The CIA World Factbook Edition 2013 People and Society

Literacy In 36 editions of 36.

Literacy was published in 36 editions of the CIA World Factbook, from 1990 to 2025. The 2013 edition carries it in 234 entries, in its People and Society section. Every entry is shown as that edition published it.

entries in the 2013 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.

2013

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:
84.1%
male:
88.6%
female:
79.7%

note: almost three-quarters of the world's 775 million illiterate adults are found in only ten countries (in descending order: India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Brazil, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo); of all the illiterate adults in the world, two-thirds are women; extremely low literacy rates are concentrated in South and West Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa (2010 est.)

Africa

56 entries

Algeria

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
72.6%
male:
81.3%
female:
63.9% (2006 est.)

Angola

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
70.4%
male:
82.6%
female:
58.6% (2011 est.)

Benin

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
42.4%
male:
55.2%
female:
30.3% (2010 census)

Botswana

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
85.1%
male:
84.6%
female:
85.6% (2011 est.)

Burkina Faso

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
28.7%
male:
36.7%
female:
21.6% (2007 est.)

Burundi

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
67.2%
male:
72.9%
female:
61.8% (2010 est.)

Cabo Verde

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
84.9%
male:
89.7%
female:
80.3% (2011 est.)

Cameroon

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
71.3%
male:
78.3%
female:
64.8% (2010 est.)

Central African Republic

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
56.6%
male:
69.6%
female:
44.2% (2011 est.)

Chad

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population:
35.4%
male:
45.6%
female:
25.4% (2011 est.)

Comoros

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
75.5%
male:
80.5%
female:
70.6% (2011 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:
66.8%
male:
76.9%
female:
57% (2010 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:
56.9%
male:
65.6%
female:
47.6% (2011 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:
73.9%
male:
81.7%
female:
65.8% (2012 est.)

Equatorial Guinea

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
94.2%
male:
97.1%
female:
91.1% (2011 est.)

Eritrea

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
68.9%
male:
79.5%
female:
59% (2011 est.)

Swaziland now Eswatini

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
87.8%
male:
88.4%
female:
87.3% (2011 est.)

Ethiopia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
39%
male:
49.1%
female:
28.9% (2007 est.)

Gabon

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
89%
male:
92.3%
female:
85.6% (2011 est.)

Gambia, The now The Gambia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
51.1%
male:
60.9%
female:
41.9% (2011 est.)

Ghana

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
71.5%
male:
78.3%
female:
65.3% (2010 est.)

Guinea

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
41%
male:
52%
female:
30% (2010 est.)

Guinea-Bissau

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
55.3%
male:
68.9%
female:
42.1% (2011 est.)

Kenya

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
87.4%
male:
90.6%
female:
84.2% (2010 est.)

Lesotho

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
89.6%
male:
83.3%
female:
95.6% (2010 est.)

Liberia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
60.8%
male:
64.8%
female:
56.8% (2010 est.)

Libya

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
89.5%
male:
95.8%
female:
83.3% (2011 est.)

Madagascar

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
64.5%
male:
67.4%
female:
61.6% (2009 est.)

Malawi

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
74.8%
male:
81.1%
female:
68.5% (2010 est.)

Mali

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
33.4%
male:
43.1%
female:
24.6% (2011 est.)

Mauritania

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
58.6%
male:
65.3%
female:
52% (2011 est.)

Mauritius

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
88.8%
male:
91.1%
female:
86.7% (2011 est.)

Morocco

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
67.1%
male:
76.1%
female:
57.6% (2011 est.)

Mozambique

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
56.1%
male:
70.8%
female:
42.8% (2010 est.)

Namibia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
88.8%
male:
89%
female:
88.5% (2010 est.)

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:
61.3%
male:
72.1%
female:
50.4% (2010 est.)

Rwanda

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
71.1%
male:
74.8%
female:
67.5% (2010 est.)

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:
69.5%
male:
80.3%
female:
60.1% (2008 est.)

Senegal

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
49.7%
male:
61.8%
female:
38.7% (2009 est.)

Seychelles

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
91.8%
male:
91.4%
female:
92.3% (2011 est.)

Sierra Leone

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic
total population:
43.3%
male:
54.7%
female:
32.6% (2011 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:
93%
male:
93.9%
female:
92.2% (2011 est.)

South Sudan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
27%
male:
40%
female:
16% (2009)

Sudan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
71.9%
male:
80.7%
female:
63.2%

note: pre-secession of South Sudan (2011 est.)

Tanzania

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic
total population:
67.8%
male:
75.5%
female:
60.8% (2010 est.)

Togo

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
60.4%
male:
74.1%
female:
48% (2011 est.)

Tunisia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
79.1%
male:
87.4%
female:
71.1% (2010 est.)

Uganda

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
73.2%
male:
82.6%
female:
64.6% (2010 est.)

Western Sahara

NA

Zambia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write English
total population:
61.4%
male:
71.9%
female:
51.8% (2007 est.)

Zimbabwe

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write English
total population:
83.6%
male:
87.8%
female:
80.1% (2011 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:
99.6%
male:
99.7%
female:
99.5% (2011 est.)

Azerbaijan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.8%
male:
99.9%
female:
99.7% (2010 census)

Bangladesh

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
57.7%
male:
62%
female:
53.4% (2011 est.)

Bhutan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
52.8%
male:
65%
female:
38.7% (2005 est.)

China

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
95.1%
male:
97.5%
female:
92.7% (2010 est.)

Georgia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.7%
male:
99.8%
female:
99.7% (2011 est.)

India

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
62.8%
male:
75.2%
female:
50.8% (2006 est.)

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:
99.7%
male:
99.8%
female:
99.7% (2009 est.)

Korea, North now North Korea

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100% (2008 est.)

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:
99.2%
male:
99.5%
female:
99% (2009 est.)

Maldives

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.4%
male:
98.4%
female:
98.4% (2006 est.)

Mongolia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
97.4%
male:
96.8%
female:
97.9% (2011 est.)

Nepal

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
57.4%
male:
71.1%
female:
46.7% (2011 est.)

Pakistan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
54.9%
male:
68.6%
female:
40.3% (2009 est.)

Russia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.7%
male:
99.7%
female:
99.6% (2010 est.)

Sri Lanka

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
91.2%
male:
92.6%
female:
90% (2010 census)

Tajikistan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.7%
male:
99.8%
female:
99.6% (2011 est.)

Turkmenistan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.6%
male:
99.7%
female:
99.5% (2011 est.)

Uzbekistan

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.4%
male:
99.6%
female:
99.2% (2011 est.)

Central America and the Caribbean

28 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:
99%
male:
98.4%
female:
99.4% (2011 est.)

Aruba

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
96.8%
male:
96.9%
female:
96.7% (2010 est.)

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%
male:
NA
female:
NA (1991 est.)

Cayman Islands

definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
98.9%
male:
98.7%
female:
99% (2007 est.)

Costa Rica

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
96.3%
male:
96%
female:
96.5% (2011 est.)

Cuba

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.8%
male:
99.8%
female:
99.8% (2011 est.)

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:
90.1%
male:
90%
female:
90.2% (2011 est.)

El Salvador

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
84.5%
male:
87.1%
female:
82.3% (2010 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:
75.9%
male:
81.2%
female:
71.1% (2011 est.)

Haiti

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
48.7%
male:
53.4%
female:
44.6% (2006 est.)

Honduras

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
85.1%
male:
85.3%
female:
84.9% (2011 est.)

Jamaica

definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
87%
male:
82.1%
female:
91.8% (2011 est.)

Montserrat

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

Nicaragua

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
78%
male:
78.1%
female:
77.9% (2005 est.)

Panama

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
94.1%
male:
94.7%
female:
93.5% (2010 est.)

Puerto Rico

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
90.3%
male:
89.7%
female:
90.9% (2011 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:
98.8%
male:
99.2%
female:
98.5% (2011 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

48 entries

Albania

definition:
age 9 and over can read and write
total population:
96.8%
male:
98%
female:
95.7% (2011 est.)

Andorra

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
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:
99.5% (2009 est.)

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:
98%
male:
99.5%
female:
96.7% (2011 est.)

Bulgaria

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.4%
male:
98.7%
female:
98% (2011 est.)

Croatia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.9%
male:
99.5%
female:
98.3% (2011 est.)

Czech Republic now Czechia

definition:
NA
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99% (2011 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% (2011 est.)

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:
97.3%
male:
98.4%
female:
96.3% (2011 est.)

Guernsey

NA

Holy See (Vatican City)

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

Hungary

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99.2%
female:
98.9% (2011 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:
99%
male:
99.2%
female:
98.7% (2011 est.)

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:
99.8%
male:
99.8%
female:
99.8% (2011 est.)

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:
99.7%
male:
99.7%
female:
99.7% (2011 est.)

Luxembourg

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

Malta

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
92.4%
male:
91.2%
female:
93.5% (2005 est.)

Moldova

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
99%
male:
99.5%
female:
98.5% (2011 est.)

Monaco

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

Montenegro

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.5%
male:
99.4%
female:
97.6% (2011 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:
97.4%
male:
98.7%
female:
96% (2011 est.)

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:
99.7%
male:
99.9%
female:
99.6% (2011 est.)

Portugal

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
95.4%
male:
97%
female:
94% (2011 est.)

Romania

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
97.7%
male:
98.3%
female:
97.1% (2011 est.)

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:
98%
male:
99.2%
female:
96.9% (2011 est.)

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:
99.7% (2011 est.)

Spain

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
97.7%
male:
98.5%
female:
97% (2010 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:
99.7%
male:
99.8%
female:
99.7% (2011 est.)

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:
94.6%
male:
96.1%
female:
91.6% (2010 est.)

Cyprus

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.7%
male:
99.3%
female:
98.1% (2011 est.)

Gaza Strip

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
95.3%
male:
97.9%
female:
92.6%

note: estimates are for the Palestinian Territories (2011 est.)

Iran

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
85%
male:
89.3%
female:
80.7% (2008 est.)

Iraq

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
78.5%
male:
86%
female:
71.2% (2011 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:
95.9%
male:
97.7%
female:
93.9% (2011 est.)

Kuwait

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
93.9%
male:
95%
female:
91.8% (2008 est.)

Lebanon

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
89.6%
male:
93.4%
female:
86% (2007 est.)

Oman

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
86.9%
male:
90.2%
female:
81.8% (2010 est.)

Qatar

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
96.3%
male:
96.5%
female:
95.4% (2010 est.)

Saudi Arabia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
87.2%
male:
90.8%
female:
82.2% (2011 est.)

Syria

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
84.1%
male:
90.3%
female:
77.7% (2011 est.)

Turkey now Turkiye

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
94.1%
male:
97.9%
female:
90.3% (2011 est.)

United Arab Emirates

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
90%
male:
89.5%
female:
91.5% (2005 est.)

West Bank

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
95.3%
male:
97.9%
female:
92.6%

notes: estimates are for the Palestinian Territories (2011 est.)

Yemen

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
65.3%
male:
82.1%
female:
48.5% (2011 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:
93.5%
male:
94.8%
female:
92.3% (2011 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:
age 15 and over can read and write
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:
62.4%
male:
65.4%
female:
59.4% (2011 est.)

Pitcairn Islands

NA

Samoa

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.8%
male:
99%
female:
98.6% (2003 est.)

Solomon Islands

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
84.1%
male:
88.9%
female:
79.2%

Tokelau

NA

Tonga

definition:
can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population:
99%
male:
99%
female:
99.1% (2006 est.)

Tuvalu

NA

Vanuatu

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
83.2%
male:
NA 84.9%
female:
NA 81.6% (2011 est.)

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 10 and over can read and write
total population:
97.9%
male:
97.8%
female:
97.9% (2011 est.)

Bolivia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
91.2%
male:
95.8%
female:
86.8% (2009 est.)

Brazil

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
90.4%
male:
90.1%
female:
90.7% (2010 est.)

Chile

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.6%
male:
98.6%
female:
98.5% (2009 est.)

Colombia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
93.6%
male:
93.5%
female:
93.7% (2011 est.)

Ecuador

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
91.6%
male:
93.1%
female:
90.2% (2011 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

NA

Guyana

definition:
age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
91.8%
male:
92%
female:
91.6% (2002 Census)

Paraguay

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
93.9%
male:
94.8%
female:
92.9% (2010 est.)

Peru

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
89.6%
male:
94.9%
female:
84.6% (2007 est.)

Suriname

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
94.7%
male:
95.4%
female:
94% (2010 est.)

Uruguay

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
98.1%
male:
97.6%
female:
98.5% (2010 est.)

Venezuela

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
95.5%
male:
95.7%
female:
95.4% (2009 est.)

Southeast Asia

16 entries

Brunei

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
95.4%
male:
97%
female:
93.9% (2011 est.)

Burma now Burma (Myanmar)

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
92.7%
male:
95.1%
female:
90.4% (2011 est.)

Cambodia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
73.9%
male:
82.8%
female:
65.9% (2009 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:
92.8%
male:
95.6%
female:
90.1% (2011 est.)

Laos

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
72.7%
male:
82.5%
female:
63.2% (2005 est.)

Macau

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
95.6%
male:
97.8%
female:
93.7% (2011 est.)

Malaysia

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
93.1%
male:
95.4%
female:
90.7% (2010 est.)

Philippines

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
95.4%
male:
95%
female:
95.8% (2008 est.)

Singapore

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
95.9%
male:
98%
female:
93.8% (2010 est.)

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:
93.5%
male:
95.6%
female:
91.5% (2005 est.)

Timor-Leste

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
58.3%
male:
63.6%
female:
53% (2010 est.)

Vietnam

definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
93.4%
male:
95.4%
female:
91.4% (2011 est.)

Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook 2013, “Literacy”, all entries. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/fields/literacy/2013.

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