People > Literacy > Total population: Countries Compared
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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.
Additional details:
Additional details:
- Gibraltar: above 80% (2013)
CONTENTS
# | COUNTRY | AMOUNT | DATE | GRAPH | HISTORY |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
=1 | North Korea | 100% | 2013 | ||
=1 | Greenland | 100% | 2013 | ||
=1 | Andorra | 100% | 2013 | ||
=1 | Luxembourg | 100% | 2013 | ||
=1 | Liechtenstein | 100% | 2013 | ||
=1 | Finland | 100% | 2013 | ||
=1 | Norway | 100% | 2013 | ||
=1 | Holy See (Vatican City) | 100% | 2013 | ||
=9 | Latvia | 99.8% | 2013 | ||
=9 | Cuba | 99.8% | 2013 | ||
=9 | Azerbaijan | 99.8% | 2013 | ||
=9 | Estonia | 99.8% | 2013 | ||
=13 | Poland | 99.7% | 2013 | ||
=13 | Kazakhstan | 99.7% | 2013 | ||
=13 | Russia | 99.7% | 2013 | ||
=13 | Ukraine | 99.7% | 2013 | ||
=13 | Slovenia | 99.7% | 2013 | ||
=13 | Lithuania | 99.7% | 2013 | ||
=13 | Georgia | 99.7% | 2013 | ||
=13 | Barbados | 99.7% | 2013 | ||
=13 | Tajikistan | 99.7% | 2013 | ||
=22 | Belarus | 99.6% | 2013 | ||
=22 | Armenia | 99.6% | 2013 | ||
=22 | Slovakia | 99.6% | 2013 | ||
=22 | Turkmenistan | 99.6% | 2013 | ||
Former Soviet republics average (profile) | 99.6% | 2013 | |||
26 | Uzbekistan | 99.4% | 2013 | ||
27 | Kyrgyzstan | 99.2% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Germany | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Iceland | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Antigua and Barbuda | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Switzerland | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Belgium | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Japan | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Sweden | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | United States | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Tonga | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Czech Republic | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Guam | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | New Zealand | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | United Kingdom | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Hungary | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Italy | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Moldova | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Denmark | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Australia | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Ireland | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | France | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Monaco | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Netherlands | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 99% | 2013 | ||
=28 | Canada | 99% | 2013 | ||
Group of 7 countries (G7) average (profile) | 99% | 2013 | |||
=52 | Croatia | 98.9% | 2013 | ||
=52 | Cayman Islands | 98.9% | 2013 | ||
High income OECD countries average (profile) | 98.83% | 2013 | |||
=54 | Samoa | 98.8% | 2013 | ||
=54 | Trinidad and Tobago | 98.8% | 2013 | ||
56 | Cyprus | 98.7% | 2013 | ||
NATO countries average (profile) | 98.65% | 2013 | |||
European Union average (profile) | 98.64% | 2013 | |||
Eastern Europe average (profile) | 98.61% | 2013 | |||
57 | Chile | 98.6% | 2013 | ||
Europe average (profile) | 98.53% | 2013 | |||
58 | Montenegro | 98.5% | 2013 | ||
Eurozone average (profile) | 98.47% | 2013 | |||
=59 | Bulgaria | 98.4% | 2013 | ||
=59 | Maldives | 98.4% | 2013 | ||
61 | Uruguay | 98.1% | 2013 | ||
=62 | French Polynesia | 98% | 2013 | ||
=62 | Austria | 98% | 2013 | ||
=62 | Bermuda | 98% | 2013 | ||
=62 | Serbia | 98% | 2013 | ||
=62 | Turks and Caicos Islands | 98% | 2013 | ||
=62 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 98% | 2013 | ||
=68 | Argentina | 97.9% | 2013 | ||
=68 | South Korea | 97.9% | 2013 | ||
=70 | British Virgin Islands | 97.8% | 2013 | ||
=70 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 97.8% | 2013 | ||
=72 | Romania | 97.7% | 2013 | ||
=72 | Spain | 97.7% | 2013 | ||
Non-religious countries average (profile) | 97.45% | 2013 | |||
=74 | Mongolia | 97.4% | 2013 | ||
=74 | Republic of Macedonia | 97.4% | 2013 | ||
76 | Greece | 97.3% | 2013 | ||
77 | Israel | 97.1% | 2013 | ||
Southern Europe average (profile) | 97.06% | 2013 | |||
Cold countries average (profile) | 97.04% | 2013 | |||
=78 | Montserrat | 97% | 2013 | ||
=78 | Northern Mariana Islands | 97% | 2013 | ||
=78 | American Samoa | 97% | 2013 | ||
=78 | Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha | 97% | 2013 | ||
=78 | Saint Helena | 97% | 2011 | ||
=83 | Albania | 96.8% | 2013 | ||
=83 | Aruba | 96.8% | 2013 | ||
Tourist destinations average (profile) | 96.75% | 2013 | |||
Potential Future EU Members average (profile) | 96.71% | 2013 | |||
=85 | Qatar | 96.3% | 2013 | ||
=85 | Costa Rica | 96.3% | 2013 | ||
87 | New Caledonia | 96.2% | 2013 | ||
88 | Taiwan | 96.1% | 2013 | ||
=89 | Grenada | 96% | 2013 | ||
=89 | San Marino | 96% | 2013 | ||
=89 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 96% | 2013 | ||
=92 | Singapore | 95.9% | 2013 | ||
=92 | Jordan | 95.9% | 2013 | ||
=94 | Macau | 95.6% | 2013 | ||
=94 | The Bahamas | 95.6% | 2013 | ||
96 | Venezuela | 95.5% | 2013 | ||
=97 | Brunei | 95.4% | 2013 | ||
=97 | Philippines | 95.4% | 2013 | ||
=97 | Portugal | 95.4% | 2013 | ||
=100 | West Bank | 95.3% | 2013 | ||
=100 | Gaza Strip | 95.3% | 2013 | ||
102 | China | 95.1% | 2013 | ||
=103 | Cook Islands | 95% | 2013 | ||
=103 | Niue | 95% | 2013 | ||
=103 | Anguilla | 95% | 2013 | ||
106 | Suriname | 94.7% | 2013 | ||
107 | Bahrain | 94.6% | 2013 | ||
108 | Equatorial Guinea | 94.2% | 2013 | ||
=109 | Panama | 94.1% | 2013 | ||
=109 | Turkey | 94.1% | 2013 | ||
111 | Dominica | 94% | 2013 | ||
=112 | Kuwait | 93.9% | 2013 | ||
=112 | Paraguay | 93.9% | 2013 | ||
=114 | Marshall Islands | 93.7% | 2013 | ||
=114 | Fiji | 93.7% | 2013 | ||
116 | Colombia | 93.6% | 2013 | ||
=117 | Mexico | 93.5% | 2013 | ||
=117 | Hong Kong | 93.5% | 2013 | ||
=117 | Thailand | 93.5% | 2013 | ||
120 | Vietnam | 93.4% | 2013 | ||
121 | Malaysia | 93.1% | 2013 | ||
Emerging markets average (profile) | 93.09% | 2013 | |||
122 | South Africa | 93% | 2013 | ||
123 | Indonesia | 92.8% | 2013 | ||
124 | Burma | 92.7% | 2013 | ||
125 | Malta | 92.4% | 2013 | ||
126 | Palau | 92% | 2013 | ||
127 | Kosovo | 91.9% | 2013 | ||
Former Spanish colonies average (profile) | 91.84% | 2013 | |||
Heavily indebted countries average (profile) | 91.82% | 2013 | |||
=128 | Guyana | 91.8% | 2013 | ||
=128 | Seychelles | 91.8% | 2013 | ||
130 | Ecuador | 91.6% | 2013 | ||
Latin America and Caribbean average (profile) | 91.6% | 2013 | |||
Catholic countries average (profile) | 91.21% | 2013 | |||
=131 | Sri Lanka | 91.2% | 2013 | ||
=131 | Bolivia | 91.2% | 2013 | ||
East Asia and Pacific average (profile) | 90.59% | 2013 | |||
133 | Brazil | 90.4% | 2013 | ||
134 | Puerto Rico | 90.3% | 2013 | ||
=135 | Saint Lucia | 90.1% | 2013 | ||
=135 | Dominican Republic | 90.1% | 2013 | ||
=137 | United Arab Emirates | 90% | 2013 | ||
=137 | Virgin Islands | 90% | 2013 | ||
=139 | Peru | 89.6% | 2013 | ||
=139 | Lesotho | 89.6% | 2013 | ||
=139 | Lebanon | 89.6% | 2013 | ||
Christian countries average (profile) | 89.59% | 2013 | |||
142 | Libya | 89.5% | 2013 | ||
=143 | Federated States of Micronesia | 89% | 2013 | ||
=143 | Gabon | 89% | 2013 | ||
=145 | Namibia | 88.8% | 2013 | ||
=145 | Mauritius | 88.8% | 2013 | ||
147 | Swaziland | 87.8% | 2013 | ||
148 | Kenya | 87.4% | 2013 | ||
149 | Saudi Arabia | 87.2% | 2013 | ||
150 | Jamaica | 87% | 2013 | ||
151 | Oman | 86.9% | 2013 | ||
=152 | Honduras | 85.1% | 2013 | ||
=152 | Botswana | 85.1% | 2013 | ||
154 | Iran | 85% | 2013 | ||
155 | Cape Verde | 84.9% | 2013 | ||
Middle Eastern and North Africa average (profile) | 84.81% | 2013 | |||
156 | El Salvador | 84.5% | 2013 | ||
=157 | Solomon Islands | 84.1% | 2013 | ||
=157 | Syria | 84.1% | 2013 | ||
159 | Congo, Republic of the | 83.8% | 2013 | ||
OPEC countries average (profile) | 83.65% | 2013 | |||
160 | Zimbabwe | 83.6% | 2013 | ||
161 | Vanuatu | 83.2% | 2013 | ||
Former British colonies average (profile) | 83.09% | 2013 | |||
Religious countries average (profile) | 81.67% | 2013 | |||
Sparsely populated countries average (profile) | 80.19% | 2013 | |||
Landlocked countries average (profile) | 79.82% | 2013 | |||
Hot countries average (profile) | 79.61% | 2013 | |||
162 | Tunisia | 79.1% | 2013 | ||
163 | Iraq | 78.5% | 2013 | ||
164 | Nicaragua | 78% | 2013 | ||
South and Central Asia average (profile) | 76.99% | 2013 | |||
165 | Belize | 76.9% | 2013 | ||
166 | Guatemala | 75.9% | 2013 | ||
167 | Comoros | 75.5% | 2013 | ||
168 | Malawi | 74.8% | 2013 | ||
Muslim countries average (profile) | 74.77% | 2013 | |||
=169 | Egypt | 73.9% | 2013 | ||
=169 | Cambodia | 73.9% | 2013 | ||
171 | Uganda | 73.2% | 2013 | ||
172 | Laos | 72.7% | 2013 | ||
173 | Algeria | 72.6% | 2013 | ||
174 | Sudan | 71.9% | 2013 | ||
175 | Ghana | 71.5% | 2013 | ||
176 | Cameroon | 71.3% | 2013 | ||
177 | Rwanda | 71.1% | 2013 | ||
178 | Angola | 70.4% | 2013 | ||
179 | Sao Tome and Principe | 69.5% | 2013 | ||
180 | Eritrea | 68.9% | 2013 | ||
181 | Djibouti | 67.9% | 2013 | ||
182 | Tanzania | 67.8% | 2013 | ||
183 | Burundi | 67.2% | 2013 | ||
184 | Morocco | 67.1% | 2013 | ||
185 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 66.8% | 2013 | ||
186 | Yemen | 65.3% | 2013 | ||
Sub-Saharan Africa average (profile) | 64.61% | 2013 | |||
187 | Madagascar | 64.5% | 2013 | ||
188 | India | 62.8% | 2013 | ||
189 | Papua New Guinea | 62.4% | 2013 | ||
190 | Zambia | 61.4% | 2013 | ||
191 | Nigeria | 61.3% | 2013 | ||
Former French colonies average (profile) | 60.87% | 2013 | |||
192 | Liberia | 60.8% | 2013 | ||
193 | Togo | 60.4% | 2013 | ||
194 | Mauritania | 58.6% | 2013 | ||
195 | East Timor | 58.3% | 2013 | ||
196 | Bangladesh | 57.7% | 2013 | ||
197 | Nepal | 57.4% | 2013 | ||
198 | Cote d'Ivoire | 56.9% | 2013 | ||
199 | Central African Republic | 56.6% | 2013 | ||
200 | Mozambique | 56.1% | 2013 | ||
201 | Guinea-Bissau | 55.3% | 2013 | ||
202 | Pakistan | 54.9% | 2013 | ||
failed states average (profile) | 54.32% | 2013 | |||
203 | Bhutan | 52.8% | 2013 | ||
South Asia average (profile) | 51.26% | 2013 | |||
204 | The Gambia | 51.1% | 2013 | ||
205 | Wallis and Futuna | 50% | 2013 | ||
206 | Senegal | 49.7% | 2013 | ||
207 | Haiti | 48.7% | 2013 | ||
208 | Sierra Leone | 43.3% | 2013 | ||
209 | Benin | 42.4% | 2013 | ||
210 | Guinea | 41% | 2013 | ||
211 | Ethiopia | 39% | 2013 | ||
212 | Somalia | 37.8% | 2013 | ||
213 | Chad | 35.4% | 2013 | ||
214 | Mali | 33.4% | 2013 | ||
=215 | Niger | 28.7% | 2013 | ||
=215 | Burkina Faso | 28.7% | 2013 | ||
217 | Afghanistan | 28.1% | 2013 | ||
218 | South Sudan | 27% | 2013 |