The CIA World Factbook Edition 2004 People
Literacy In 36 editions of 36.
Literacy was published in 36 editions of the CIA World Factbook, from 1990 to 2025. The 2004 edition carries it in 235 entries, in its People section. Every entry is shown as that edition published it.
entries in the 2004 edition 235
the first edition with it 1990
the latest edition with it 2025
Fields / People / Literacy
Published as “Literacy” (1990 to 2025).
Each entry below ends in its editions with Literacy, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down; choose one in a row to read that edition’s text there.
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Entries with Literacy in each edition
1990 2000 2010 2020 2025 Select a bar to open that edition.
Order
By region
A to Z
As the CIA ranked them
World 1 entry
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77%
male: 83%
female: 71% (1995 est.)
Africa 57 entries
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70%
male: 78.8%
female: 61% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42%
male: 56%
female: 28% (1998 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.9%
male: 56.2%
female: 26.5% (2000)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.8%
male: 76.9%
female: 82.4% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 26.6%
male: 36.9%
female: 16.6% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.6%
male: 58.5%
female: 45.2% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.6%
male: 85.8%
female: 69.2% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79%
male: 84.7%
female: 73.4% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51%
male: 63.3%
female: 39.9% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 47.5%
male: 56%
female: 39.3% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.5%
male: 63.6%
female: 49.3% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba
total population: 65.5%
male: 76.2%
female: 55.1% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50.9%
male: 57.9%
female: 43.6% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 78%
female: 58.4% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.7%
male: 68.3%
female: 46.9% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.7%
male: 93.3%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
definition: NA
total population: 58.6%
male: 69.9%
female: 47.6% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.6%
male: 82.6%
female: 80.8% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.7%
male: 50.3%
female: 35.1% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 63.2%
male: 73.7%
female: 53.3% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.8%
male: 82.7%
female: 67.1% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.9%
male: 49.9%
female: 21.9% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.4%
male: 58.1%
female: 27.4% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.1%
male: 90.6%
female: 79.7% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.8%
male: 74.5%
female: 94.5% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6% note: (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.6%
male: 92.4%
female: 72% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.9%
male: 75.5%
female: 62.5% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.7%
male: 76.1%
female: 49.8% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 46.4%
male: 53.5%
female: 39.6% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 41.7%
male: 51.8%
female: 31.9% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.6%
male: 88.6%
female: 82.7% (2003 est.)
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.7%
male: 64.1%
female: 39.4% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.8%
male: 63.5%
female: 32.7% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84%
male: 84.4%
female: 83.7% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 17.6%
male: 25.8%
female: 9.7% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68%
male: 75.7%
female: 60.6% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.9%
male: 87%
female: 90.8% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.4%
male: 76.3%
female: 64.7% (2003 est.)
Saint Helena
now Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
definition: age 20 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1987 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.3%
male: 85%
female: 62% (1991 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.2%
male: 50%
female: 30.7% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58%
male: 56%
female: 60% (1971 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic
total population: 31.4%
male: 45.4%
female: 18.2% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.8%
male: 49.7%
female: 25.8% (2001 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 87%
female: 85.7% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61.1%
male: 71.8%
female: 50.5% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic
total population: 78.2%
male: 85.9%
female: 70.7% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.9%
male: 75.4%
female: 46.9% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.2%
male: 84%
female: 64.4% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.9%
male: 79.5%
female: 60.4% (2003 est.)
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 80.6%
male: 86.8%
female: 74.8% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 90.7%
male: 94.2%
female: 87.2% (2003 est.)
Arctic Region 3 entries
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA note: similar to Denmark proper
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.9% (1997 est.)
male: NA
female: NA
Asia 22 entries
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 36%
male: 51%
female: 21% (1999 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.4%
female: 98% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 43.1%
male: 53.9%
female: 31.8% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.9%
male: 95.1%
female: 86.5% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 100%
female: 98% (1999 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 59.5%
male: 70.2%
female: 48.3% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 99.1%
female: 97.7% (1999 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99%
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 99.2%
female: 96.6% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 99%
female: 96% (1989 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.2%
male: 97.1%
female: 97.3% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 98%
female: 97.5% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 45.2%
male: 62.7%
female: 27.6% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 45.7%
male: 59.8%
female: 30.6% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.5% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.3%
male: 94.8%
female: 90% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.1% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 97% (1989 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.3%
male: 99.6%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Central America and the Caribbean 31 entries
definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.)
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
total population: 89%
male: 90%
female: 88% (1960 est.)
definition:
total population: 97%
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.6%
male: 94.7%
female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97.4%
male: 98%
female: 96.8% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 94.1%
female: 94.1% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 95.9%
female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97.2%
female: 96.9% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 94%
male: 94%
female: 94% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.7%
male: 84.6%
female: 84.8% (2003 est.)
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 80.2%
male: 82.8%
female: 77.7% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90%
male: 90%
female: 90% (1982 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.6%
male: 78%
female: 63.3% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.9%
male: 54.8%
female: 51.2% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.2%
male: 76.1%
female: 76.3% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 87.9%
male: 84.1%
female: 91.6% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.7%
male: 97.4%
female: 98.1% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.7%
male: 96.7%
female: 96.8% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.5%
male: 67.2%
female: 67.8% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 93.2%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 93.7%
female: 94.4% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1980 est.)
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 67%
male: 65%
female: 69% (1980 est.)
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96% (1970 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.1%
female: 98% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Europe 46 entries
definition: age 9 and over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 93.3%
female: 79.5% (2003 est.)
definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.5% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA
female: NA
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.2% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.5%
male: 99.4%
female: 97.8% (2003 est.)
definition: NA
total population: 99.9% (1999 est.)
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA note: probably the same as Denmark proper
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100% (2000 est.)
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1980 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1997 est.)
male: NA
female: NA
definition: NA
total population: above 80%
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.5%
male: 98.6%
female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.5%
female: 99.3% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98% (1981 est.)
male: NA
female: NA
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99%
female: 98.3% (2003 est.)
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.6%
female: 98.7% (2003 est.)
definition: NA
total population: 99%
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (2000 est.)
male: NA
female: NA
Macedonia
now North Macedonia
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.3%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.3% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 99.1%
female: 97.7% (2003 est.)
definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95% (1976 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 97.2%
female: 88.9% (1991)
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 98.7%
female: 97.2% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1979 est.)
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male:
female:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
total population: 99% (2000 est.)
male: NA
female: NA
Middle East 17 entries
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.1%
male: 91.9%
female: 85% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.3% (2003 est.)
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.4%
male: 85.6%
female: 73% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.4%
male: 55.9%
female: 24.4% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.4%
male: 97.3%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.3%
male: 95.9%
female: 86.3% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.5%
male: 85.1%
female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.4%
male: 93.1%
female: 82.2% (2003 est.)
definition: NA
total population: 75.8%
male: 83.1%
female: 67.2% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.5%
male: 81.4%
female: 85% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.8%
male: 84.7%
female: 70.8% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.9%
male: 89.7%
female: 64% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 94.3%
female: 78.7% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77.9%
male: 76.1%
female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50.2%
male: 70.5%
female: 30% (2003 est.)
North America 5 entries
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (1970 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97% (1986 est.)
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.2%
male: 94%
female: 90.5% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1982 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1999 est.)
Oceania 25 entries
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1980 est.)
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)
definition: age 14 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1977 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 93.6%
female: 93.7% (1999)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.)
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 92%
female: 90% (1976 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA
female: NA
definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90% (1980 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 64.6%
male: 71.1%
female: 57.7% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 98.5%
male: 98.4%
female: 98.7% (1996 est.)
definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 53%
male: 57%
female: 48% (1979 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50%
male: 50%
female: 50% (1969 est.)
South America 13 entries
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.1%
male: 97.1%
female: 97.1% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.2%
male: 93.1%
female: 81.6% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 86.1%
female: 86.6% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.4%
female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 92.4%
female: 92.6% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 94%
female: 91% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83%
male: 84%
female: 82% (1982 est.)
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.5% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 94.9%
female: 93% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.9%
male: 95.2%
female: 86.8% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 95%
female: 91% (1995 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 97.6%
female: 98.4% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.4%
male: 93.8%
female: 93.1% (2003 est.)
Southeast Asia 15 entries
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.9%
male: 96.3%
female: 91.4% (2002)
Burma
now Burma (Myanmar)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.3%
male: 89.2%
female: 81.4% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.4%
male: 80.8%
female: 59.3% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 93.5%
male: 96.9%
female: 89.6% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.9%
male: 92.5%
female: 83.4% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.4%
male: 77.4%
female: 55.5% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.5%
male: 97.2%
female: 92% (2003 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.7%
male: 92%
female: 85.4% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 92.5%
female: 92.7% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 96.6%
female: 88.6% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1% (2003)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 94.9%
female: 90.5% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6% (2002)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.3%
male: 93.9%
female: 86.9% (2002)
Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook 2004, “Literacy”, all entries. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/fields/literacy/2004.