Philippines—Adult Literacy Rate (%)
Philippines's adult literacy rate (%) was 98.5% in 2020, ranking #19 out of 98 countries. This represents a +2.3% change from 2019. Over the past 8 years, the highest recorded value was 98.5% (2020) and the lowest was 92.6% (2003). Data sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators.
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 98.5% | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 96.3% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 98.2% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 96.4% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 97.1% | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 95.4% | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 92.6% | -0.0% |
| 2000 | 92.6% |
Top Countries — Adult Literacy Rate (%)
| # | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uzbekistan | 100.0% | 2022 |
| 2 | Tuvalu | 100.0% | 2022 |
| 3 | Russian Federation | 99.9% | 2021 |
| 4 | San Marino | 99.9% | 2022 |
| 5 | Turkmenistan | 99.9% | 2022 |
| 6 | Palau | 99.8% | 2020 |
| 7 | Armenia | 99.8% | 2023 |
| 8 | Azerbaijan | 99.8% | 2023 |
| 9 | Spain | 99.7% | 2021 |
| 10 | Georgia | 99.7% | 2024 |
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+