Literacy Rate by Country
Uzbekistan has the highest literacy rate in the world at 100.0%.
Top 5 Ranked
Uzbekistan
100.0%
Andorra
100.0%
Ukraine
100.0%
Uzbekistan
100.0%
Andorra
100.0%
Ukraine
100.0%
Overview
Developed nations in Europe and East Asia have near-universal literacy, while some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have rates below 30%. Literacy is closely tied to economic development and health. Gender disparities persist in some regions, and conflict can disrupt education. Urban areas usually have higher literacy than rural ones. This ranking highlights both progress and ongoing gaps in global education.
Global Rankings
| Rank | Country | Literacy Rate (%) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Uzbekistan
|
100.0% | 2019 |
| 2 |
Andorra
|
100.0% | 2016 |
| 3 |
Ukraine
|
100.0% | 2021 |
| 4 |
Belarus
|
99.9% | 2019 |
| 5 |
Estonia
|
99.9% | 2021 |
| 6 |
Latvia
|
99.9% | 2021 |
| 7 |
San Marino
|
99.9% | 2018 |
| 8 |
Kazakhstan
|
99.8% | 2018 |
| 9 |
Lithuania
|
99.8% | 2021 |
| 10 |
Poland
|
99.8% | 2021 |
| 11 |
Armenia
|
99.8% | 2020 |
| 12 |
Azerbaijan
|
99.8% | 2019 |
| 13 |
Cuba
|
99.7% | 2021 |
| 14 |
Russia
|
99.7% | 2018 |
| 15 |
Kyrgyzstan
|
99.6% | 2018 |
| 16 |
Moldova
|
99.6% | 2021 |
| 17 |
Georgia
|
99.6% | 2019 |
| 18 |
Serbia
|
99.5% | 2019 |
| 19 |
Tonga
|
99.4% | 2021 |
| 20 |
Croatia
|
99.4% | 2021 |
| 21 |
Cyprus
|
99.4% | 2021 |
| 22 |
Mongolia
|
99.2% | 2020 |
| 23 |
Italy
|
99.2% | 2018 |
| 24 |
Fiji
|
99.1% | 2018 |
| 25 |
Samoa
|
99.1% | 2021 |
| 26 |
Hungary
|
99.1% | 2021 |
| 27 |
Montenegro
|
99.0% | 2021 |
| 28 |
Argentina
|
99.0% | 2018 |
| 29 |
Cayman Islands
|
98.9% | 2021 |
| 30 |
Romania
|
98.9% | 2021 |
| 31 |
Uruguay
|
98.8% | 2019 |
| 32 |
Spain
|
98.6% | 2020 |
| 33 |
Albania
|
98.4% | 2021 |
| 34 |
Bulgaria
|
98.4% | 2021 |
| 35 |
Macedonia
|
98.4% | 2020 |
| 36 |
Jordan
|
98.4% | 2021 |
| 37 |
Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
98.1% | 2021 |
| 38 |
United Arab Emirates
|
98.1% | 2021 |
| 39 |
Costa Rica
|
98.0% | 2021 |
| 40 |
South Korea
|
98.0% | 2019 |
| 41 |
Greece
|
97.9% | 2018 |
| 42 |
Maldives
|
97.9% | 2021 |
| 43 |
Aruba
|
97.8% | 2018 |
| 44 |
Brunei
|
97.6% | 2021 |
| 45 |
Saudi Arabia
|
97.6% | 2020 |
| 46 |
Singapore
|
97.5% | 2019 |
| 47 |
Bahrain
|
97.5% | 2018 |
| 48 |
Venezuela
|
97.5% | 2021 |
| 49 |
Macau
|
97.1% | 2021 |
| 50 |
Chile
|
97.0% | 2021 |
| 51 |
China
|
96.8% | 2018 |
| 52 |
Turkey
|
96.7% | 2019 |
| 53 |
Kuwait
|
96.5% | 2020 |
| 54 |
Philippines
|
96.3% | 2019 |
| 55 |
Indonesia
|
96.0% | 2020 |
| 56 |
Seychelles
|
95.9% | 2018 |
| 57 |
Portugal
|
95.9% | 2021 |
| 58 |
Vietnam
|
95.8% | 2019 |
| 59 |
Panama
|
95.7% | 2019 |
| 60 |
Oman
|
95.7% | 2018 |
| 61 |
Colombia
|
95.6% | 2020 |
| 62 |
Dominican Republic
|
95.5% | 2022 |
| 63 |
Mexico
|
95.2% | 2020 |
| 64 |
Lebanon
|
95.1% | 2018 |
| 65 |
South Africa
|
95.0% | 2019 |
| 66 |
Malaysia
|
95.0% | 2019 |
| 67 |
Suriname
|
95.0% | 2021 |
| 68 |
Malta
|
94.9% | 2021 |
| 69 |
Sao Tome and Principe
|
94.8% | 2021 |
| 70 |
Brazil
|
94.7% | 2022 |
| 71 |
Paraguay
|
94.5% | 2020 |
| 72 |
Peru
|
94.5% | 2020 |
| 73 |
Thailand
|
94.1% | 2021 |
| 74 |
Ecuador
|
93.9% | 2022 |
| 75 |
Qatar
|
93.5% | 2017 |
| 76 |
Puerto Rico
|
92.4% | 2021 |
| 77 |
Namibia
|
92.3% | 2021 |
| 78 |
Sri Lanka
|
92.3% | 2019 |
| 79 |
Mauritius
|
92.2% | 2021 |
| 80 |
Cabo Verde
|
90.8% | 2021 |
| 81 |
Cote d'Ivoire
|
89.9% | 2019 |
| 82 |
Zimbabwe
|
89.7% | 2021 |
| 83 |
Vanuatu
|
89.1% | 2021 |
| 84 |
El Salvador
|
89.1% | 2019 |
| 85 |
Burma
|
89.1% | 2019 |
| 86 |
Guyana
|
88.8% | 2021 |
| 87 |
Iran
|
88.7% | 2021 |
| 88 |
Honduras
|
88.5% | 2019 |
| 89 |
Swaziland
|
88.4% | 2018 |
| 90 |
Laos
|
87.1% | 2021 |
| 91 |
Zambia
|
86.7% | 2018 |
| 92 |
Gabon
|
85.5% | 2021 |
| 93 |
Cambodia
|
83.9% | 2021 |
| 94 |
Guatemala
|
83.3% | 2021 |
| 95 |
Tunisia
|
82.7% | 2021 |
| 96 |
Kenya
|
82.6% | 2021 |
| 97 |
Tanzania
|
81.8% | 2021 |
| 98 |
Algeria
|
81.4% | 2018 |
| 99 |
Lesotho
|
81.0% | 2021 |
| 100 |
Republic of the Congo
|
80.6% | 2021 |
| 101 |
Democratic Republic of the Congo
|
80.0% | 2021 |
| 102 |
Ghana
|
79.0% | 2018 |
| 103 |
Uganda
|
79.0% | 2021 |
| 104 |
Madagascar
|
77.3% | 2021 |
| 105 |
Cameroon
|
77.1% | 2018 |
| 106 |
Eritrea
|
76.6% | 2018 |
| 107 |
Morocco
|
75.9% | 2021 |
| 108 |
Rwanda
|
75.9% | 2021 |
| 109 |
Bangladesh
|
74.9% | 2020 |
| 110 |
Burundi
|
74.7% | 2021 |
| 111 |
India
|
74.4% | 2018 |
| 112 |
Egypt
|
73.1% | 2021 |
| 113 |
Nepal
|
71.2% | 2021 |
| 114 |
Bhutan
|
70.9% | 2021 |
| 115 |
Timor-Leste
|
68.1% | 2018 |
| 116 |
Malawi
|
67.3% | 2021 |
| 117 |
Mauritania
|
67.0% | 2021 |
| 118 |
Togo
|
66.5% | 2019 |
| 119 |
Mozambique
|
63.4% | 2021 |
| 120 |
Comoros
|
62.0% | 2021 |
| 121 |
Nigeria
|
62.0% | 2018 |
| 122 |
Haiti
|
61.7% | 2016 |
| 123 |
Sudan
|
60.7% | 2018 |
| 124 |
Gambia
|
58.1% | 2021 |
| 125 |
Pakistan
|
58.0% | 2019 |
| 126 |
Senegal
|
56.3% | 2021 |
| 127 |
Guinea-Bissau
|
52.9% | 2021 |
| 128 |
Ethiopia
|
51.8% | 2017 |
| 129 |
Iraq
|
50.1% | 2018 |
| 130 |
Sierra Leone
|
48.6% | 2022 |
| 131 |
Liberia
|
48.3% | 2017 |
| 132 |
Burkina Faso
|
46.0% | 2021 |
| 133 |
Benin
|
45.8% | 2021 |
| 134 |
Guinea
|
45.3% | 2021 |
| 135 |
Central African Republic
|
37.5% | 2020 |
| 136 |
Niger
|
37.3% | 2018 |
| 137 |
Afghanistan
|
37.3% | 2021 |
| 138 |
Mali
|
35.5% | 2018 |
| 139 |
Chad
|
26.8% | 2021 |
The Power of Literacy in Societal Progress
Literacy is fundamental to personal empowerment and economic opportunity. High literacy rates are linked to better health, civic participation, and social stability. Low literacy can perpetuate cycles of poverty and limit access to information. Tracking literacy helps identify educational gaps and target interventions. Improving literacy is essential for sustainable development and equality.
Source: The World Factbook. Rankings are based on the most recent data available.
Continue Reading
HIV/AIDs Rate
This ranking provides a table of countries by HIV/AIDs prevalence.
Adult Obesity Rate
This ranking provides a table of countries by adult obesity rate.
Life Expectancy
This ranking provides a table of countries by life expectancy.
Maternal Mortality Rate
This ranking provides a table of countries by maternal mortality rate (deaths per 100,000 live births).
Infant Mortality Rate
This ranking provides a table of countries by infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births).
Birth Rate
This ranking provides a table of countries by birth rate (babies per 1,000 people).