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Which Countries Have the Highest (and Lowest) Literacy Rates in the World?

By: U.S. Career Institute

February 2024

As a whole, the world has a very high literacy rate, but the literacy rate in countries around the world varies greatly. While the global average literacy rate overall is 86.81%, some countries have a rate that is much lower than that. In fact, there are more than a dozen countries that have less than a 50% literacy rate. What contributes to low literacy rates, and which countries come out have the highest rates of literate individuals?

U.S. Career Institute researchers looked at the literacy rate by country based on the most recently available data to determine which countries have the highest and lowest literacy rates.

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Which Countries Have the Highest (and Lowest) Literacy Rates in the World?  - USCareerInstitute.edu - Infographic

Literacy Rates by Country

Literacy rates in this graphic are defined as the percentage of people over the age of 15 that can read and write. There are nine countries in the world that have a 100% literacy rate: Andorra, Finland, Greenland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and North Korea. There are 37 countries with a literacy rate of higher than 99.0% The United States has a literacy rate of 99.0% along with other countries like Sweden, Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, and France.

On the other end of the spectrum, eight countries have a literacy rate of less than 40%: Chad (26.76%), Mali (30.76%), South Sudan (34.52%), Botswana (36.75%), Afghanistan (37.27%), Niger (37.27%), Niger (37.34%), Central African Republic (37.49%), and Somalia (37.80%). All of these countries are located in Africa. Unfortunately, there are many factors that contribute to low literacy rates in African countries. Due to poverty in some parts of the continent, instead of going to school, children are sent to work to help their families.

How Do Other Countries Rank?

The Japan literacy rate is 99.0%, the same as the United States and many other developed countries. The Mexico literacy rate is slightly lower at 95.25%, which is among the highest in North America. The China literacy rate is 97.15%, just under American Samoa.

Overall, more than 75% of illiterate adults in the world are located in South Asia, West Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. All of the countries with 100% literacy rates are located in developed countries in the world.

Literacy and Poverty

Impoverished countries generally have lower literacy rates. Education for children is less available, and many families that are struggling may need their children to work to bring in income to the household, so education is not prioritized. Some of the poorest countries in the world have the lowest literacy rates.

There is also a gap in literacy between males and females. Nearly two-thirds of adults around the world that can't read or write are female. In less-developed countries, women are often expected to care for the home and children while men go to work. There is less of a literacy gender gap in more developed countries.

How To Improve Literacy in Children

Literacy rates are determined by the number of people that can read and write. There are many ways to improve literacy development. Some of the recommended strategies include:

  • Start a reading routine at a young age. Incorporating a book into a child's bedtime routine can help them start identifying words by sight and instill a love of reading.
  • Practice sight words. Create a list of common words that can be read easily without sounding out the letters. This can be helpful for increasing vocabulary and establishing phonemic awareness.
  • Select books based on personal interests. Have children look at the front and back of the book as well as the illustrations inside. If the topic interests them, they will be more likely to have enthusiasm about reading.
  • Have books displayed around the home and have your children see you read. Talking about books and having them present in the household is a good way to encourage young readers to pick one up.
  • Practice motor development skills. Gross motor skills like climbing and running help develop fine motor skills that will help with writing.
  • Encourage your child to start journaling. Provide creative writing prompts and a notebook and ask them to respond to the prompts or create their own stories.
  • Guide literacy in every day activities. Help children read instructions for games, recipes for dinner, and the backs of cereal boxes. Normalizing reading can build strong literacy skills.

Looking for an online high school program to help improve your reading and writing? U.S. Career Institute has many options to help you complete your education online.

Countries With the Highest Literacy Rates

Based on percentage of population over the age of 15 who can read and write.

 

Rank

Country

Literacy rate (%)

1

Andorra

100.00

1

Finland

100.00

1

Greenland

100.00

1

Liechtenstein

100.00

1

Luxembourg

100.00

1

Norway

100.00

1

Ukraine

100.00

1

Uzbekistan

100.00

1

North Korea

100.00

10

Latvia

99.89

11

Belarus

99.87

12

Estonia

99.87

13

Lithuania

99.83

14

Czechia

99.83

15

Kazakhstan

99.80

15

Poland

99.80

15

Tajikistan

99.80

15

Azerbaijan

99.80

19

Guam

99.79

19

Armenia

99.79

21

Barbados

99.70

21

Russia

99.70

21

Slovenia

99.70

21

Turkmenistan

99.70

25

Cuba

99.67

26

Slovakia

99.60

26

Kyrgyzstan

99.60

26

Moldova

99.60

29

Georgia

99.56

30

Serbia

99.48

31

Croatia

99.45

32

Tonga

99.40

33

Cyprus

99.36

34

Italy

99.35

35

Mongolia

99.18

36

Hungary

99.10

36

Samoa

99.10

38

Australia

99.00

38

Belgium

99.00

38

Canada

99.00

38

Switzerland

99.00

38

Germany

99.00

38

Denmark

99.00

38

France

99.00

38

United Kingdom

99.00

38

Ireland

99.00

38

Iceland

99.00

38

Japan

99.00

38

Monaco

99.00

38

Netherlands

99.00

38

New Zealand

99.00

38

Sweden

99.00

38

United States

99.00

 

Countries With the Lowest Literacy Rates

 

Rank

Country

Literacy rate

1

Chad

26.76

2

Mali

30.76

3

South Sudan

34.52

4

Botswana

36.75

5

Afghanistan

37.27

6

Niger

37.34

7

Central African Republic

37.49

8

Somalia

37.80

9

Guinea

45.33

10

Benin

45.84

11

Burkina Faso

46.04

12

Sierra Leone

47.70

13

Liberia

48.30

14

Ethiopia

51.77

15

Guinea-Bissau

52.89

16

Yemen

54.10

17

Senegal

56.30

18

Pakistan

58.00

19

Gambia, The

58.06

20

Sudan

60.70

21

Papua New Guinea

61.60

22

Haiti

61.69

23

Comoros

61.99

24

Nigeria

62.02

25

Mozambique

63.42

26

Togo

66.54

27

Mauritania

66.96

28

Malawi

67.31

29

Djibouti

67.90

30

East Timor

69.90

31

Bhutan

70.95

32

Nepal

71.15

33

Angola

72.28

34

Egypt, Arab Rep.

73.09

35

India

74.37

36

Burundi

74.71

37

Bangladesh

74.91

38

Rwanda

75.90

39

Morocco

75.93

40

Eritrea

76.57

41

Solomon Islands

76.60

42

Madagascar

77.25

43

Cameroon

78.23

44

Uganda

79.00

45

Gibraltar

80.00

46

Congo, Dem. Rep.

80.02

47

Ghana

80.38

48

Congo, Rep.

80.61

49

Lesotho

81.02

50

Algeria

81.41

 

Full List of Country Literacy Rates

 

Country

Literacy rate

Andorra

100.00

Finland

100.00

Greenland

100.00

Liechtenstein

100.00

Luxembourg

100.00

Norway

100.00

Ukraine

100.00

Uzbekistan

100.00

North Korea

100.00

Latvia

99.89

Belarus

99.87

Estonia

99.87

Lithuania

99.83

Czechia

99.83

Kazakhstan

99.80

Poland

99.80

Tajikistan

99.80

Azerbaijan

99.80

Guam

99.79

Armenia

99.79

Barbados

99.70

Russia

99.70

Slovenia

99.70

Turkmenistan

99.70

Cuba

99.67

Slovakia

99.60

Kyrgyzstan

99.60

Moldova

99.60

Georgia

99.56

Serbia

99.48

Croatia

99.45

Tonga

99.40

Cyprus

99.36

Italy

99.35

Mongolia

99.18

Hungary

99.10

Samoa

99.10

Australia

99.00

Belgium

99.00

Canada

99.00

Switzerland

99.00

Germany

99.00

Denmark

99.00

France

99.00

United Kingdom

99.00

Ireland

99.00

Iceland

99.00

Japan

99.00

Monaco

99.00

Netherlands

99.00

New Zealand

99.00

Sweden

99.00

United States

99.00

Montenegro

98.98

Antigua and Barbuda

98.95

Romania

98.90

Cayman Islands

98.87

South Korea

98.80

Uruguay

98.77

Trinidad and Tobago

98.70

Grenada

98.60

Spain

98.59

North America

98.59

Albania

98.45

Bulgaria

98.42

Jordan

98.42

Marshall Islands

98.27

United Arab Emirates

98.13

Bosnia and Herzegovina

98.10

Argentina

98.09

Costa Rica

98.04

Austria

98.00

Bermuda

98.00

French Polynesia

98.00

Turks and Caicos Islands

98.00

Aruba

97.99

Greece

97.94

Maldives

97.86

North Macedonia

97.80

New Caledonia

97.80

St. Kitts and Nevis

97.80

Kiribati

97.70

Brunei Darussalam

97.59

Saudi Arabia

97.59

West Bank and Gaza

97.51

Venezuela

97.50

American Samoa

97.34

China

97.15

Singapore

97.13

Macao

97.11

Israel

97.10

Chile

97.04

Northern Mariana Islands

97.00

Portugal

96.78

Palau

96.59

Kuwait

96.46

Philippines

96.28

Seychelles

96.20

San Marino

96.00

Indonesia

96.00

Vietnam

95.75

Panama

95.74

Turkey

95.69

Oman

95.65

Colombia

95.64

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

95.63

Bahamas

95.60

Lebanon

95.30

Mexico

95.25

Dominican Republic

95.17

South Africa

95.02

Suriname

95.00

Malaysia

94.97

Malta

94.94

Paraguay

94.54

Peru

94.50

Ecuador

94.48

Equatorial Guinea

94.37

Brazil

94.30

Thailand

94.10

Dominica

94.00

Bolivia

93.85

Sao Tome and Principe

93.80

Fiji

93.70

Hong Kong

93.50

Qatar

93.46

Puerto Rico

92.40

Sri Lanka

92.38

Bahrain

92.30

Namibia

92.25

Mauritius

92.15

Cabo Verde

90.78

St. Lucia

90.10

El Salvador

89.98

Cote d'Ivoire

89.89

Zimbabwe

89.70

Eswatini

89.28

Vanuatu

89.10

Myanmar

89.07

Micronesia, Fed. Sts.

89.00

Guyana

88.85

Iran

88.74

Honduras

88.51

Jamaica

88.10

Zambia

87.50

Lao PDR

87.07

World

86.81

Syrian Arab Republic

86.30

Libya

86.10

Iraq

85.60

Gabon

85.46

Cambodia

83.91

Guatemala

83.35

Belize

82.78

Tunisia

82.70

Kenya

82.62

Nicaragua

82.61

Tanzania

81.80

Algeria

81.41

Lesotho

81.02

Congo, Rep.

80.61

Ghana

80.38

Congo, Dem. Rep.

80.02

Gibraltar

80.00

Uganda

79.00

Cameroon

78.23

Madagascar

77.25

Solomon Islands

76.60

Eritrea

76.57

Morocco

75.93

Rwanda

75.90

Bangladesh

74.91

Burundi

74.71

India

74.37

Egypt, Arab Rep.

73.09

Angola

72.28

Nepal

71.15

Bhutan

70.95

East Timor

69.90

Djibouti

67.90

Malawi

67.31

Mauritania

66.96

Togo

66.54

Mozambique

63.42

Nigeria

62.02

Comoros

61.99

Haiti

61.69

Papua New Guinea

61.60

Sudan

60.70

Gambia, The

58.06

Pakistan

58.00

Senegal

56.30

Yemen

54.10

Guinea-Bissau

52.89

Ethiopia

51.77

Liberia

48.30

Sierra Leone

47.70

Burkina Faso

46.04

Benin

45.84

Guinea

45.33

Somalia

37.80

Central African Republic

37.49

Niger

37.34

Afghanistan

37.27

Botswana

36.75

South Sudan

34.52

Mali

30.76

Chad

26.76


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