comprehend and evaluate long, dense texts across several pages, grasp complex or hidden meanings, and use prior knowledge to understand texts and complete tasks. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) reports that approximately 6.2 million adults in Germany have difficulty comprehending longer texts, despite being able to read and write individual words and sentences. To address this, the BMBF has initiated the National Decade for Literacy and Basic Skills (2016-2026), aiming to enhance literacy and basic education among adults. This initiative focuses on increasing public awareness, expanding educational opportunities, and integrating basic education into workplace training programs.
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
80%
Ranked in World
#159
Male Literacy Rate
83.50%
Ranked in World
#129
Female Literacy Rate
74.50%
Ranked in World
#126
Youth Literacy Rate
85.7%
Ranked in World
#125
Adult Literacy Rate
71.5%
Ranked in World
#126
Elderly Literacy Rate
34.9%
Ranked in World
#125
Total Literacy Rate
97.9%
Ranked in World
#81
Male Literacy Rate
98.50%
Ranked in World
#57
Female Literacy Rate
97.40%
Ranked in World
#55
Youth Literacy Rate
98.8%
Ranked in World
#66
Adult Literacy Rate
97.4%
Ranked in World
#43
Elderly Literacy Rate
92.5%
Ranked in World
#39
Total Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Male Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Female Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Youth Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Total Literacy Rate
98.6%
Ranked in World
#66
Male Literacy Rate
98.60%
Ranked in World
#55
Female Literacy Rate
98.60%
Ranked in World
#41
Youth Literacy Rate
99.2%
Ranked in World
#44
Adult Literacy Rate
98.6%
Ranked in World
#32
Elderly Literacy Rate
96.2%
Ranked in World
#28
Total Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Male Literacy Rate
99.80%
Ranked in World
#13
Female Literacy Rate
99.70%
Ranked in World
#12
Youth Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#5
Adult Literacy Rate
99.4%
Ranked in World
#18
Elderly Literacy Rate
95.9%
Ranked in World
#29
Total Literacy Rate
84%
Ranked in World
#148
Male Literacy Rate
87.70%
Ranked in World
#118
Female Literacy Rate
79.30%
Ranked in World
#121
Youth Literacy Rate
94.4%
Ranked in World
#107
Adult Literacy Rate
81.3%
Ranked in World
#109
Elderly Literacy Rate
50.7%
Ranked in World
#99
Total Literacy Rate
45.3%
Ranked in World
#194
Male Literacy Rate
61.20%
Ranked in World
#155
Female Literacy Rate
31.30%
Ranked in World
#159
Youth Literacy Rate
46.3%
Ranked in World
#160
Adult Literacy Rate
32%
Ranked in World
#160
Elderly Literacy Rate
13.1%
Ranked in World
#153
Total Literacy Rate
52.9%
Ranked in World
#188
Male Literacy Rate
67%
Ranked in World
#148
Female Literacy Rate
39.90%
Ranked in World
#155
Youth Literacy Rate
60.4%
Ranked in World
#151
Adult Literacy Rate
45.6%
Ranked in World
#149
Elderly Literacy Rate
19.5%
Ranked in World
#145
Total Literacy Rate
90%
Ranked in World
#131
Male Literacy Rate
89.30%
Ranked in World
#111
Female Literacy Rate
88.40%
Ranked in World
#105
Youth Literacy Rate
96.7%
Ranked in World
#96
Adult Literacy Rate
85.6%
Ranked in World
#101
Elderly Literacy Rate
49.9%
Ranked in World
#100
Total Literacy Rate
61.7%
Ranked in World
#183
Male Literacy Rate
65.30%
Ranked in World
#152
Female Literacy Rate
58.30%
Ranked in World
#143
Youth Literacy Rate
72.3%
Ranked in World
#142
Adult Literacy Rate
48.7%
Ranked in World
#148
Elderly Literacy Rate
8.5%
Ranked in World
#158
Total Literacy Rate
88.5%
Ranked in World
#141
Male Literacy Rate
88.20%
Ranked in World
#116
Female Literacy Rate
88.70%
Ranked in World
#102
Youth Literacy Rate
96.1%
Ranked in World
#101
Adult Literacy Rate
89%
Ranked in World
#91
Elderly Literacy Rate
66.3%
Ranked in World
#84
Total Literacy Rate
99.1%
Ranked in World
#34
Male Literacy Rate
99.10%
Ranked in World
#36
Female Literacy Rate
99.10%
Ranked in World
#31
Youth Literacy Rate
98.8%
Ranked in World
#66
Adult Literacy Rate
99.1%
Ranked in World
#21
Elderly Literacy Rate
99.1%
Ranked in World
#11
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
India has a total literacy rate of 76%. The country faces serious challenges with the lack of available schools in rural areas and gender inequalities. For example, the National Statistical Commission reported that the literacy rate was 73.5% in rural areas, while urban areas had a higher rate of 87.7%. Moreover, our ranking shows that male literacy rate is at 82.4%, while the female literacy rate is at 65.8%. To address these challenges, initiatives like Padhe Bharat Badhe Bharat (2014) focus on enhancing literacy skills in government primary schools, while Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (2015) aims to combat gender discrimination and promote girls' education. In addition, grassroots organizations like the India Literacy Project work to increase school access, reduce dropout rates, and improve learning outcomes. Although India has a youth literacy rate of 95.7%, there is still a long way to go in improving literacy among adults (75.4%) and the elderly (45.4%).
Total Literacy Rate
76%
Ranked in World
#166
Male Literacy Rate
82.40%
Ranked in World
#130
Female Literacy Rate
65.80%
Ranked in World
#136
Youth Literacy Rate
95.7%
Ranked in World
#103
Adult Literacy Rate
75.4%
Ranked in World
#121
Elderly Literacy Rate
45.4%
Ranked in World
#106
Total Literacy Rate
96%
Ranked in World
#99
Male Literacy Rate
97.40%
Ranked in World
#68
Female Literacy Rate
94.60%
Ranked in World
#79
Youth Literacy Rate
99.7%
Ranked in World
#25
Adult Literacy Rate
95.4%
Ranked in World
#65
Elderly Literacy Rate
70.1%
Ranked in World
#79
Total Literacy Rate
89%
Ranked in World
#138
Male Literacy Rate
92.40%
Ranked in World
#99
Female Literacy Rate
88.70%
Ranked in World
#102
Youth Literacy Rate
98.1%
Ranked in World
#81
Adult Literacy Rate
85.5%
Ranked in World
#103
Elderly Literacy Rate
36.8%
Ranked in World
#120
Total Literacy Rate
85.6%
Ranked in World
#147
Male Literacy Rate
91.20%
Ranked in World
#106
Female Literacy Rate
79.90%
Ranked in World
#118
Youth Literacy Rate
93.5%
Ranked in World
#111
Adult Literacy Rate
85.6%
Ranked in World
#101
Elderly Literacy Rate
20.4%
Ranked in World
#142
Ireland has a total literacy rate of 99%.The 2023 Survey of Adult Skills from the OECD reveals that adults in Ireland (16-65) scored an average of 263 points in literacy, slightly above the OECD average. 21% of Irish adults have low literacy proficiency (scoring at Level 1 or below), meaning they can only understand short texts with clear information. Only 9% are high performers (Levels 4 or 5) and can analyze complex, multi-page texts. This is below the OECD average of 12%. The Education and Training Board (ETB) Adult Literacy Services offer literacy courses, with additional support from the National Adult Literacy Agency’s Learn with NALA program, which offers remote tutoring. Co-funded by the Irish Government and the EU, the 2021 Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Strategy aims to improve literacy, numeracy, and digital skills, ensuring everyone can fully engage in society.
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
97.8%
Ranked in World
#83
Male Literacy Rate
98.70%
Ranked in World
#50
Female Literacy Rate
96.80%
Ranked in World
#61
Youth Literacy Rate
98.6%
Ranked in World
#75
Adult Literacy Rate
91.8%
Ranked in World
#86
Elderly Literacy Rate
79.8%
Ranked in World
#65
Total Literacy Rate
99.2%
Ranked in World
#33
Male Literacy Rate
99.40%
Ranked in World
#30
Female Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#35
Youth Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#5
Adult Literacy Rate
98.8%
Ranked in World
#28
Elderly Literacy Rate
96.7%
Ranked in World
#25
Total Literacy Rate
89.9%
Ranked in World
#134
Male Literacy Rate
93.10%
Ranked in World
#97
Female Literacy Rate
86.70%
Ranked in World
#109
Youth Literacy Rate
53%
Ranked in World
#155
Adult Literacy Rate
43.9%
Ranked in World
#151
Elderly Literacy Rate
18%
Ranked in World
#147
Total Literacy Rate
88.7%
Ranked in World
#140
Male Literacy Rate
84%
Ranked in World
#127
Female Literacy Rate
93.10%
Ranked in World
#89
Youth Literacy Rate
96.3%
Ranked in World
#99
Adult Literacy Rate
88.1%
Ranked in World
#96
Elderly Literacy Rate
66.6%
Ranked in World
#83
Japan has a total literacy rate of 99%. This is largely attributed to the country’s education system, which emphasizes rote learning and consistent review. According to government guidelines, formal instruction begins at age six and continues until 15, with students required to learn 1,006 kanji characters in primary school and another 1,130 in junior high. Despite this strong foundation, some critics argue that the focus on rote memorization may suppress critical thinking and creativity. Furthermore, the government launched a new work visa program in 2019, aiming to attract approximately 345,000 overseas workers over the following five years. As Japan welcomes more foreign workers to address its severe labor shortage, foreign illiteracy is expected to become a growing concern.
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
98.4%
Ranked in World
#69
Male Literacy Rate
98.70%
Ranked in World
#50
Female Literacy Rate
98.40%
Ranked in World
#43
Youth Literacy Rate
99.1%
Ranked in World
#52
Adult Literacy Rate
97.9%
Ranked in World
#41
Elderly Literacy Rate
87.7%
Ranked in World
#50
Total Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Male Literacy Rate
99.80%
Ranked in World
#13
Female Literacy Rate
99.70%
Ranked in World
#12
Youth Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#5
Adult Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#6
Elderly Literacy Rate
99.5%
Ranked in World
#7
Total Literacy Rate
83%
Ranked in World
#150
Male Literacy Rate
85.50%
Ranked in World
#122
Female Literacy Rate
79.80%
Ranked in World
#119
Youth Literacy Rate
86.5%
Ranked in World
#123
Adult Literacy Rate
78.7%
Ranked in World
#114
Elderly Literacy Rate
54%
Ranked in World
#94
Total Literacy Rate
96.5%
Ranked in World
#97
Male Literacy Rate
97.10%
Ranked in World
#72
Female Literacy Rate
95.40%
Ranked in World
#73
Youth Literacy Rate
99.2%
Ranked in World
#44
Adult Literacy Rate
96.1%
Ranked in World
#59
Elderly Literacy Rate
69.5%
Ranked in World
#80
Total Literacy Rate
99.6%
Ranked in World
#27
Male Literacy Rate
99.70%
Ranked in World
#20
Female Literacy Rate
99.50%
Ranked in World
#23
Youth Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#15
Adult Literacy Rate
99.2%
Ranked in World
#20
Elderly Literacy Rate
92.5%
Ranked in World
#39
Total Literacy Rate
88%
Ranked in World
#143
Male Literacy Rate
91.40%
Ranked in World
#104
Female Literacy Rate
81.40%
Ranked in World
#116
Youth Literacy Rate
92.5%
Ranked in World
#113
Adult Literacy Rate
84.7%
Ranked in World
#104
Elderly Literacy Rate
58.6%
Ranked in World
#91
Total Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#15
Male Literacy Rate
99.90%
Ranked in World
#6
Female Literacy Rate
99.90%
Ranked in World
#6
Youth Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#15
Adult Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#4
Elderly Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#3
Total Literacy Rate
95%
Ranked in World
#110
Male Literacy Rate
96.90%
Ranked in World
#77
Female Literacy Rate
93.30%
Ranked in World
#88
Youth Literacy Rate
99.2%
Ranked in World
#44
Adult Literacy Rate
91.2%
Ranked in World
#87
Elderly Literacy Rate
60.2%
Ranked in World
#90
Total Literacy Rate
82%
Ranked in World
#153
Male Literacy Rate
81%
Ranked in World
#133
Female Literacy Rate
72.90%
Ranked in World
#129
Youth Literacy Rate
86.6%
Ranked in World
#122
Adult Literacy Rate
76.6%
Ranked in World
#118
Elderly Literacy Rate
51.4%
Ranked in World
#97
Total Literacy Rate
48.3%
Ranked in World
#191
Male Literacy Rate
62.70%
Ranked in World
#154
Female Literacy Rate
34.10%
Ranked in World
#158
Youth Literacy Rate
49.1%
Ranked in World
#159
Adult Literacy Rate
42.9%
Ranked in World
#152
Elderly Literacy Rate
32.8%
Ranked in World
#128
Total Literacy Rate
91%
Ranked in World
#129
Male Literacy Rate
96.70%
Ranked in World
#79
Female Literacy Rate
85.60%
Ranked in World
#111
Youth Literacy Rate
99.6%
Ranked in World
#32
Adult Literacy Rate
86.1%
Ranked in World
#100
Elderly Literacy Rate
24.2%
Ranked in World
#137
Total Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Total Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#19
Male Literacy Rate
99.80%
Ranked in World
#13
Female Literacy Rate
99.80%
Ranked in World
#10
Youth Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#5
Adult Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#6
Elderly Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#4
Total Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Total Literacy Rate
97.1%
Ranked in World
#88
Male Literacy Rate
98.50%
Ranked in World
#57
Female Literacy Rate
95.90%
Ranked in World
#69
Youth Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#15
Adult Literacy Rate
96.5%
Ranked in World
#56
Elderly Literacy Rate
81.2%
Ranked in World
#60
Total Literacy Rate
77.3%
Ranked in World
#162
Male Literacy Rate
78.80%
Ranked in World
#136
Female Literacy Rate
75.80%
Ranked in World
#123
Youth Literacy Rate
76.8%
Ranked in World
#139
Adult Literacy Rate
71.6%
Ranked in World
#125
Elderly Literacy Rate
49.4%
Ranked in World
#102
Total Literacy Rate
68%
Ranked in World
#176
Male Literacy Rate
71.20%
Ranked in World
#145
Female Literacy Rate
63.70%
Ranked in World
#138
Youth Literacy Rate
72.9%
Ranked in World
#141
Adult Literacy Rate
62.1%
Ranked in World
#136
Elderly Literacy Rate
35.1%
Ranked in World
#124
Total Literacy Rate
95%
Ranked in World
#110
Male Literacy Rate
96.20%
Ranked in World
#82
Female Literacy Rate
93.60%
Ranked in World
#86
Youth Literacy Rate
98.2%
Ranked in World
#79
Adult Literacy Rate
89.5%
Ranked in World
#90
Elderly Literacy Rate
47.1%
Ranked in World
#105
Total Literacy Rate
97.9%
Ranked in World
#81
Male Literacy Rate
97.60%
Ranked in World
#67
Female Literacy Rate
98.40%
Ranked in World
#43
Youth Literacy Rate
99.3%
Ranked in World
#42
Adult Literacy Rate
98.6%
Ranked in World
#32
Elderly Literacy Rate
92.8%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
31%
Ranked in World
#200
Male Literacy Rate
46.20%
Ranked in World
#162
Female Literacy Rate
25.70%
Ranked in World
#163
Youth Literacy Rate
49.4%
Ranked in World
#158
Adult Literacy Rate
33.1%
Ranked in World
#157
Elderly Literacy Rate
13.6%
Ranked in World
#151
Total Literacy Rate
94.9%
Ranked in World
#115
Male Literacy Rate
93.40%
Ranked in World
#96
Female Literacy Rate
96.40%
Ranked in World
#63
Youth Literacy Rate
98.9%
Ranked in World
#61
Adult Literacy Rate
93.3%
Ranked in World
#78
Elderly Literacy Rate
85.8%
Ranked in World
#53
Total Literacy Rate
98.3%
Ranked in World
#72
Male Literacy Rate
98.30%
Ranked in World
#62
Female Literacy Rate
98.20%
Ranked in World
#46
Youth Literacy Rate
98.5%
Ranked in World
#76
Adult Literacy Rate
98.3%
Ranked in World
#38
Elderly Literacy Rate
89.4%
Ranked in World
#46
Total Literacy Rate
67%
Ranked in World
#177
Male Literacy Rate
71.80%
Ranked in World
#143
Female Literacy Rate
62.20%
Ranked in World
#142
Youth Literacy Rate
56.1%
Ranked in World
#153
Adult Literacy Rate
45.5%
Ranked in World
#150
Elderly Literacy Rate
26.6%
Ranked in World
#131
Total Literacy Rate
92.2%
Ranked in World
#127
Male Literacy Rate
93.50%
Ranked in World
#95
Female Literacy Rate
90.50%
Ranked in World
#99
Youth Literacy Rate
98.1%
Ranked in World
#81
Adult Literacy Rate
93.2%
Ranked in World
#79
Elderly Literacy Rate
64.6%
Ranked in World
#86
Total Literacy Rate
95.2%
Ranked in World
#109
Male Literacy Rate
96.10%
Ranked in World
#83
Female Literacy Rate
94.50%
Ranked in World
#81
Youth Literacy Rate
99.1%
Ranked in World
#52
Adult Literacy Rate
94.9%
Ranked in World
#67
Elderly Literacy Rate
78.9%
Ranked in World
#67
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
99.6%
Ranked in World
#27
Male Literacy Rate
99.70%
Ranked in World
#20
Female Literacy Rate
99.50%
Ranked in World
#23
Youth Literacy Rate
99.5%
Ranked in World
#35
Adult Literacy Rate
99.1%
Ranked in World
#21
Elderly Literacy Rate
95.8%
Ranked in World
#30
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Male Literacy Rate
99.10%
Ranked in World
#36
Female Literacy Rate
99.20%
Ranked in World
#28
Youth Literacy Rate
98.5%
Ranked in World
#76
Adult Literacy Rate
98.3%
Ranked in World
#38
Elderly Literacy Rate
94.6%
Ranked in World
#33
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Male Literacy Rate
99.40%
Ranked in World
#30
Female Literacy Rate
98.50%
Ranked in World
#42
Youth Literacy Rate
99.2%
Ranked in World
#44
Adult Literacy Rate
98.4%
Ranked in World
#36
Elderly Literacy Rate
93.9%
Ranked in World
#34
Total Literacy Rate
77%
Ranked in World
#163
Male Literacy Rate
84.80%
Ranked in World
#125
Female Literacy Rate
67.40%
Ranked in World
#134
Youth Literacy Rate
97.7%
Ranked in World
#89
Adult Literacy Rate
73.8%
Ranked in World
#124
Elderly Literacy Rate
34.1%
Ranked in World
#126
Total Literacy Rate
63.4%
Ranked in World
#180
Male Literacy Rate
74.10%
Ranked in World
#141
Female Literacy Rate
53.80%
Ranked in World
#148
Youth Literacy Rate
70.5%
Ranked in World
#144
Adult Literacy Rate
56%
Ranked in World
#142
Elderly Literacy Rate
26%
Ranked in World
#133
Total Literacy Rate
89.1%
Ranked in World
#136
Male Literacy Rate
92.40%
Ranked in World
#99
Female Literacy Rate
86.30%
Ranked in World
#110
Youth Literacy Rate
84.8%
Ranked in World
#128
Adult Literacy Rate
75.6%
Ranked in World
#120
Elderly Literacy Rate
58.2%
Ranked in World
#92
Total Literacy Rate
92.3%
Ranked in World
#125
Male Literacy Rate
90.60%
Ranked in World
#107
Female Literacy Rate
92.30%
Ranked in World
#95
Youth Literacy Rate
94.4%
Ranked in World
#107
Adult Literacy Rate
88.3%
Ranked in World
#95
Elderly Literacy Rate
56.7%
Ranked in World
#93
Total Literacy Rate
95%
Ranked in World
#110
Total Literacy Rate
71.2%
Ranked in World
#173
Male Literacy Rate
81%
Ranked in World
#133
Female Literacy Rate
63.30%
Ranked in World
#139
Youth Literacy Rate
84.8%
Ranked in World
#128
Adult Literacy Rate
68%
Ranked in World
#132
Elderly Literacy Rate
20.8%
Ranked in World
#141
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
96.9%
Ranked in World
#94
Male Literacy Rate
97.30%
Ranked in World
#71
Female Literacy Rate
96.50%
Ranked in World
#62
Youth Literacy Rate
99.2%
Ranked in World
#44
Adult Literacy Rate
97.8%
Ranked in World
#42
Elderly Literacy Rate
90.6%
Ranked in World
#42
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
83%
Ranked in World
#150
Male Literacy Rate
82.40%
Ranked in World
#130
Female Literacy Rate
82.80%
Ranked in World
#114
Youth Literacy Rate
87%
Ranked in World
#120
Adult Literacy Rate
78%
Ranked in World
#115
Elderly Literacy Rate
49.2%
Ranked in World
#103
Total Literacy Rate
38%
Ranked in World
#196
Male Literacy Rate
45.80%
Ranked in World
#163
Female Literacy Rate
29%
Ranked in World
#160
Youth Literacy Rate
39.8%
Ranked in World
#161
Adult Literacy Rate
30.6%
Ranked in World
#162
Elderly Literacy Rate
13.7%
Ranked in World
#149
Total Literacy Rate
62%
Ranked in World
#181
Male Literacy Rate
71.30%
Ranked in World
#144
Female Literacy Rate
52.70%
Ranked in World
#149
Youth Literacy Rate
66.4%
Ranked in World
#147
Adult Literacy Rate
51.1%
Ranked in World
#146
Elderly Literacy Rate
21.6%
Ranked in World
#138
Total Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Male Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Female Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Youth Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Adult Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Elderly Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Total Literacy Rate
98.4%
Ranked in World
#69
Male Literacy Rate
99.10%
Ranked in World
#36
Female Literacy Rate
97.60%
Ranked in World
#54
Youth Literacy Rate
98.7%
Ranked in World
#71
Adult Literacy Rate
96.1%
Ranked in World
#59
Elderly Literacy Rate
82.5%
Ranked in World
#58
Norway has a total literacy rate of 100%. The OECD country note, based on the 2023 Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC), presents an overview of adults' literacy proficiency—defined by PIAAC as the ability to comprehend and respond appropriately to written texts. Norway's adults perform above the OECD average: approximately 20% of Norwegian adults achieve Level 4 or 5 in literacy, surpassing the OECD average of 12%. At these levels, individuals can integrate, interpret, and synthesize information from complex texts. An unique initiative run by the government is Learning Basic Skills While Serving Time, launched in 2009. This was Norway’s first prison education program aimed at improving inmates’ literacy through collaboration between Bastoy Prison School and prison workshops. Using a participatory approach over four months, the program enhanced prisoners' skills, confidence, and readiness for life after release.
Total Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Total Literacy Rate
95.7%
Ranked in World
#104
Male Literacy Rate
97%
Ranked in World
#74
Female Literacy Rate
92.70%
Ranked in World
#93
Youth Literacy Rate
98.7%
Ranked in World
#71
Adult Literacy Rate
96.1%
Ranked in World
#59
Elderly Literacy Rate
41.9%
Ranked in World
#114
Total Literacy Rate
58%
Ranked in World
#186
Male Literacy Rate
69.30%
Ranked in World
#146
Female Literacy Rate
46.50%
Ranked in World
#151
Youth Literacy Rate
74.5%
Ranked in World
#140
Adult Literacy Rate
59.1%
Ranked in World
#139
Elderly Literacy Rate
27.1%
Ranked in World
#129
Total Literacy Rate
96.6%
Ranked in World
#96
Male Literacy Rate
96.80%
Ranked in World
#78
Female Literacy Rate
96.30%
Ranked in World
#65
Youth Literacy Rate
98.7%
Ranked in World
#71
Adult Literacy Rate
96.6%
Ranked in World
#55
Elderly Literacy Rate
84.7%
Ranked in World
#54
Total Literacy Rate
98%
Ranked in World
#73
Male Literacy Rate
98.80%
Ranked in World
#47
Female Literacy Rate
96.20%
Ranked in World
#66
Youth Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#57
Adult Literacy Rate
97%
Ranked in World
#48
Elderly Literacy Rate
63.9%
Ranked in World
#87
Total Literacy Rate
95.7%
Ranked in World
#104
Male Literacy Rate
98.80%
Ranked in World
#47
Female Literacy Rate
95.40%
Ranked in World
#73
Youth Literacy Rate
97.6%
Ranked in World
#93
Adult Literacy Rate
94.1%
Ranked in World
#74
Elderly Literacy Rate
80.9%
Ranked in World
#63
Total Literacy Rate
64.2%
Ranked in World
#179
Male Literacy Rate
65.60%
Ranked in World
#150
Female Literacy Rate
62.80%
Ranked in World
#140
Youth Literacy Rate
67.9%
Ranked in World
#146
Adult Literacy Rate
61.6%
Ranked in World
#137
Elderly Literacy Rate
33%
Ranked in World
#127
Total Literacy Rate
94.5%
Ranked in World
#118
Male Literacy Rate
94.90%
Ranked in World
#90
Female Literacy Rate
94.20%
Ranked in World
#84
Youth Literacy Rate
98.5%
Ranked in World
#76
Adult Literacy Rate
94.7%
Ranked in World
#68
Elderly Literacy Rate
77.8%
Ranked in World
#69
Total Literacy Rate
94.5%
Ranked in World
#118
Male Literacy Rate
97%
Ranked in World
#74
Female Literacy Rate
92%
Ranked in World
#96
Youth Literacy Rate
98.9%
Ranked in World
#61
Adult Literacy Rate
94.1%
Ranked in World
#74
Elderly Literacy Rate
77.7%
Ranked in World
#70
Total Literacy Rate
96.3%
Ranked in World
#98
Male Literacy Rate
95.70%
Ranked in World
#84
Female Literacy Rate
96.90%
Ranked in World
#59
Youth Literacy Rate
98.1%
Ranked in World
#81
Adult Literacy Rate
96.4%
Ranked in World
#57
Elderly Literacy Rate
90.1%
Ranked in World
#44
Total Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#19
Male Literacy Rate
99.80%
Ranked in World
#13
Female Literacy Rate
99.80%
Ranked in World
#10
Youth Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#15
Adult Literacy Rate
98.7%
Ranked in World
#30
Elderly Literacy Rate
93%
Ranked in World
#36
Total Literacy Rate
95.9%
Ranked in World
#101
Male Literacy Rate
97.80%
Ranked in World
#65
Female Literacy Rate
95.90%
Ranked in World
#69
Youth Literacy Rate
99.4%
Ranked in World
#37
Adult Literacy Rate
94.5%
Ranked in World
#70
Elderly Literacy Rate
80.5%
Ranked in World
#64
Total Literacy Rate
92.4%
Ranked in World
#124
Male Literacy Rate
92.40%
Ranked in World
#99
Female Literacy Rate
92.40%
Ranked in World
#94
Youth Literacy Rate
98.8%
Ranked in World
#66
Adult Literacy Rate
92.4%
Ranked in World
#83
Elderly Literacy Rate
84.5%
Ranked in World
#55
Total Literacy Rate
93.5%
Ranked in World
#123
Male Literacy Rate
92.40%
Ranked in World
#99
Female Literacy Rate
94.70%
Ranked in World
#78
Youth Literacy Rate
95.9%
Ranked in World
#102
Adult Literacy Rate
89%
Ranked in World
#91
Elderly Literacy Rate
41%
Ranked in World
#115
Total Literacy Rate
80.6%
Ranked in World
#158
Male Literacy Rate
85.90%
Ranked in World
#121
Female Literacy Rate
75.40%
Ranked in World
#124
Youth Literacy Rate
80.9%
Ranked in World
#132
Adult Literacy Rate
79.3%
Ranked in World
#112
Elderly Literacy Rate
73.1%
Ranked in World
#76
Total Literacy Rate
98.9%
Ranked in World
#62
Male Literacy Rate
99.10%
Ranked in World
#36
Female Literacy Rate
98.70%
Ranked in World
#39
Youth Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#57
Adult Literacy Rate
98.6%
Ranked in World
#32
Elderly Literacy Rate
96.8%
Ranked in World
#24
Total Literacy Rate
99.7%
Ranked in World
#23
Male Literacy Rate
99.70%
Ranked in World
#20
Female Literacy Rate
99.70%
Ranked in World
#12
Youth Literacy Rate
99.7%
Ranked in World
#25
Adult Literacy Rate
99.7%
Ranked in World
#11
Elderly Literacy Rate
99.2%
Ranked in World
#9
Total Literacy Rate
75.9%
Ranked in World
#168
Male Literacy Rate
78.70%
Ranked in World
#138
Female Literacy Rate
73.30%
Ranked in World
#128
Youth Literacy Rate
85.1%
Ranked in World
#126
Adult Literacy Rate
70.8%
Ranked in World
#129
Elderly Literacy Rate
24.3%
Ranked in World
#135
Total Literacy Rate
97%
Ranked in World
#89
Total Literacy Rate
90%
Ranked in World
#131
Total Literacy Rate
97%
Ranked in World
#89
Youth Literacy Rate
98%
Ranked in World
#86
Adult Literacy Rate
95.6%
Ranked in World
#64
Elderly Literacy Rate
91%
Ranked in World
#41
Total Literacy Rate
99.1%
Ranked in World
#34
Male Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#42
Female Literacy Rate
99.30%
Ranked in World
#27
Youth Literacy Rate
99.2%
Ranked in World
#44
Adult Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#25
Elderly Literacy Rate
96.3%
Ranked in World
#27
Total Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#15
Male Literacy Rate
99.90%
Ranked in World
#6
Female Literacy Rate
99.90%
Ranked in World
#6
Total Literacy Rate
94.8%
Ranked in World
#116
Male Literacy Rate
96.50%
Ranked in World
#80
Female Literacy Rate
91.10%
Ranked in World
#98
Youth Literacy Rate
96.7%
Ranked in World
#96
Adult Literacy Rate
90.1%
Ranked in World
#88
Elderly Literacy Rate
49.6%
Ranked in World
#101
Total Literacy Rate
97.6%
Ranked in World
#84
Male Literacy Rate
98.60%
Ranked in World
#55
Female Literacy Rate
96%
Ranked in World
#68
Youth Literacy Rate
99.2%
Ranked in World
#44
Adult Literacy Rate
94.4%
Ranked in World
#71
Elderly Literacy Rate
51.4%
Ranked in World
#97
Total Literacy Rate
58%
Ranked in World
#186
Male Literacy Rate
68.40%
Ranked in World
#147
Female Literacy Rate
45.40%
Ranked in World
#152
Youth Literacy Rate
69.5%
Ranked in World
#145
Adult Literacy Rate
51.9%
Ranked in World
#145
Elderly Literacy Rate
21.5%
Ranked in World
#139
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Male Literacy Rate
99.90%
Ranked in World
#6
Female Literacy Rate
99.10%
Ranked in World
#31
Youth Literacy Rate
99.7%
Ranked in World
#25
Adult Literacy Rate
98.8%
Ranked in World
#28
Elderly Literacy Rate
96.6%
Ranked in World
#26
Total Literacy Rate
95.9%
Ranked in World
#101
Male Literacy Rate
95.40%
Ranked in World
#87
Female Literacy Rate
96.40%
Ranked in World
#63
Youth Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#57
Adult Literacy Rate
94%
Ranked in World
#76
Elderly Literacy Rate
71.5%
Ranked in World
#78
Total Literacy Rate
48.6%
Ranked in World
#190
Male Literacy Rate
56.30%
Ranked in World
#158
Female Literacy Rate
41.30%
Ranked in World
#154
Youth Literacy Rate
57%
Ranked in World
#152
Adult Literacy Rate
32.4%
Ranked in World
#159
Elderly Literacy Rate
3.7%
Ranked in World
#162
Total Literacy Rate
97.5%
Ranked in World
#86
Male Literacy Rate
98.90%
Ranked in World
#45
Female Literacy Rate
96.10%
Ranked in World
#67
Youth Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#5
Adult Literacy Rate
97%
Ranked in World
#48
Elderly Literacy Rate
84%
Ranked in World
#56
Total Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Total Literacy Rate
99.7%
Ranked in World
#23
Male Literacy Rate
99.70%
Ranked in World
#20
Female Literacy Rate
99.70%
Ranked in World
#12
Youth Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#15
Adult Literacy Rate
99.7%
Ranked in World
#11
Elderly Literacy Rate
99.3%
Ranked in World
#8
Total Literacy Rate
77%
Ranked in World
#163
Adult Literacy Rate
76.6%
Ranked in World
#118
Total Literacy Rate
41%
Ranked in World
#195
Total Literacy Rate
95%
Ranked in World
#110
Male Literacy Rate
95.50%
Ranked in World
#85
Female Literacy Rate
94.50%
Ranked in World
#81
Youth Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#57
Adult Literacy Rate
94.4%
Ranked in World
#71
Elderly Literacy Rate
72.1%
Ranked in World
#77
Total Literacy Rate
98.8%
Ranked in World
#64
Male Literacy Rate
99.20%
Ranked in World
#34
Female Literacy Rate
98.40%
Ranked in World
#43
Total Literacy Rate
34.5%
Ranked in World
#199
Male Literacy Rate
40.30%
Ranked in World
#164
Female Literacy Rate
28.90%
Ranked in World
#161
Youth Literacy Rate
36.7%
Ranked in World
#162
Adult Literacy Rate
26.8%
Ranked in World
#163
Elderly Literacy Rate
11%
Ranked in World
#156
Total Literacy Rate
98.6%
Ranked in World
#66
Male Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#42
Female Literacy Rate
98%
Ranked in World
#51
Youth Literacy Rate
99.6%
Ranked in World
#32
Adult Literacy Rate
98.3%
Ranked in World
#38
Elderly Literacy Rate
94.7%
Ranked in World
#31
Total Literacy Rate
92.3%
Ranked in World
#125
Male Literacy Rate
93%
Ranked in World
#98
Female Literacy Rate
91.60%
Ranked in World
#97
Youth Literacy Rate
98.9%
Ranked in World
#61
Adult Literacy Rate
91.9%
Ranked in World
#85
Elderly Literacy Rate
81%
Ranked in World
#62
Total Literacy Rate
60.7%
Ranked in World
#184
Male Literacy Rate
65.40%
Ranked in World
#151
Female Literacy Rate
56.10%
Ranked in World
#145
Youth Literacy Rate
65.8%
Ranked in World
#148
Adult Literacy Rate
53.5%
Ranked in World
#144
Elderly Literacy Rate
24.3%
Ranked in World
#135
Total Literacy Rate
95%
Ranked in World
#110
Male Literacy Rate
96.50%
Ranked in World
#80
Female Literacy Rate
93.40%
Ranked in World
#87
Youth Literacy Rate
97.7%
Ranked in World
#89
Adult Literacy Rate
92.9%
Ranked in World
#80
Elderly Literacy Rate
76%
Ranked in World
#73
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
86.4%
Ranked in World
#145
Male Literacy Rate
91.70%
Ranked in World
#103
Female Literacy Rate
81%
Ranked in World
#117
Youth Literacy Rate
92.5%
Ranked in World
#113
Adult Literacy Rate
80.8%
Ranked in World
#110
Elderly Literacy Rate
39%
Ranked in World
#119
Total Literacy Rate
98.5%
Ranked in World
#68
Male Literacy Rate
99.70%
Ranked in World
#20
Female Literacy Rate
97.30%
Ranked in World
#56
Total Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#19
Male Literacy Rate
99.80%
Ranked in World
#13
Female Literacy Rate
99.70%
Ranked in World
#12
Youth Literacy Rate
99.9%
Ranked in World
#5
Adult Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#6
Elderly Literacy Rate
98.1%
Ranked in World
#18
Total Literacy Rate
82%
Ranked in World
#153
Male Literacy Rate
85.50%
Ranked in World
#122
Female Literacy Rate
78.20%
Ranked in World
#122
Youth Literacy Rate
85.8%
Ranked in World
#124
Adult Literacy Rate
77.9%
Ranked in World
#116
Elderly Literacy Rate
43.5%
Ranked in World
#110
Total Literacy Rate
94.1%
Ranked in World
#120
Male Literacy Rate
95.50%
Ranked in World
#85
Female Literacy Rate
92.80%
Ranked in World
#92
Youth Literacy Rate
98.1%
Ranked in World
#81
Adult Literacy Rate
92.9%
Ranked in World
#80
Elderly Literacy Rate
78.7%
Ranked in World
#68
Total Literacy Rate
68.1%
Ranked in World
#175
Male Literacy Rate
71.90%
Ranked in World
#142
Female Literacy Rate
64.20%
Ranked in World
#137
Youth Literacy Rate
79.5%
Ranked in World
#135
Adult Literacy Rate
58.3%
Ranked in World
#140
Elderly Literacy Rate
11.2%
Ranked in World
#155
Total Literacy Rate
66.5%
Ranked in World
#178
Male Literacy Rate
80%
Ranked in World
#135
Female Literacy Rate
55.10%
Ranked in World
#146
Youth Literacy Rate
84.3%
Ranked in World
#130
Adult Literacy Rate
63.7%
Ranked in World
#135
Elderly Literacy Rate
20.4%
Ranked in World
#142
Total Literacy Rate
99.4%
Ranked in World
#30
Male Literacy Rate
99.40%
Ranked in World
#30
Female Literacy Rate
99.50%
Ranked in World
#23
Youth Literacy Rate
99.4%
Ranked in World
#37
Adult Literacy Rate
99.4%
Ranked in World
#18
Elderly Literacy Rate
98.9%
Ranked in World
#13
Total Literacy Rate
98%
Ranked in World
#73
Male Literacy Rate
99.20%
Ranked in World
#34
Female Literacy Rate
98.70%
Ranked in World
#39
Youth Literacy Rate
99.3%
Ranked in World
#42
Adult Literacy Rate
96.9%
Ranked in World
#51
Elderly Literacy Rate
82.8%
Ranked in World
#57
Total Literacy Rate
82.7%
Ranked in World
#152
Male Literacy Rate
89.10%
Ranked in World
#112
Female Literacy Rate
82.70%
Ranked in World
#115
Youth Literacy Rate
96.2%
Ranked in World
#100
Adult Literacy Rate
79%
Ranked in World
#113
Elderly Literacy Rate
39.8%
Ranked in World
#117
Total Literacy Rate
96.7%
Ranked in World
#95
Male Literacy Rate
99.10%
Ranked in World
#36
Female Literacy Rate
94.40%
Ranked in World
#83
Youth Literacy Rate
99.6%
Ranked in World
#32
Adult Literacy Rate
96.2%
Ranked in World
#58
Elderly Literacy Rate
88.1%
Ranked in World
#48
Total Literacy Rate
99.7%
Ranked in World
#23
Male Literacy Rate
99.80%
Ranked in World
#13
Female Literacy Rate
99.60%
Ranked in World
#21
Youth Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#15
Adult Literacy Rate
99.7%
Ranked in World
#11
Elderly Literacy Rate
97.6%
Ranked in World
#20
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
79%
Ranked in World
#160
Male Literacy Rate
84%
Ranked in World
#127
Female Literacy Rate
74.30%
Ranked in World
#127
Youth Literacy Rate
83.7%
Ranked in World
#131
Adult Literacy Rate
70.2%
Ranked in World
#131
Elderly Literacy Rate
36.1%
Ranked in World
#122
Total Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Male Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Female Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Youth Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Adult Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Elderly Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Total Literacy Rate
98%
Ranked in World
#73
Male Literacy Rate
98.80%
Ranked in World
#47
Female Literacy Rate
97.20%
Ranked in World
#57
Youth Literacy Rate
95%
Ranked in World
#105
Adult Literacy Rate
90%
Ranked in World
#89
Elderly Literacy Rate
42.1%
Ranked in World
#113
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#37
Total Literacy Rate
98.8%
Ranked in World
#64
Male Literacy Rate
98.50%
Ranked in World
#57
Female Literacy Rate
99%
Ranked in World
#35
Youth Literacy Rate
98.9%
Ranked in World
#61
Adult Literacy Rate
98.6%
Ranked in World
#32
Elderly Literacy Rate
97.1%
Ranked in World
#22
Total Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Male Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Female Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Youth Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Adult Literacy Rate
100%
Ranked in World
#1
Elderly Literacy Rate
99.8%
Ranked in World
#4
Total Literacy Rate
89.1%
Ranked in World
#136
Male Literacy Rate
89.80%
Ranked in World
#109
Female Literacy Rate
88.40%
Ranked in World
#105
Youth Literacy Rate
95.3%
Ranked in World
#104
Adult Literacy Rate
84.7%
Ranked in World
#104
Elderly Literacy Rate
44.2%
Ranked in World
#109
Total Literacy Rate
97.5%
Ranked in World
#86
Male Literacy Rate
97.40%
Ranked in World
#68
Female Literacy Rate
97.70%
Ranked in World
#53
Youth Literacy Rate
98.8%
Ranked in World
#66
Adult Literacy Rate
97.1%
Ranked in World
#47
Elderly Literacy Rate
88.1%
Ranked in World
#48
Total Literacy Rate
95.8%
Ranked in World
#103
Male Literacy Rate
97%
Ranked in World
#74
Female Literacy Rate
94.60%
Ranked in World
#79
Youth Literacy Rate
97.1%
Ranked in World
#94
Adult Literacy Rate
95.8%
Ranked in World
#63
Elderly Literacy Rate
76.9%
Ranked in World
#72
Total Literacy Rate
70.1%
Ranked in World
#174
Male Literacy Rate
85.10%
Ranked in World
#124
Female Literacy Rate
55%
Ranked in World
#147
Youth Literacy Rate
77%
Ranked in World
#138
Adult Literacy Rate
54.1%
Ranked in World
#143
Elderly Literacy Rate
13.7%
Ranked in World
#149
Total Literacy Rate
86.7%
Ranked in World
#144
Male Literacy Rate
90.60%
Ranked in World
#107
Female Literacy Rate
83.10%
Ranked in World
#113
Youth Literacy Rate
88.7%
Ranked in World
#117
Adult Literacy Rate
83%
Ranked in World
#107
Elderly Literacy Rate
52.3%
Ranked in World
#96
Total Literacy Rate
89.7%
Ranked in World
#135
Male Literacy Rate
88.30%
Ranked in World
#114
Female Literacy Rate
89.70%
Ranked in World
#100
Youth Literacy Rate
90.4%
Ranked in World
#116
Adult Literacy Rate
88.7%
Ranked in World
#93
Elderly Literacy Rate
81.1%
Ranked in World
#61
