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BangladeshAdult Literacy Rate (%)

Category: EducationSource: World Bank World Development IndicatorsGlobal Rank: #59 of 82Updated April 2026
Latest Value
79.0%
2022
YoY Change
+3.5%
20212022
Global Rank
#59
of 82 countries
Maximum
79.0%
2022
Minimum
47.5%
2001
CAGR
+2.5%
13 years
Last
79.0%
Previous
76.4%
Highest
79.0%
Lowest
47.5%
Unit
Percent of population age 15+
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators

Bangladesh's adult literacy rate (%) was 79.0% in 2022, ranking #59 out of 82 countries. This represents a +3.5% change from 2021. Over the past 13 years, the highest recorded value was 79.0% (2022) and the lowest was 47.5% (2001). Data sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators.

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Historical Data

YearValueChange
202279.0%+3.5%
202176.4%+1.9%
202074.9%+0.3%
201974.7%+1.0%
201873.9%+1.4%
201772.9%+0.2%
201672.8%+11.7%
201565.1%+6.6%
201461.1%+0.1%
201361.0%+5.5%
201257.9%-1.5%
201158.8%+23.8%
200147.5%

Top Countries — Adult Literacy Rate (%)

#CountryValueYear
1Tuvalu100.0%2022
2Uzbekistan100.0%2022
3Russian Federation99.9%2021
4San Marino99.9%2022
5Turkmenistan99.9%2022
6Armenia99.8%2023
7Azerbaijan99.8%2023
8Spain99.7%2021
9Georgia99.7%2024
10Serbia99.3%2022
View all 82 countries →

About This Indicator

Definition

Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people aged 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.

Methodology

Literacy data comes from population censuses and household surveys. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) is the primary source. In some countries, literacy is self-reported; in others, it is tested directly. The World Bank uses UIS estimates, which apply statistical modeling to fill gaps between survey years.

Unit

Percent of population age 15+

Source: World Bank - World Development IndicatorsCoverage: 20002025View original source →