Adult Literacy Rate (%) by Country
As of 2022, Tuvalu leads globally in adult literacy rate (%) at 100.0%, followed by Uzbekistan, Russia, San Marino. At the lower end, Niger, Mali, Afghanistan rank among the lowest. The global median is 90.8% (Eswatini). This indicator falls under the "Education" category and is sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators. Data is available for 98 countries.
All Countries Ranked
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| # | Country | Adult Literacy Rate (%) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Tuvalu | 100.0% | 2022 |
| 2 |  Uzbekistan | 100.0% | 2022 |
| 3 |  Russia | 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 |
| 11 |  Tonga | 99.5% | 2023 |
| 12 |  Serbia | 99.3% | 2022 |
| 13 |  Romania | 99.2% | 2021 |
| 14 |  Argentina | 99.1% | 2020 |
| 15 |  Uruguay | 98.9% | 2024 |
| 16 |  United Arab Emirates | 98.8% | 2024 |
| 17 |  Mongolia | 98.6% | 2024 |
| 18 |  Kiribati | 98.6% | 2020 |
| 19 |  Philippines | 98.5% | 2020 |
| 20 |  West Bank and Gaza | 97.9% | 2024 |
| 21 |  Saudi Arabia | 97.9% | 2024 |
| 22 |  Bahrain | 97.8% | 2024 |
| 23 |  Albania | 97.7% | 2023 |
| 24 |  Singapore | 97.7% | 2021 |
| 25 |  Oman | 97.3% | 2022 |
| 26 |  Türkiye | 97.3% | 2021 |
| 27 |  China | 96.7% | 2020 |
| 28 |  Bolivia | 96.7% | 2024 |
| 29 |  Nauru | 96.6% | 2023 |
| 30 |  Kuwait | 96.5% | 2020 |
| 31 |  Panama | 96.2% | 2024 |
| 32 |  Vietnam | 96.1% | 2022 |
| 33 |  Indonesia | 96.0% | 2020 |
| 34 |  Malaysia | 95.8% | 2022 |
| 35 |  Marshall Islands | 95.8% | 2021 |
| 36 |  Mexico | 95.6% | 2024 |
| 37 |  Colombia | 95.3% | 2024 |
| 38 |  Paraguay | 94.9% | 2024 |
| 39 |  Brazil | 94.7% | 2024 |
| 40 |  Jordan | 94.4% | 2024 |
| 41 |  Syria | 94.4% | 2021 |
| 42 |  Mauritius | 94.3% | 2023 |
| 43 |  Dominican Republic | 94.0% | 2024 |
| 44 |  Peru | 93.7% | 2024 |
| 45 |  Myanmar | 93.5% | 2020 |
| 46 |  Ecuador | 93.5% | 2024 |
| 47 |  Sri Lanka | 92.7% | 2024 |
| 48 |  South Africa | 91.2% | 2024 |
| 49 |  Thailand | 91.1% | 2022 |
| 50 |  Eswatini | 90.8% | 2022 |
| 51 |  Lesotho | 90.4% | 2024 |
| 52 |  El Salvador | 89.8% | 2024 |
| 53 |  Iran | 88.9% | 2023 |
| 54 |  Gabon | 88.9% | 2021 |
| 55 |  Cabo Verde | 88.5% | 2024 |
| 56 |  Honduras | 88.3% | 2024 |
| 57 |  Vanuatu | 88.0% | 2023 |
| 58 |  Belize | 87.9% | 2022 |
| 59 |  Namibia | 87.6% | 2023 |
| 60 |  Papua New Guinea | 87.0% | 2022 |
| 61 |  Tunisia | 86.3% | 2023 |
| 62 |  Guyana | 85.6% | 2020 |
| 63 |  Iraq | 84.1% | 2021 |
| 64 |  Guatemala | 82.1% | 2024 |
| 65 |  Egypt | 79.5% | 2022 |
| 66 |  Bangladesh | 79.0% | 2022 |
| 67 |  Rwanda | 78.8% | 2022 |
| 68 |  Tanzania | 78.2% | 2022 |
| 69 |  India | 78.2% | 2024 |
| 70 |  Uganda | 77.0% | 2024 |
| 71 |  Ghana | 76.5% | 2021 |
| 72 |  Laos | 75.6% | 2023 |
| 73 |  Comoros | 75.6% | 2021 |
| 74 |  Madagascar | 74.7% | 2021 |
| 75 |  Togo | 72.6% | 2022 |
| 76 |  Cambodia | 71.9% | 2021 |
| 77 |  Zambia | 71.8% | 2024 |
| 78 |  Burundi | 71.3% | 2020 |
| 79 |  Nigeria | 70.4% | 2024 |
| 80 |  Malawi | 70.2% | 2020 |
| 81 |  Timor-Leste | 69.4% | 2022 |
| 82 |  DR Congo | 68.5% | 2023 |
| 83 |  Angola | 68.2% | 2023 |
| 84 |  Bhutan | 64.9% | 2022 |
| 85 |  Guinea-Bissau | 63.9% | 2022 |
| 86 |  Mozambique | 61.7% | 2022 |
| 87 |  Ethiopia | 60.5% | 2022 |
| 88 |  Mauritania | 59.5% | 2020 |
| 89 |  Pakistan | 58.9% | 2021 |
| 90 |  Somalia | 54.1% | 2022 |
| 91 |  The Gambia | 51.6% | 2021 |
| 92 |  Benin | 51.4% | 2022 |
| 93 |  Senegal | 50.4% | 2023 |
| 94 |  Côte d'Ivoire | 50.0% | 2021 |
| 95 |  Burkina Faso | 41.6% | 2023 |
| 96 |  Afghanistan | 37.3% | 2021 |
| 97 |  Mali | 35.6% | 2024 |
| 98 |  Niger | 35.6% | 2022 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has the highest adult literacy rate (%) in 2022?
Tuvalu ranks #1 with adult literacy rate (%) of 100.0% as of 2022, based on data from the World Bank World Development Indicators.
Which country has the lowest adult literacy rate (%)?
Niger ranks last (#98) with 35.6% as of 2022.
What is the global median for adult literacy rate (%)?
The median value is 90.8% (Eswatini, ranked #50 out of 98 countries).
How many countries report data for adult literacy rate (%)?
98 countries have available data for adult literacy rate (%). Data is sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators and updated regularly.
What category does adult literacy rate (%) belong to?
Adult Literacy Rate (%) is classified under the "Education" category. Statistics of the World tracks 337 indicators across 27 categories.