| 1. | Finland | 100% | |
| 2. | Norway | 100% | |
| 3. | Luxembourg | 100% | |
| 4. | Andorra | 100% | |
| 5. | Greenland | 100% | |
| 6. | Liechtenstein | 100% | |
| 7. | Uzbekistan | 100% | |
| 8. | Latvia | 99.89% | |
| 9. | Estonia | 99.82% | |
| 10. | Lithuania | 99.82% | |
| 11. | Azerbaijan | 99.81% | |
| 12. | Guam | 99.79% | |
| 13. | Kazakhstan | 99.79% | |
| 14. | Poland | 99.79% | |
| 15. | Tajikistan | 99.78% | |
| 16. | Armenia | 99.77% | |
| 17. | Ukraine | 99.76% | |
| 18. | Georgia | 99.76% | |
| 19. | Belarus | 99.72% | |
| 20. | Russia | 99.72% | |
| 21. | Slovenia | 99.71% | |
| 22. | Cuba | 99.71% | |
| 23. | Barbados | 99.70% | |
| 24. | Turkmenistan | 99.69% | |
| 25. | Slovakia | 99.60% | |
| 26. | Palau | 99.52% | |
| 27. | Kyrgyzstan | 99.50% | |
| 28. | Tonga | 99.40% | |
| 29. | Hungary | 99.38% | |
| 30. | Maldives | 99.32% | |
| 31. | Croatia | 99.27% | |
| 32. | Moldova | 99.24% | |
| 33. | Cyprus | 99.06% | |
| 34. | Italy | 99.02% | |
| 35. | Samoa | 99.02% | |
| 36. | United States | 99.00% | |
| 37. | Japan | 99.00% | |
| 38. | Germany | 99.00% | |
| 39. | United Kingdom | 99.00% | |
| 40. | France | 99.00% | |
| 41. | Canada | 99.00% | |
| 42. | Australia | 99.00% | |
| 43. | Netherlands | 99.00% | |
| 44. | Belgium | 99.00% | |
| 45. | Sweden | 99.00% | |
| 46. | Switzerland | 99.00% | |
| 47. | Denmark | 99.00% | |
| 48. | New Zealand | 99.00% | |
| 49. | Ireland | 99.00% | |
| 50. | Iceland | 99.00% | |
| 51. | Monaco | 99.00% | |
| 52. | Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 99.00% | |
| 53. | Trinidad and Tobago | 98.97% | |
| 54. | Antigua and Barbuda | 98.95% | |
| 55. | Cayman Islands | 98.87% | |
| 56. | Romania | 98.76% | |
| 57. | Montenegro | 98.72% | |
| 58. | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 98.49% | |
| 59. | Uruguay | 98.44% | |
| 60. | Bulgaria | 98.39% | |
| 61. | Mongolia | 98.37% | |
| 62. | Marshall Islands | 98.27% | |
| 63. | Spain | 98.11% | |
| 64. | Argentina | 98.09% | |
| 65. | Jordan | 98.01% | |
| 66. | Serbia | 98.00% | |
| 67. | Austria | 98.00% | |
| 68. | French Polynesia | 98.00% | |
| 69. | Bermuda | 98.00% | |
| 70. | Turks and Caicos Islands | 98.00% | |
| 71. | South Korea | 97.97% | |
| 72. | North Macedonia | 97.84% | |
| 73. | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 97.80% | |
| 74. | British Virgin Islands | 97.80% | |
| 75. | Qatar | 97.76% | |
| 76. | Costa Rica | 97.65% | |
| 77. | Albania | 97.55% | |
| 78. | Aruba | 97.52% | |
| 79. | American Samoa | 97.34% | |
| 80. | Israel | 97.10% | |
| 81. | Northern Mariana Islands | 97.00% | |
| 82. | Montserrat | 97.00% | |
| 83. | New Caledonia | 96.94% | |
| 84. | Singapore | 96.77% | |
| 85. | Palestine | 96.67% | |
| 86. | Brunei | 96.66% | |
| 87. | Chile | 96.63% | |
| 88. | Philippines | 96.62% | |
| 89. | China | 96.36% | |
| 90. | Kuwait | 96.12% | |
| 91. | Taiwan | 96.10% | |
| 92. | Grenada | 96.00% | |
| 93. | San Marino | 96.00% | |
| 94. | Bahrain | 95.72% | |
| 95. | Turkey | 95.69% | |
| 96. | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 95.63% | |
| 97. | Bahamas | 95.60% | |
| 98. | Suriname | 95.54% | |
| 99. | Paraguay | 95.54% | |
| 100. | Indonesia | 95.44% | |
| 101. | Portugal | 95.43% | |
| 102. | Venezuela | 95.40% | |
| 103. | Seychelles | 95.32% | |
| 104. | Greece | 95.29% | |
| 105. | Equatorial Guinea | 95.20% | |
| 106. | Bolivia | 95.14% | |
| 107. | Panama | 95.04% | |
| 108. | Cook Islands | 95.00% | |
| 109. | Anguilla | 95.00% | |
| 110. | Niue | 95.00% | |
| 111. | Saudi Arabia | 94.84% | |
| 112. | Malaysia | 94.64% | |
| 113. | South Africa | 94.60% | |
| 114. | Colombia | 94.58% | |
| 115. | Mexico | 94.55% | |
| 116. | Ecuador | 94.52% | |
| 117. | Vietnam | 94.51% | |
| 118. | Peru | 94.37% | |
| 119. | Malta | 94.07% | |
| 120. | Lebanon | 94.05% | |
| 121. | Dominica | 94.00% | |
| 122. | Thailand | 93.98% | |
| 123. | Oman | 93.97% | |
| 124. | Fiji | 93.70% | |
| 125. | Hong Kong | 93.50% | |
| 126. | Puerto Rico | 93.33% | |
| 127. | Myanmar | 93.09% | |
| 128. | United Arab Emirates | 92.99% | |
| 129. | Sri Lanka | 92.61% | |
| 130. | Brazil | 92.59% | |
| 131. | Dominican Republic | 92.47% | |
| 132. | Sao Tome and Principe | 91.75% | |
| 133. | Libya | 91.39% | |
| 134. | Namibia | 90.82% | |
| 135. | Mauritius | 90.62% | |
| 136. | Saint Lucia | 90.10% | |
| 137. | Micronesia | 89.00% | |
| 138. | Jamaica | 88.50% | |
| 139. | Cape Verde | 88.47% | |
| 140. | Honduras | 88.42% | |
| 141. | Botswana | 88.22% | |
| 142. | El Salvador | 87.65% | |
| 143. | Guyana | 87.54% | |
| 144. | Eswatini | 87.47% | |
| 145. | Iran | 87.17% | |
| 146. | Zimbabwe | 86.87% | |
| 147. | Syria | 86.30% | |
| 148. | Burundi | 85.50% | |
| 149. | Zambia | 85.12% | |
| 150. | Vanuatu | 85.06% | |
| 151. | Solomon Islands | 84.10% | |
| 152. | Gabon | 83.24% | |
| 153. | Belize | 82.78% | |
| 154. | Nicaragua | 82.47% | |
| 155. | Tunisia | 81.05% | |
| 156. | Tanzania | 80.36% | |
| 157. | Gibraltar | 80.00% | |
| 158. | Laos | 79.87% | |
| 159. | Iraq | 79.72% | |
| 160. | Algeria | 79.61% | |
| 161. | Lesotho | 79.36% | |
| 162. | Guatemala | 79.07% | |
| 163. | Cambodia | 78.35% | |
| 164. | Comoros | 78.14% | |
| 165. | Kenya | 78.02% | |
| 166. | DR Congo | 77.22% | |
| 167. | Ghana | 76.58% | |
| 168. | Egypt | 75.84% | |
| 169. | Cameroon | 74.99% | |
| 170. | Eritrea | 73.85% | |
| 171. | Uganda | 73.81% | |
| 172. | India | 72.23% | |
| 173. | Morocco | 71.71% | |
| 174. | Rwanda | 71.24% | |
| 175. | Angola | 71.16% | |
| 176. | Yemen | 69.96% | |
| 177. | Djibouti | 67.90% | |
| 178. | Togo | 66.54% | |
| 179. | Malawi | 65.96% | |
| 180. | Nepal | 64.66% | |
| 181. | Madagascar | 64.66% | |
| 182. | Bhutan | 63.91% | |
| 183. | Papua New Guinea | 63.43% | |
| 184. | Bangladesh | 61.49% | |
| 185. | Haiti | 60.69% | |
| 186. | Guinea Bissau | 59.77% | |
| 187. | Nigeria | 59.57% | |
| 188. | Mozambique | 58.84% | |
| 189. | Sudan | 58.60% | |
| 190. | Pakistan | 56.44% | |
| 191. | Senegal | 55.62% | |
| 192. | Gambia | 55.57% | |
| 193. | Mauritania | 52.12% | |
| 194. | Ethiopia | 49.03% | |
| 195. | Sierra Leone | 48.43% | |
| 196. | Liberia | 47.60% | |
| 197. | Ivory Coast | 43.27% | |
| 198. | Chad | 40.02% | |
| 199. | Benin | 38.45% | |
| 200. | Afghanistan | 38.17% | |
| 201. | Somalia | 37.80% | |
| 202. | Burkina Faso | 37.75% | |
| 203. | Central African Republic | 36.75% | |
| 204. | Mali | 33.07% | |
| 205. | South Sudan | 31.98% | |
| 206. | Guinea | 30.47% | |
| 207. | Niger | 19.10% |
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:
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:
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
97.34%
#79
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
95.00%
#109
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
98.95%
#54
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
97.52%
#78
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
98.00%
#69
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
97.80%
#74
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
96.66%
#86
PISA Scores
423.0
#50
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
98.87%
#55
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
95.00%
#108
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
67.90%
#177
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
94.00%
#121
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
95.20%
#105
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
73.85%
#170
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
98.00%
#68
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
80.00%
#157
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
100%
#5
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
96.00%
#92
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
99.79%
#12
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
91.39%
#133
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
100%
#6
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
89.00%
#137
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
99.00%
#51
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
97.00%
#82
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
96.94%
#83
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
95.00%
#110
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
97.00%
#81
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
93.33%
#126
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
97.80%
#73
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
99.00%
#52
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
84.10%
#151
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
37.80%
#201
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
86.30%
#147
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
96.10%
#91
PISA Scores
516.7
#7
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
98.97%
#53
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
98.00%
#70
Metric
Value
Rank
Literacy Rate
85.06%
#150
| Region ↕ | Literacy Rate ↕ | Education Index ↕ | PISA Scores ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 38.17% | 0.210 | ||
| 97.55% | 0.682 | 419.7 | |
| 79.61% | 0.451 | ||
| 97.34% | |||
| 100% | 0.649 | ||
| 71.16% | 0.341 | ||
| 95.00% | |||
| 98.95% | |||
| 98.09% | 0.818 | 395.0 | |
| 99.77% | 0.720 | ||
| 97.52% | |||
| 99.00% | 0.896 | 499.0 | |
| 98.00% | 0.832 | 491.0 | |
| 99.81% | 0.700 | 402.3 | |
| 95.60% | 0.726 | ||
| 95.72% | 0.718 | ||
| 61.49% | 0.371 | ||
| 99.70% | 0.722 | ||
| 99.72% | 0.803 | 472.3 | |
| 99.00% | 0.859 | 500.0 | |
| 82.78% | 0.559 | ||
| 38.45% | 0.249 | ||
| 98.00% | |||
| 63.91% | 0.279 | ||
| 95.14% | 0.620 | ||
| 98.49% | 0.626 | 402.3 | |
| 88.22% | 0.526 | ||
| 92.59% | 0.594 | 400.3 | |
| 97.80% | |||
| 96.66% | 423.0 | ||
| 98.39% | 0.721 | 426.7 | |
| 37.75% | 0.197 | ||
| 85.50% | 0.243 | ||
| 78.35% | 0.355 | ||
| 74.99% | 0.389 | ||
| 99.00% | 0.893 | 516.7 | |
| 88.47% | 0.405 | ||
| 98.87% | |||
| 36.75% | 0.238 | ||
| 40.02% | 0.176 | ||
| 96.63% | 0.732 | 437.7 | |
| 96.36% | 0.573 | 578.7 | |
| 94.58% | 0.595 | 405.3 | |
| 78.14% | 0.262 | ||
| 95.00% | |||
| 97.65% | 0.666 | 414.7 | |
| 99.27% | 0.791 | 471.7 | |
| 99.71% | 0.743 | ||
| 99.06% | 0.768 | 438.0 | |
| 77.22% | 0.371 | ||
| 99.00% | 0.909 | 501.0 | |
| 67.90% | |||
| 94.00% | |||
| 92.47% | 0.605 | 334.3 | |
| 94.52% | 0.606 | ||
| 75.84% | 0.443 | ||
| 87.65% | 0.450 | ||
| 95.20% | |||
| 73.85% | |||
| 99.82% | 0.876 | 525.3 | |
| 87.47% | 0.431 | ||
| 49.03% | 0.214 | ||
| 93.70% | 0.753 | ||
| 100% | 0.907 | 516.3 | |
| 99.00% | 0.762 | 493.7 | |
| 98.00% | |||
| 83.24% | 0.517 | ||
| 55.57% | 0.221 | ||
| 99.76% | 0.836 | 387.0 | |
| 99.00% | 0.917 | 500.3 | |
| 76.58% | 0.397 | ||
| 80.00% | |||
| 95.29% | 0.777 | 453.3 | |
| 100% | |||
| 96.00% | |||
| 99.79% | |||
| 79.07% | 0.314 | ||
| 30.47% | 0.172 | ||
| 59.77% | 0.240 | ||
| 87.54% | 0.568 | ||
| 60.69% | 0.285 | ||
| 88.42% | 0.406 | ||
| 93.50% | 0.802 | ||
| 99.38% | 0.802 | 479.3 | |
| 99.00% | 0.938 | 481.3 | |
| 72.23% | 0.348 | ||
| 95.44% | 0.552 | 382.0 | |
| 87.17% | 0.723 | ||
| 79.72% | 0.421 | ||
| 99.00% | 0.856 | 504.7 | |
| 97.10% | 0.835 | 465.0 | |
| 99.02% | 0.727 | 477.0 | |
| 43.27% | 0.256 | ||
| 88.50% | 0.633 | ||
| 99.00% | 0.829 | 520.0 | |
| 98.01% | 0.545 | 416.0 | |
| 99.79% | 0.823 | 402.3 | |
| 78.02% | 0.400 | ||
| 96.12% | 0.522 | ||
| 99.50% | 0.721 | ||
| 79.87% | 0.316 | ||
| 99.89% | 0.872 | 487.3 | |
| 94.05% | 0.567 | 376.7 | |
| 79.36% | 0.430 | ||
| 47.60% | 0.266 | ||
| 91.39% | |||
| 100% | |||
| 99.82% | 0.870 | 479.7 | |
| 100% | 0.794 | 476.7 | |
| 64.66% | 0.320 | ||
| 65.96% | 0.361 | ||
| 94.64% | 0.638 | 431.0 | |
| 99.32% | 0.421 | ||
| 33.07% | 0.159 | ||
| 94.07% | 0.829 | 459.0 | |
| 98.27% | 0.616 | ||
| 52.12% | 0.238 | ||
| 90.62% | 0.601 | ||
| 94.55% | 0.623 | 416.0 | |
| 89.00% | |||
| 99.24% | 0.775 | 424.3 | |
| 99.00% | |||
| 98.37% | 0.643 | ||
| 98.72% | 0.760 | 422.0 | |
| 97.00% | |||
| 71.71% | 0.343 | 368.0 | |
| 58.84% | 0.232 | ||
| 93.09% | 0.377 | ||
| 90.82% | 0.428 | ||
| 64.66% | 0.311 | ||
| 99.00% | 0.875 | 502.3 | |
| 96.94% | |||
| 99.00% | 0.914 | 502.7 | |
| 82.47% | 0.437 | ||
| 19.10% | 0.172 | ||
| 59.57% | 0.310 | ||
| 95.00% | |||
| 97.84% | 0.659 | 400.0 | |
| 97.00% | |||
| 100% | 0.912 | 496.7 | |
| 93.97% | 0.698 | ||
| 56.44% | 0.221 | ||
| 99.52% | 0.836 | ||
| 96.67% | 0.625 | ||
| 95.04% | 0.633 | 365.0 | |
| 63.43% | 0.287 | ||
| 95.54% | 0.570 | ||
| 94.37% | 0.649 | 401.7 | |
| 96.62% | 0.597 | 350.0 | |
| 99.79% | 0.845 | 513.0 | |
| 95.43% | 0.685 | 492.0 | |
| 93.33% | |||
| 97.76% | 0.607 | 413.3 | |
| 98.76% | 0.729 | 428.0 | |
| 99.72% | 0.846 | 481.7 | |
| 71.24% | 0.334 | ||
| 97.80% | |||
| 90.10% | 0.467 | ||
| 99.00% | |||
| 95.63% | 0.698 | ||
| 99.02% | 0.674 | ||
| 96.00% | 0.662 | ||
| 91.75% | 0.470 | ||
| 94.84% | 0.676 | 386.0 | |
| 55.62% | 0.183 | ||
| 98.00% | 0.723 | 442.3 | |
| 95.32% | 0.681 | ||
| 48.43% | 0.220 | ||
| 96.77% | 0.771 | 556.3 | |
| 99.60% | 0.819 | 469.3 | |
| 99.71% | 0.898 | 503.7 | |
| 84.10% | |||
| 37.80% | |||
| 94.60% | 0.627 | ||
| 97.97% | 0.799 | 519.7 | |
| 31.98% | 0.208 | ||
| 98.11% | 0.717 | ||
| 92.61% | 0.663 | ||
| 58.60% | 0.200 | ||
| 95.54% | 0.562 | ||
| 99.00% | 0.885 | 502.3 | |
| 99.00% | 0.902 | 498.0 | |
| 86.30% | |||
| 96.10% | 516.7 | ||
| 99.78% | 0.659 | ||
| 80.36% | 0.342 | ||
| 93.98% | 0.608 | 412.7 | |
| 66.54% | 0.328 | ||
| 99.40% | 0.790 | ||
| 98.97% | |||
| 81.05% | 0.469 | ||
| 95.69% | 0.680 | 462.7 | |
| 99.69% | 0.720 | ||
| 98.00% | |||
| 73.81% | 0.341 | ||
| 99.76% | 0.758 | 462.7 | |
| 92.99% | 0.751 | 433.7 | |
| 99.00% | 0.901 | 503.7 | |
| 99.00% | 0.883 | 495.0 | |
| 98.44% | 0.717 | 423.7 | |
| 100% | 0.739 | ||
| 85.06% | |||
| 95.40% | 0.663 | ||
| 94.51% | 0.541 | ||
| 69.96% | 0.194 | ||
| 85.12% | 0.432 | ||
| 86.87% | 0.535 |