The CIA World Factbook Edition 2009 People

Literacy In 36 editions of 36.

Literacy was published in 36 editions of the CIA World Factbook, from 1990 to 2025. The 2009 edition carries it in 234 entries, in its People section. Every entry is shown as that edition published it.

entries in the 2009 edition
234
the first edition with it
1990
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Literacy” (1990 to 2025).

the entry has the field in that editionnot in that editionthe open editionEach 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.

2009

Every edition with Literacy

Entries with Literacy in each edition

19902000201020202025

Select a bar to open that edition.

World

1 entry

World

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
82%
male:
87%
female:
77%

note: over two-thirds of the world's 785 million illiterate adults are found in only eight countries (Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Pakistan); of all the illiterate adults in the world, two-thirds are women; extremely low literacy rates are concentrated in three regions, the Arab states, South and West Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, where around one-third of the men and half of all women are illiterate (2005 est.)

Africa

56 entries

Algeria

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
69.9%
male:
79.6%
female:
60.1% (2002 est.)

Angola

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
67.4%
male:
82.9%
female:
54.2% (2001 est.)

Benin

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
34.7%
male:
47.9%
female:
23.3% (2002 census)

Botswana

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
81.2%
male:
80.4%
female:
81.8% (2003 est.)

Burkina Faso

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
21.8%
male:
29.4%
female:
15.2% (2003 est.)

Burundi

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
59.3%
male:
67.3%
female:
52.2% (2000 est.)

Cape Verde now Cabo Verde

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
76.6%
male:
85.8%
female:
69.2% (2003 est.)

Cameroon

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
67.9%
male:
77%
female:
59.8% (2001 est.)

Central African Republic

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
48.6%
male:
64.8%
female:
33.5% (2000 est.)

Chad

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population:
25.7%
male:
40.8%
female:
12.8% (2000 est.)

Comoros

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
56.5%
male:
63.6%
female:
49.3% (2003 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the now Democratic Republic of the Congo

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba
total population:
67.2%
male:
80.9%
female:
54.1% (2001 est.)

Congo, Republic of the now Republic of the Congo

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
83.8%
male:
89.6%
female:
78.4% (2003 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
48.7%
male:
60.8%
female:
38.6% (2000 est.)

Djibouti

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
67.9%
male:
78%
female:
58.4% (2003 est.)

Egypt

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
71.4%
male:
83%
female:
59.4% (2005 est.)

Equatorial Guinea

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
87%
male:
93.4%
female:
80.5% (2000 est.)

Eritrea

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
58.6%
male:
69.9%
female:
47.6% (2003 est.)

Swaziland now Eswatini

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
81.6%
male:
82.6%
female:
80.8% (2003 est.)

Ethiopia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
42.7%
male:
50.3%
female:
35.1% (2003 est.)

Gabon

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
63.2%
male:
73.7%
female:
53.3% (1995 est.)

Gambia, The now The Gambia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
40.1%
male:
47.8%
female:
32.8% (2003 est.)

Ghana

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
57.9%
male:
66.4%
female:
49.8% (2000 census)

Guinea

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
29.5%
male:
42.6%
female:
18.1% (2003 est.)

Guinea-Bissau

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
42.4%
male:
58.1%
female:
27.4% (2003 est.)

Kenya

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
85.1%
male:
90.6%
female:
79.7% (2003 est.)

Lesotho

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
84.8%
male:
74.5%
female:
94.5% (2003 est.)

Liberia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
57.5%
male:
73.3%
female:
41.6% (2003 est.)

Libya

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
82.6%
male:
92.4%
female:
72% (2003 est.)

Madagascar

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
68.9%
male:
75.5%
female:
62.5% (2003 est.)

Malawi

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
62.7%
male:
76.1%
female:
49.8% (2003 est.)

Mali

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
46.4%
male:
53.5%
female:
39.6% (2003 est.)

Mauritania

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
51.2%
male:
59.5%
female:
43.4% (2000 census)

Mauritius

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
84.4%
male:
88.4%
female:
80.5% (2000 census)

Mayotte

NA

Morocco

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
52.3%
male:
65.7%
female:
39.6% (2004 census)

Mozambique

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
47.8%
male:
63.5%
female:
32.7% (2003 est.)

Namibia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
85%
male:
86.8%
female:
83.5% (2001 census)

Niger

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
28.7%
male:
42.9%
female:
15.1% (2005 est.)

Nigeria

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
68%
male:
75.7%
female:
60.6% (2003 est.)

Rwanda

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.)

Sao Tome and Principe

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
84.9%
male:
92.2%
female:
77.9% (2001 census)

Senegal

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
39.3%
male:
51.1%
female:
29.2% (2002 est.)

Seychelles

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
91.8%
male:
91.4%
female:
92.3% (2002 census)

Sierra Leone

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic
total population:
35.1%
male:
46.9%
female:
24.4% (2004 est.)

Somalia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
37.8%
male:
49.7%
female:
25.8% (2001 est.)

South Africa

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
86.4%
male:
87%
female:
85.7% (2003 est.)

Sudan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
61.1%
male:
71.8%
female:
50.5% (2003 est.)

Tanzania

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic
total population:
69.4%
male:
77.5%
female:
62.2% (2002 census)

Togo

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
60.9%
male:
75.4%
female:
46.9% (2003 est.)

Tunisia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
74.3%
male:
83.4%
female:
65.3% (2004 census)

Uganda

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
66.8%
male:
76.8%
female:
57.7% (2002 census)

Western Sahara

NA

Zambia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write English
total population:
80.6%
male:
86.8%
female:
74.8% (2003 est.)

Zimbabwe

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

Greenland

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100% (2001 est.)

Iceland

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)

Svalbard

NA

Asia

22 entries

Afghanistan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
28.1%
male:
43.1%
female:
12.6% (2000 est.)

Armenia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.4%
male:
99.7%
female:
99.2% (2001 census)

Azerbaijan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.8%
male:
99.5%
female:
98.2% (1999 census)

Bangladesh

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
47.9%
male:
54%
female:
41.4% (2001 Census)

Bhutan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
47%
male:
60%
female:
34% (2003 est.)

China

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
90.9%
male:
95.1%
female:
86.5% (2000 census)

Georgia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100% (2004 est.)

India

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
61%
male:
73.4%
female:
47.8% (2001 census)

Japan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2002)

Kazakhstan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.5%
male:
99.8%
female:
99.3% (1999 est.)

Korea, North now North Korea

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99%

Korea, South now South Korea

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
97.9%
male:
99.2%
female:
96.6% (2002)

Kyrgyzstan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.7%
male:
99.3%
female:
98.1% (1999 census)

Maldives

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
96.3%
male:
96.2%
female:
96.4% (2000 census)

Mongolia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
97.8%
male:
98%
female:
97.5% (2000 census)

Nepal

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
48.6%
male:
62.7%
female:
34.9% (2001 census)

Pakistan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
49.9%
male:
63%
female:
36% (2005 est.)

Russia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.4%
male:
99.7%
female:
99.2% (2002 census)

Sri Lanka

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
90.7%
male:
92.3%
female:
89.1% (2001 census)

Tajikistan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.5%
male:
99.7%
female:
99.2% (2000 census)

Turkmenistan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.8%
male:
99.3%
female:
98.3% (1999 est.)

Uzbekistan

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

29 entries

Anguilla

definition:
age 12 and over can read and write
total population:
95%
male:
95%
female:
95% (1984 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda

definition:
age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
total population:
85.8%
male:
NA
female:
NA (2003 est.)

Aruba

definition:
NA
total population:
97.3%
male:
97.5%
female:
97.1% (2000 census)

Bahamas, The now The Bahamas

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
95.6%
male:
94.7%
female:
96.5% (2003 est.)

Barbados

definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
99.7%
male:
99.7%
female:
99.7% (2002 est.)

Belize

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
76.9%
male:
76.7%
female:
77.1% (2000 census)

British Virgin Islands

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
97.8% (1991 est.)
male:
NA
female:
NA

Cayman Islands

definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
98%
male:
98%
female:
98% (1970 est.)

Costa Rica

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
94.9%
male:
94.7%
female:
95.1% (2000 census)

Cuba

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.8%
male:
99.8%
female:
99.8% (2002 census)

Dominica

definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
94%
male:
94%
female:
94% (2003 est.)

Dominican Republic

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
87%
male:
86.8%
female:
87.2% (2002 census)

El Salvador

definition:
age 10 and over can read and write
total population:
80.2%
male:
82.8%
female:
77.7% (2003 est.)

Grenada

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
96%
male:
NA
female:
NA (2003 est.)

Guatemala

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
69.1%
male:
75.4%
female:
63.3% (2002 census)

Haiti

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
52.9%
male:
54.8%
female:
51.2% (2003 est.)

Honduras

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
80%
male:
79.8%
female:
80.2% (2001 census)

Jamaica

definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
87.9%
male:
84.1%
female:
91.6% (2003 est.)

Montserrat

definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
97%
male:
97%
female:
97% (1970 est.)

Netherlands Antilles

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
96.7%
male:
96.7%
female:
96.8% (2003 est.)

Nicaragua

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
67.5%
male:
67.2%
female:
67.8% (2003 est.)

Panama

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
91.9%
male:
92.5%
female:
91.2% (2000 census)

Puerto Rico

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
94.1%
male:
93.9%
female:
94.4% (2002 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
97.8%
male:
NA
female:
NA (2003 est.)

Saint Lucia

definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
90.1%
male:
89.5%
female:
90.6% (2001 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
96%
male:
96%
female:
96% (1970 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.6%
male:
99.1%
female:
98% (2003 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands

definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
98%
male:
99%
female:
98% (1970 est.)

Virgin Islands

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
90-95% est.
male:
NA
female:
NA (2005 est.)

Europe

47 entries

Albania

definition:
age 9 and over can read and write
total population:
98.7%
male:
99.2%
female:
98.3% (2001 census)

Andorra

definition:
NA
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%

Austria

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98%
male:
NA
female:
NA

Belarus

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.6%
male:
99.8%
female:
99.4% (1999 census)

Belgium

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
96.7%
male:
99%
female:
94.4% (2000 est.)

Bulgaria

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.2%
male:
98.7%
female:
97.7% (2001 census)

Croatia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.1%
male:
99.3%
female:
97.1% (2001 census)

Czech Republic now Czechia

definition:
NA
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)

Denmark

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)

Estonia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.8%
male:
99.8%
female:
99.8% (2000 census)

Faroe Islands

NA; note - probably 99%, the same as Denmark proper

Finland

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100% (2000 est.)

France

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)

Germany

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)

Gibraltar

definition:
NA
total population:
above 80%
male:
NA
female:
NA

Greece

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
96%
male:
97.8%
female:
94.2% (2001 census)

Guernsey

NA

Holy See (Vatican City)

definition:
NA
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%

Hungary

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.4%
male:
99.5%
female:
99.3% (2003 est.)

Ireland

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)

Isle of Man

NA

Italy

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.4%
male:
98.8%
female:
98% (2001 census)

Jersey

NA

Kosovo

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
91.9%
male:
96.6%
female:
87.5% (2007 Census)

Latvia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.7%
male:
99.8%
female:
99.7% (2000 census)

Liechtenstein

definition:
age 10 and over can read and write
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%

Lithuania

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.6%
male:
99.6%
female:
99.6% (2001 census)

Luxembourg

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100% (2000 est.)

Malta

definition:
age 10 and over can read and write
total population:
92.8%
male:
92%
female:
93.6% (2003 est.)

Moldova

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.1%
male:
99.7%
female:
98.6% (2005 est.)

Monaco

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)

Netherlands

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)

Macedonia now North Macedonia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
96.1%
male:
98.2%
female:
94.1% (2002 census)

Norway

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%

Poland

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.8%
male:
99.8%
female:
99.7% (2003 est.)

Portugal

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
93.3%
male:
95.5%
female:
91.3% (2003 est.)

Romania

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
97.3%
male:
98.4%
female:
96.3% (2002 census)

San Marino

definition:
age 10 and over can read and write
total population:
96%
male:
97%
female:
95%

Serbia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
96.4%
male:
98.9%
female:
94.1% (2003 census)

note: includes Montenegro

Slovakia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.6%
male:
99.7%
female:
99.6% (2004)

Slovenia

definition:
NA
total population:
99.7%
male:
99.7%
female:
99.6%

Spain

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
97.9%
male:
98.7%
female:
97.2% (2003 est.)

Sweden

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)

Switzerland

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)

Ukraine

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.4%
male:
99.7%
female:
99.2% (2001 census)

United Kingdom

definition:
age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)

Middle East

17 entries

Bahrain

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
86.5%
male:
88.6%
female:
83.6% (2001 census)

Cyprus

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
97.6%
male:
98.9%
female:
96.3% (2001 census)

Gaza Strip

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
92.4%
male:
96.7%
female:
88% (2004 est.)

Iran

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
77%
male:
83.5%
female:
70.4% (2002 est.)

Iraq

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
74.1%
male:
84.1%
female:
64.2% (2000 est.)

Israel

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
97.1%
male:
98.5%
female:
95.9% (2004 est.)

Jordan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
89.9%
male:
95.1%
female:
84.7% (2003 est.)

Kuwait

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
93.3%
male:
94.4%
female:
91% (2005 census)

Lebanon

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
87.4%
male:
93.1%
female:
82.2% (2003 est.)

Oman

definition:
NA
total population:
81.4%
male:
86.8%
female:
73.5% (2003 census)

Qatar

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
89%
male:
89.1%
female:
88.6% (2004 census)

Saudi Arabia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
78.8%
male:
84.7%
female:
70.8% (2003 est.)

Syria

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
79.6%
male:
86%
female:
73.6% (2004 census)

Turkey now Turkiye

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
87.4%
male:
95.3%
female:
79.6% (2004 est.)

United Arab Emirates

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
77.9%
male:
76.1%
female:
81.7% (2003 est.)

West Bank

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
92.4%
male:
96.7%
female:
88% (2004 est.)

Yemen

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
50.2%
male:
70.5%
female:
30% (2003 est.)

North America

5 entries

Bermuda

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98%
male:
98%
female:
99% (2005 est.)

Canada

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)

Mexico

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
91%
male:
92.4%
female:
89.6% (2004 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (1982 est.)

United States

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)

Oceania

25 entries

American Samoa

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
97%
male:
98%
female:
97% (1980 est.)

Australia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)

Cook Islands

definition:
NA
total population:
95%
male:
NA
female:
NA

Fiji

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
93.7%
male:
95.5%
female:
91.9% (2003 est.)

French Polynesia

definition:
age 14 and over can read and write
total population:
98%
male:
98%
female:
98% (1977 est.)

Guam

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (1990 est.)

Kiribati

NA

Marshall Islands

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
93.7%
male:
93.6%
female:
93.7% (1999)

Micronesia, Federated States of now Federated States of Micronesia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
89%
male:
91%
female:
88% (1980 est.)

Nauru

NA

New Caledonia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
96.2%
male:
96.8%
female:
95.5% (1996 census)

New Zealand

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2003 est.)

Niue

definition:
NA
total population:
95%
male:
NA
female:
NA

Norfolk Island

NA

Northern Mariana Islands

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
97%
male:
97%
female:
96% (1980 est.)

Palau

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
92%
male:
93%
female:
90% (1980 est.)

Papua New Guinea

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
57.3%
male:
63.4%
female:
50.9% (2000 census)

Pitcairn Islands

NA

Samoa

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.7%
male:
99.6%
female:
99.7% (2003 est.)

Solomon Islands

NA

Tokelau

NA

Tonga

definition:
can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population:
98.9%
male:
98.8%
female:
99% (1999 est.)

Tuvalu

NA

Vanuatu

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
74%
male:
NA
female:
NA (1999 census)

Wallis and Futuna

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
50%
male:
50%
female:
50% (1969 est.)

South America

13 entries

Argentina

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
97.2%
male:
97.2%
female:
97.2% (2001 census)

Bolivia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
86.7%
male:
93.1%
female:
80.7% (2001 census)

Brazil

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
88.6%
male:
88.4%
female:
88.8% (2004 est.)

Chile

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
95.7%
male:
95.8%
female:
95.6% (2002 census)

Colombia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
90.4%
male:
90.1%
female:
90.7% (2005 census)

Ecuador

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
91%
male:
92.3%
female:
89.7% (2001 census)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

NA

Guyana

definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
98.8%
male:
99.1%
female:
98.5% (2003 est.)

Paraguay

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
94%
male:
94.9%
female:
93% (2003 est.)

Peru

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
92.9%
male:
96.4%
female:
89.4% (2007 Census)

Suriname

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
89.6%
male:
92%
female:
87.2% (2004 census)

Uruguay

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98%
male:
97.6%
female:
98.4% (2003 est.)

Venezuela

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
93%
male:
93.3%
female:
92.7% (2001 census)

Southeast Asia

16 entries

Brunei

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
92.7%
male:
95.2%
female:
90.2% (2001 census)

Burma now Burma (Myanmar)

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
89.9%
male:
93.9%
female:
86.4% (2006 est.)

Cambodia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
73.6%
male:
84.7%
female:
64.1% (2004 est.)

Christmas Island

NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

NA

Hong Kong

definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
93.5%
male:
96.9%
female:
89.6% (2002)

Indonesia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
90.4%
male:
94%
female:
86.8% (2004 est.)

Laos

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
68.7%
male:
77%
female:
60.9% (2001 est.)

Macau

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
91.3%
male:
95.3%
female:
87.8% (2001 census)

Malaysia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
88.7%
male:
92%
female:
85.4% (2000 census)

Philippines

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
92.6%
male:
92.5%
female:
92.7% (2000 census)

Singapore

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
92.5%
male:
96.6%
female:
88.6% (2000 census)

Taiwan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
96.1%
male:
NA
female:
NA (2003)

Thailand

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
92.6%
male:
94.9%
female:
90.5% (2000 census)

Timor-Leste

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
58.6%
male:
NA
female:
NA (2002)

Vietnam

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
90.3%
male:
93.9%
female:
86.9% (2002 est.)

Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook 2009, “Literacy”, all entries. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/fields/literacy/2009.

How to cite