People > Literacy > Total population: Countries Compared

DEFINITION: This entry is derived from People > Literacy, which includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of the Factbook. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons. Low levels of literacy, and education in general, can impede the economic development of a country in the current rapidly changing, technology-driven world.
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Gibraltar: above 80% (2013)

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Totals

#	COUNTRY	AMOUNT	DATE
=1	North KoreaNorth Korea	100%	2013
=1	GreenlandGreenland	100%	2013
=1	AndorraAndorra	100%	2013
=1	LuxembourgLuxembourg	100%	2013
=1	LiechtensteinLiechtenstein	100%	2013
=1	FinlandFinland	100%	2013
=1	NorwayNorway	100%	2013
=1	Holy See (Vatican City)Vatican City	100%	2013
=9	LatviaLatvia	99.8%	2013
=9	CubaCuba	99.8%	2013
=9	AzerbaijanAzerbaijan	99.8%	2013
=9	EstoniaEstonia	99.8%	2013
=13	PolandPoland	99.7%	2013
=13	KazakhstanKazakhstan	99.7%	2013
=13	RussiaRussia	99.7%	2013
=13	UkraineUkraine	99.7%	2013
=13	SloveniaSlovenia	99.7%	2013
=13	LithuaniaLithuania	99.7%	2013
=13	GeorgiaGeorgia	99.7%	2013
=13	BarbadosBarbados	99.7%	2013
=13	TajikistanTajikistan	99.7%	2013
=22	BelarusBelarus	99.6%	2013
=22	ArmeniaArmenia	99.6%	2013
=22	SlovakiaSlovakia	99.6%	2013
=22	TurkmenistanTurkmenistan	99.6%	2013
	Former Soviet republics averageFormer Soviet republics average (profile)	99.6%	2013
26	UzbekistanUzbekistan	99.4%	2013
27	KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan	99.2%	2013
=28	GermanyGermany	99%	2013
=28	IcelandIceland	99%	2013
=28	Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda	99%	2013
=28	SwitzerlandSwitzerland	99%	2013
=28	BelgiumBelgium	99%	2013
=28	JapanJapan	99%	2013
=28	SwedenSweden	99%	2013
=28	United StatesUnited States	99%	2013
=28	TongaTonga	99%	2013
=28	Czech RepublicCzech Republic	99%	2013
=28	GuamGuam	99%	2013
=28	New ZealandNew Zealand	99%	2013
=28	United KingdomUnited Kingdom	99%	2013
=28	HungaryHungary	99%	2013
=28	ItalyItaly	99%	2013
=28	MoldovaMoldova	99%	2013
=28	DenmarkDenmark	99%	2013
=28	AustraliaAustralia	99%	2013
=28	IrelandIreland	99%	2013
=28	FranceFrance	99%	2013
=28	MonacoMonaco	99%	2013
=28	NetherlandsNetherlands	99%	2013
=28	Saint Pierre and MiquelonSt Pierre+	99%	2013
=28	CanadaCanada	99%	2013
	Group of 7 countries (G7) averageGroup of 7 countries (G7) average (profile)	99%	2013
=52	CroatiaCroatia	98.9%	2013
=52	Cayman IslandsCayman Islands	98.9%	2013
	High income OECD countries averageHigh income OECD countries average (profile)	98.83%	2013
=54	SamoaSamoa	98.8%	2013
=54	Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad+	98.8%	2013
56	CyprusCyprus	98.7%	2013
	NATO countries averageNATO average (profile)	98.65%	2013
	European Union averageEuropean Union average (profile)	98.64%	2013
	Eastern Europe averageEastern Europe average (profile)	98.61%	2013
57	ChileChile	98.6%	2013
	Europe averageEurope average (profile)	98.53%	2013
58	MontenegroMontenegro	98.5%	2013
	Eurozone averageEurozone average (profile)	98.47%	2013
=59	BulgariaBulgaria	98.4%	2013
=59	MaldivesMaldives	98.4%	2013
61	UruguayUruguay	98.1%	2013
=62	French PolynesiaFr. Polynesia	98%	2013
=62	AustriaAustria	98%	2013
=62	BermudaBermuda	98%	2013
=62	SerbiaSerbia	98%	2013
=62	Turks and Caicos IslandsTurks+	98%	2013
=62	Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina	98%	2013
=68	ArgentinaArgentina	97.9%	2013
=68	South KoreaSouth Korea	97.9%	2013
=70	British Virgin IslandsBrit. Virgin Isl.	97.8%	2013
=70	Saint Kitts and NevisSt Kitts+	97.8%	2013
=72	RomaniaRomania	97.7%	2013
=72	SpainSpain	97.7%	2013
	Non-religious countries averageNon-religious countries average (profile)	97.45%	2013
=74	MongoliaMongolia	97.4%	2013
=74	Republic of MacedoniaMacedonia Rep.	97.4%	2013
76	GreeceGreece	97.3%	2013
77	IsraelIsrael	97.1%	2013
	Southern Europe averageSouthern Europe average (profile)	97.06%	2013
	Cold countries averageCold countries average (profile)	97.04%	2013
=78	MontserratMontserrat	97%	2013
=78	Northern Mariana IslandsN. Mariana	97%	2013
=78	American SamoaAmerican Samoa	97%	2013
=78	Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaSaint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha	97%	2013
=78	Saint HelenaSaint Helena	97%	2011
=83	AlbaniaAlbania	96.8%	2013
=83	ArubaAruba	96.8%	2013
	Tourist destinations averageTourist destinations average (profile)	96.75%	2013
	Potential Future EU Members averagePotential Future EU Members average (profile)	96.71%	2013
=85	QatarQatar	96.3%	2013
=85	Costa RicaCosta Rica	96.3%	2013
87	New CaledoniaNew Caledonia	96.2%	2013
88	TaiwanTaiwan	96.1%	2013
=89	GrenadaGrenada	96%	2013
=89	San MarinoSan Marino	96%	2013
=89	Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSt Vincent+	96%	2013
=92	SingaporeSingapore	95.9%	2013
=92	JordanJordan	95.9%	2013
=94	MacauMacau	95.6%	2013
=94	The BahamasThe Bahamas	95.6%	2013
96	VenezuelaVenezuela	95.5%	2013
=97	BruneiBrunei	95.4%	2013
=97	PhilippinesPhilippines	95.4%	2013
=97	PortugalPortugal	95.4%	2013
=100	West BankWest Bank	95.3%	2013
=100	Gaza StripGaza Strip	95.3%	2013
102	ChinaChina	95.1%	2013
=103	Cook IslandsCook Islands	95%	2013
=103	NiueNiue	95%	2013
=103	AnguillaAnguilla	95%	2013
106	SurinameSuriname	94.7%	2013
107	BahrainBahrain	94.6%	2013
108	Equatorial GuineaEqu. Guinea	94.2%	2013
=109	PanamaPanama	94.1%	2013
=109	TurkeyTurkey	94.1%	2013
111	DominicaDominica	94%	2013
=112	KuwaitKuwait	93.9%	2013
=112	ParaguayParaguay	93.9%	2013
=114	Marshall IslandsMarshall Isl.	93.7%	2013
=114	FijiFiji	93.7%	2013
116	ColombiaColombia	93.6%	2013
=117	MexicoMexico	93.5%	2013
=117	Hong KongHong Kong	93.5%	2013
=117	ThailandThailand	93.5%	2013
120	VietnamVietnam	93.4%	2013
121	MalaysiaMalaysia	93.1%	2013
	Emerging markets averageEmerging markets average (profile)	93.09%	2013
122	South AfricaSouth Africa	93%	2013
123	IndonesiaIndonesia	92.8%	2013
124	BurmaBurma	92.7%	2013
125	MaltaMalta	92.4%	2013
126	PalauPalau	92%	2013
127	KosovoKosovo	91.9%	2013
	Former Spanish colonies averageFormer Spanish colonies average (profile)	91.84%	2013
	Heavily indebted countries averageHeavily indebted countries average (profile)	91.82%	2013
=128	GuyanaGuyana	91.8%	2013
=128	SeychellesSeychelles	91.8%	2013
130	EcuadorEcuador	91.6%	2013
	Latin America and Caribbean averageLatin America and Caribbean average (profile)	91.6%	2013
	Catholic countries averageCatholic countries average (profile)	91.21%	2013
=131	Sri LankaSri Lanka	91.2%	2013
=131	BoliviaBolivia	91.2%	2013
	East Asia and Pacific averageEast Asia and Pacific average (profile)	90.59%	2013
133	BrazilBrazil	90.4%	2013
134	Puerto RicoPuerto Rico	90.3%	2013
=135	Saint LuciaSaint Lucia	90.1%	2013
=135	Dominican RepublicDominican Rep.	90.1%	2013
=137	United Arab EmiratesUAE	90%	2013
=137	Virgin IslandsVirgin Islands	90%	2013
=139	PeruPeru	89.6%	2013
=139	LesothoLesotho	89.6%	2013
=139	LebanonLebanon	89.6%	2013
	Christian countries averageChristian countries average (profile)	89.59%	2013
142	LibyaLibya	89.5%	2013
=143	Federated States of MicronesiaMicronesia	89%	2013
=143	GabonGabon	89%	2013
=145	NamibiaNamibia	88.8%	2013
=145	MauritiusMauritius	88.8%	2013
147	SwazilandSwaziland	87.8%	2013
148	KenyaKenya	87.4%	2013
149	Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia	87.2%	2013
150	JamaicaJamaica	87%	2013
151	OmanOman	86.9%	2013
=152	HondurasHonduras	85.1%	2013
=152	BotswanaBotswana	85.1%	2013
154	IranIran	85%	2013
155	Cape VerdeCape Verde	84.9%	2013
	Middle Eastern and North Africa averageMiddle Eastern and North Africa average (profile)	84.81%	2013
156	El SalvadorEl Salvador	84.5%	2013
=157	Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands	84.1%	2013
=157	SyriaSyria	84.1%	2013
159	Congo, Republic of theCongo, Republic of the	83.8%	2013
	OPEC countries averageOPEC countries average (profile)	83.65%	2013
160	ZimbabweZimbabwe	83.6%	2013
161	VanuatuVanuatu	83.2%	2013
	Former British colonies averageFormer British colonies average (profile)	83.09%	2013
	Religious countries averageReligious countries average (profile)	81.67%	2013
	Sparsely populated countries averageSparsely populated countries average (profile)	80.19%	2013
	Landlocked countries averageLandlocked countries average (profile)	79.82%	2013
	Hot countries averageHot countries average (profile)	79.61%	2013
162	TunisiaTunisia	79.1%	2013
163	IraqIraq	78.5%	2013
164	NicaraguaNicaragua	78%	2013
	South and Central Asia averageSouth and Central Asia average (profile)	76.99%	2013
165	BelizeBelize	76.9%	2013
166	GuatemalaGuatemala	75.9%	2013
167	ComorosComoros	75.5%	2013
168	MalawiMalawi	74.8%	2013
	Muslim countries averageMuslim countries average (profile)	74.77%	2013
=169	EgyptEgypt	73.9%	2013
=169	CambodiaCambodia	73.9%	2013
171	UgandaUganda	73.2%	2013
172	LaosLaos	72.7%	2013
173	AlgeriaAlgeria	72.6%	2013
174	SudanSudan	71.9%	2013
175	GhanaGhana	71.5%	2013
176	CameroonCameroon	71.3%	2013
177	RwandaRwanda	71.1%	2013
178	AngolaAngola	70.4%	2013
179	Sao Tome and PrincipeSoa Tome+	69.5%	2013
180	EritreaEritrea	68.9%	2013
181	DjiboutiDjibouti	67.9%	2013
182	TanzaniaTanzania	67.8%	2013
183	BurundiBurundi	67.2%	2013
184	MoroccoMorocco	67.1%	2013
185	Democratic Republic of the CongoCongo, DR.	66.8%	2013
186	YemenYemen	65.3%	2013
	Sub-Saharan Africa averageSub-Saharan Africa average (profile)	64.61%	2013
187	MadagascarMadagascar	64.5%	2013
188	IndiaIndia	62.8%	2013
189	Papua New GuineaPapua NG	62.4%	2013
190	ZambiaZambia	61.4%	2013
191	NigeriaNigeria	61.3%	2013
	Former French colonies averageFormer French colonies average (profile)	60.87%	2013
192	LiberiaLiberia	60.8%	2013
193	TogoTogo	60.4%	2013
194	MauritaniaMauritania	58.6%	2013
195	East TimorEast Timor	58.3%	2013
196	BangladeshBangladesh	57.7%	2013
197	NepalNepal	57.4%	2013
198	Cote d'IvoireCote d'Ivoire	56.9%	2013
199	Central African RepublicCentral Africa	56.6%	2013
200	MozambiqueMozambique	56.1%	2013
201	Guinea-BissauGuinea-Bissau	55.3%	2013
202	PakistanPakistan	54.9%	2013
	failed states averagefailed states average (profile)	54.32%	2013
203	BhutanBhutan	52.8%	2013
	South Asia averageSouth Asia average (profile)	51.26%	2013
204	The GambiaThe Gambia	51.1%	2013
205	Wallis and FutunaWallis+	50%	2013
206	SenegalSenegal	49.7%	2013
207	HaitiHaiti	48.7%	2013
208	Sierra LeoneSierra Leone	43.3%	2013
209	BeninBenin	42.4%	2013
210	GuineaGuinea	41%	2013
211	EthiopiaEthiopia	39%	2013
212	SomaliaSomalia	37.8%	2013
213	ChadChad	35.4%	2013
214	MaliMali	33.4%	2013
=215	NigerNiger	28.7%	2013
=215	Burkina FasoBurkina Faso	28.7%	2013
217	AfghanistanAfghanistan	28.1%	2013
218	South SudanSouth Sudan	27%	2013

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