The CIA World Factbook Edition 2021 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 2021 edition carries it in 167 entries, in its People and Society section. Every entry is shown as that edition published it.
entries in the 2021 edition 167
the first edition with it 1990
the latest edition with it 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.
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By region
A to Z
As the CIA ranked them
World 1 entry
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.7%
male: 90.1%
female: 83.3% (2020) note: more than three-quarters of the world's 750 million illiterate adults are found in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa; of all the illiterate adults in the world, almost two-thirds are women (2016)
Africa 52 entries
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.4%
male: 87.4%
female: 75.3% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.1%
male: 82%
female: 60.7% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.4%
male: 54%
female: 31.1% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.5%
male: 88%
female: 88.9% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 39.3%
male: 49.2%
female: 31% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.4%
male: 76.3%
female: 61.2% (2017)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.8%
male: 91.7%
female: 82% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77.1%
male: 82.6%
female: 71.6% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.4%
male: 49.5%
female: 25.8% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 22.3%
male: 31.3%
female: 14% (2016)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.8%
male: 64.6%
female: 53% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba
total population: 77%
male: 88.5%
female: 66.5% (2016)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 80.3%
male: 86.1%
female: 74.6% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.9%
male: 93.1%
female: 86.7% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.2%
male: 76.5%
female: 65.5% (2017)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.3%
male: 97.4%
female: 93% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.6%
male: 84.4%
female: 68.9% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.4%
male: 88.3%
female: 88.5% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.8%
male: 57.2%
female: 44.4% (2017)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.7%
male: 85.9%
female: 83.4% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50.8%
male: 61.8%
female: 41.6% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79%
male: 83.5%
female: 74.5% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 39.6%
male: 54.4%
female: 27.7% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 59.9%
male: 71.8%
female: 48.3% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.5%
male: 85%
female: 78.2% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.4%
male: 70.1%
female: 88.3% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.3%
male: 62.7%
female: 34.1% (2017)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 96.7%
female: 85.6% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.7%
male: 78.4%
female: 75.1% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.1%
male: 69.8%
female: 55.2% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.5%
male: 46.2%
female: 25.7% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 53.5%
male: 63.7%
female: 43.4% (2017)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.3%
male: 93.4%
female: 89.4% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.8%
male: 83.3%
female: 64.6% (2018) note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.7%
male: 72.6%
female: 50.3% (2017)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.5%
male: 91.6%
female: 91.4% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.1%
male: 43.6%
female: 26.7% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62%
male: 71.3%
female: 52.7% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.2%
male: 77.6%
female: 69.4% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 96.2%
female: 89.5% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.9%
male: 64.8%
female: 39.8% (2017)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.9%
male: 95.4%
female: 96.4% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic
total population: 43.2%
male: 51.6%
female: 39.8% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95.5%
female: 94.5% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 34.5%
male: 40.3%
female: 28.9% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.7%
male: 65.4%
female: 56.1% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic
total population: 77.9%
male: 83.2%
female: 73.1% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.5%
male: 80%
female: 55.1% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 74.2% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.5%
male: 82.7%
female: 70.8% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 86.7%
male: 90.6%
female: 83.1% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 86.5%
male: 88.5%
female: 84.6% (2015)
Arctic Region 1 entry
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2015)
Asia 21 entries
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.3%
male: 52.1%
female: 22.6% (2021)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2020)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.7% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.9%
male: 77.8%
female: 72% (2020)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.6%
male: 75%
female: 57.1% (2017)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.8%
male: 98.5%
female: 95.2% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.5% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.4%
male: 82.4%
female: 65.8% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.5% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.7%
male: 97.3%
female: 98.1% (2016)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.2%
male: 99.1%
female: 99.2% (2020)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 78.6%
female: 59.7% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58%
male: 69.3%
female: 46.5% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.3%
male: 93%
female: 91.6% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.6% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2019)
Central America and the Caribbean 16 entries
definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
total population: 99%
male: 98.4%
female: 99.4% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 97.8%
female: 97.8% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.6% (2014)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 97.8%
female: 97.9% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.8% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.8%
male: 93.8%
female: 93.8% (2016)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.1%
male: 91.3%
female: 87.3% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 98.6%
female: 98.6% (2014 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 80.8%
male: 85.3%
female: 76.7% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61.7%
male: 65.3%
female: 58.3% (2016)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.5%
male: 88.2%
female: 88.7% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 88.7%
male: 84%
female: 93.1% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.6%
male: 82.4%
female: 82.8% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.7%
male: 98.8%
female: 95.4% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 92.4%
female: 92.4% (2017)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99.2%
female: 98.7% (2015)
Europe 25 entries
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.1%
male: 98.5%
female: 97.8% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2016)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.9%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.9% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.5%
male: 99.5%
female: 97.5% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 98.7%
female: 98.1% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.3%
male: 99.7%
female: 98.9% (2015)
definition: NA
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2011)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 98.5%
female: 97.4% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.1%
female: 99% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.2%
male: 99.4%
female: 99% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.9%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.9% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.5%
male: 93%
female: 96% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.1% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.5%
female: 98.3% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 99.1%
female: 97.6% (2020)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.7% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1%
male: 97.4%
female: 95.1% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.6% (2018)
total population: 99.9%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.9% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.5%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.1% (2019)
definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99%
female: 98.2% (2020)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2015)
Middle East 17 entries
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.5%
male: 99.9%
female: 94.9% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.5%
female: 98.7% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.5%
male: 98.8%
female: 96.2% (2020) note: estimates are for Gaza Strip and the West Bank
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.5%
male: 90.4%
female: 80.8% (2016)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.6%
male: 91.2%
female: 79.9% (2017)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 98.7%
female: 96.8% (2011)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.2%
male: 98.6%
female: 97.8% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.5%
male: 97.1%
female: 95.4% (2020)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.1%
male: 96.9%
female: 93.3% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.7%
male: 97%
female: 92.7% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.5%
male: 92.4%
female: 94.7% (2017)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.6%
female: 96% (2020)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 91.7%
female: 81% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.7%
male: 99.1%
female: 94.4% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98%
female: 96.9% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.5%
male: 98.8%
female: 96.2% (2020) note: estimates are for Gaza and the West Bank
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.1%
male: 85.1%
female: 55% (2015)
North America 1 entry
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.2%
male: 96.1%
female: 94.5% (2020)
Oceania 8 entries
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.1%
female: 99.1% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.3%
male: 98.3%
female: 98.2% (2011)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.9%
male: 97.3%
female: 96.5% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.6%
male: 96.8%
female: 96.3% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 64.2%
male: 65.6%
female: 62.8% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99%
female: 99.2% (2018)
definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.4%
female: 99.5% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.5%
male: 88.3%
female: 86.7% (2018)
South America 12 entries
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 98.9%
female: 99.1% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 96.5%
female: 88.6% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.2%
male: 93%
female: 93.4% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.4%
male: 96.3%
female: 96.3% (2017)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.6%
male: 95.4%
female: 95.9% (2020)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.6%
male: 94.8%
female: 92.5% (2020)
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 88.5%
male: 87.2%
female: 89.8% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.5%
male: 94.9%
female: 94.2% (2020)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.5%
male: 97%
female: 92% (2020)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.4%
male: 96.1%
female: 92.7% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 98.5%
female: 99% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.1%
male: 97%
female: 97.2% (2016)
Southeast Asia 13 entries
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.2%
male: 98.1%
female: 93.4% (2018)
Burma
now Burma (Myanmar)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.1%
male: 92.4%
female: 86.3% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 80.5%
male: 86.5%
female: 75% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97.4%
female: 94.6% (2020)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.7%
male: 90%
female: 79.4% (2015)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.5%
male: 98.2%
female: 95% (2016)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 96.2%
female: 93.6% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.3%
male: 95.7%
female: 96.9% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.5%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.1% (2019)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.5%
male: 99.7%
female: 97.3% (2014)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.8%
male: 95.2%
female: 92.4% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.1%
male: 71.9%
female: 64.2% (2018)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.8%
male: 97%
female: 94.6% (2019)
Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook 2021, “Literacy”, all entries. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/fields/literacy/2021.