Country rankings
Literacy Rate by Country
Uzbekistan has the highest Total Population Literacy Rate (100.0%), followed by North Korea (100.0%) and Norway (100.0%). South Sudan has the lowest (26.8%).
Education187 countries · 4 metricsUpdated Oct 28, 2026Original page
5 sources
- Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) - World Bank
- Literacy - CIA World Factbook
- 4.6.2. Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes - UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
- Adult literacy rate - Our World in Data
- Countries with the highest literacy rate - US Career Institute
187 of 235 countries
Total Population Literacy Rate
Darker green is better (higher is better). Click a place to highlight it.
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Ranking
Best first: the first 15 and last 5 of 187 countries.
Distribution Median and middle halfThe median is the middle value: half of places are above it, half below. The middle half is the range holding the central 50% of places.More in the glossary →
Each dot is one country; the lines mark the median and the middle half.
Median
95.6%
Middle half 79.3% – 98.9%
Average
86.8%
187 countries
Highest
100.0%
Uzbekistan
Lowest
26.8%
South Sudan
Data
Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.
187 countries · # = rank by Total Population Literacy Rate
| # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Uzbekistan | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2022 |
| 1 |  North Korea | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2008 |
| 1 |  Norway | 100.0% | — | — | — |
| 1 |  Finland | 100.0% | — | — | 2000 |
| 1 |  Luxembourg | 100.0% | — | — | 2000 |
| 1 |  Andorra | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2016 |
| 1 |  Greenland | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2015 |
| 1 |  Liechtenstein | 100.0% | — | — | — |
| 1 |  Palau | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2020 |
| 1 |  Tuvalu | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2022 |
| 11 |  Russia | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 2021 |
| 12 |  San Marino | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 2022 |
| 13 |  Turkmenistan | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 2022 |
| 13 |  Latvia | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 2011 |
| 15 |  Estonia | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 2011 |
| 16 |  Belarus | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 2019 |
| 17 |  Armenia | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.9% | 2023 |
| 18 |  Lithuania | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.8% | 2011 |
| 19 |  Poland | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.8% | 2021 |
| 19 |  Tajikistan | 99.8% | 100.0% | 94.6% | 2015 |
| 21 |  Azerbaijan | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.7% | 2023 |
| 22 |  Kazakhstan | 99.7% | 99.8% | 99.7% | 2009 |
| 23 |  Spain | 99.7% | 99.8% | 99.6% | 2021 |
| 24 |  Georgia | 99.7% | 99.8% | 99.6% | 2024 |
| 25 |  Barbados | 99.6% | 99.6% | 99.6% | 2014 |
| 26 |  Slovenia | 99.5% | 99.6% | 99.5% | 1991 |
| 27 |  Ukraine | 99.4% | 99.7% | 99.2% | 2001 |
| 28 |  Guam | 99.4% | 99.4% | 99.3% | 1990 |
| 29 |  Moldova | 99.4% | 99.6% | 99.1% | 2014 |
| 30 |  Italy | 99.4% | 99.5% | 99.2% | 2019 |
| 31 |  Serbia | 99.3% | 99.6% | 99.1% | 2022 |
| 32 |  Kyrgyzstan | 99.2% | 99.5% | 99.0% | 2009 |
| 33 |  Romania | 99.2% | 99.0% | 99.3% | 2021 |
| 34 |  Argentina | 99.1% | 99.1% | 99.2% | 2020 |
| 35 |  Hungary | 99.1% | 99.1% | 99.1% | 2021 |
| 35 |  Fiji | 99.1% | 99.1% | 92.4% | 2018 |
| 37 |  United States | 99.0% | — | — | — |
| 37 |  Japan | 99.0% | — | — | — |
| 37 |  Germany | 99.0% | — | — | — |
| 37 |  United Kingdom | 99.0% | — | — | — |
| 37 |  Netherlands | 99.0% | — | — | — |
| 37 |  Sweden | 99.0% | — | — | — |
| 37 |  Czechia | 99.0% | 99.0% | 99.0% | 2011 |
| 37 |  Ireland | 99.0% | — | — | — |
| 37 |  New Zealand | 99.0% | — | — | — |
| 37 |  Antigua and Barbuda | 99.0% | 98.4% | 99.4% | 2015 |
| 47 |  Uruguay | 98.9% | 98.6% | 99.2% | 2024 |
| 48 |  Cayman Islands | 98.9% | 98.7% | 99.0% | 2007 |
| 49 |  United Arab Emirates | 98.8% | 99.0% | 98.4% | 2024 |
| 50 |  Cyprus | 98.7% | 99.3% | 98.1% | 2011 |
| 51 |  Mongolia | 98.6% | 98.3% | 98.9% | 2023 |
| 52 |  Kiribati | 98.6% | 98.6% | 99.0% | 2020 |
| 53 |  Grenada | 98.6% | 98.6% | 98.6% | 2014 |
| 54 |  Montenegro | 98.5% | 99.2% | 98.0% | 2018 |
| 55 |  Taiwan | 98.5% | 99.7% | 97.3% | 2014 |
| 56 |  Philippines | 98.5% | 98.4% | 97.0% | 2020 |
| 57 |  Bulgaria | 98.4% | 98.8% | 98.0% | 2011 |
| 58 |  Maldives | 98.2% | 98.2% | 98.3% | 2019 |
| 59 |  Croatia | 98.2% | 99.3% | 97.1% | 2001 |
| 60 |  Palestine | 98.0% | 99.6% | 96.9% | 2022 |
| 61 |  Samoa | 98.0% | 98.3% | 97.7% | 2019 |
| 62 |  South Korea | 98.0% | 98.3% | 97.6% | 2008 |
| 63 |  Saudi Arabia | 97.9% | 98.6% | 96.7% | 2024 |
| 64 |  Bahrain | 97.8% | 98.7% | 96.3% | 2024 |
| 65 |  Israel | 97.8% | 98.7% | 96.8% | 2011 |
| 66 |  Qatar | 97.8% | 97.8% | 97.6% | 2014 |
| 67 |  Albania | 97.7% | 98.2% | 97.2% | 2023 |
| 68 |  Cuba | 97.7% | 99.0% | 96.4% | 2019 |
| 68 |  Singapore | 97.7% | 98.9% | 96.4% | 2021 |
| 70 |  Costa Rica | 97.4% | 97.3% | 94.1% | 2011 |
| 71 |  Oman | 97.3% | 98.6% | 94.9% | 2022 |
| 72 |  Turkey | 97.3% | 99.3% | 95.3% | 2021 |
| 73 |  Venezuela | 97.2% | 97.2% | 97.3% | 2017 |
| 74 |  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 97.0% | — | — | 1980 |
| 74 |  American Samoa | 97.0% | — | — | 1980 |
| 76 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 97.0% | 99.2% | 94.9% | 2013 |
| 77 |  Trinidad and Tobago | 96.9% | 98.0% | 93.8% | 1990 |
| 78 |  Aruba | 96.8% | 96.9% | 96.7% | 2010 |
| 79 |  China | 96.7% | 98.4% | 95.1% | 2020 |
| 80 |  Nauru | 96.6% | 93.4% | 99.7% | 2023 |
| 81 |  Macau | 96.5% | 98.2% | 95.0% | 2016 |
| 82 |  Kuwait | 96.5% | 97.1% | 95.4% | 2020 |
| 83 |  Chile | 96.4% | 96.5% | 96.3% | 2017 |
| 84 |  Ecuador | 96.3% | 96.9% | 95.7% | 2022 |
| 84 |  Panama | 96.3% | 97.3% | 96.0% | 2024 |
| 86 |  New Caledonia | 96.1% | 96.8% | 95.5% | 1996 |
| 87 |  Vietnam | 96.1% | 97.2% | 95.1% | 2022 |
| 87 |  North Macedonia | 96.1% | 98.2% | 97.8% | 2002 |
| 89 |  Brunei | 96.1% | 97.4% | 94.7% | 2011 |
| 90 |  Indonesia | 96.0% | 97.5% | 94.6% | 2020 |
| 91 |  Marshall Islands | 95.8% | 95.7% | 96.4% | 2021 |
| 92 |  Mexico | 95.8% | 96.4% | 95.2% | 2024 |
| 92 |  Malaysia | 95.8% | 96.8% | 94.7% | 2022 |
| 94 |  Bolivia | 95.6% | 97.8% | 93.5% | 2023 |
| 95 |  Colombia | 95.3% | 95.0% | 95.7% | 2024 |
| 96 |  Paraguay | 94.9% | 95.4% | 94.3% | 2024 |
| 97 |  Jordan | 94.9% | 97.5% | 92.3% | 2023 |
| 98 |  Brazil | 94.8% | 94.5% | 95.1% | 2024 |
| 99 |  Portugal | 94.5% | 96.3% | 92.9% | 2011 |
| 100 |  Syria | 94.4% | 97.2% | 91.8% | 2021 |
| 101 |  Mauritius | 94.3% | 96.3% | 92.8% | 2023 |
| 102 |  Dominican Republic | 94.0% | 93.6% | 94.4% | 2024 |
| 103 |  Seychelles | 94.0% | 93.5% | 94.5% | 2010 |
| 104 |  Greece | 93.9% | 96.1% | 91.9% | 2009 |
| 105 |  Peru | 93.7% | 97.0% | 90.7% | 2024 |
| 106 |  Myanmar | 93.6% | 94.7% | 92.7% | 2020 |
| 107 |  Malta | 93.3% | 91.8% | 94.8% | 2011 |
| 108 |  Zimbabwe | 93.2% | 93.1% | 93.4% | 2019 |
| 109 |  Suriname | 92.9% | 94.9% | 91.0% | 2012 |
| 110 |  Sri Lanka | 92.7% | 93.5% | 92.0% | 2023 |
| 111 |  Puerto Rico | 92.4% | 92.4% | 92.4% | 2017 |
| 112 |  Lebanon | 92.0% | 94.8% | 89.5% | 2019 |
| 113 |  South Africa | 91.2% | 91.5% | 90.8% | 2024 |
| 114 |  Thailand | 91.1% | 90.7% | 91.5% | 2022 |
| 115 |  Tonga | 91.1% | 83.8% | 97.6% | 2019 |
| 116 |  Libya | 91.0% | 96.7% | 85.6% | 2015 |
| 117 |  Eswatini | 90.8% | 91.1% | 90.4% | 2022 |
| 118 |  Lesotho | 90.5% | 83.2% | 96.6% | 2024 |
| 119 |  El Salvador | 89.8% | 91.6% | 88.3% | 2024 |
| 120 |  Iran | 88.9% | 92.8% | 85.1% | 2023 |
| 121 |  Gabon | 88.9% | 90.8% | 87.1% | 2021 |
| 122 |  Cape Verde | 88.5% | 92.9% | 84.1% | 2024 |
| 123 |  Equatorial Guinea | 88.3% | 94.8% | 81.6% | 2000 |
| 124 |  Honduras | 88.3% | 87.6% | 88.8% | 2024 |
| 125 |  Vanuatu | 88.0% | 87.7% | 88.2% | 2023 |
| 126 |  Belize | 87.9% | 87.9% | 87.9% | 2022 |
| 127 |  Namibia | 87.6% | 87.9% | 87.4% | 2023 |
| 128 |  Sao Tome and Principe | 87.4% | 92.5% | 82.8% | 2019 |
| 129 |  Nicaragua | 87.4% | 86.9% | 88.2% | 2014 |
| 130 |  Papua New Guinea | 87.1% | 90.5% | 61.6% | 2022 |
| 131 |  Tunisia | 86.3% | 92.7% | 80.1% | 2023 |
| 132 |  Guyana | 85.6% | 84.2% | 86.9% | 2020 |
| 133 |  Iraq | 84.1% | 90.3% | 77.8% | 2021 |
| 134 |  Kenya | 82.2% | 87.5% | 77.9% | 2000 |
| 135 |  Guatemala | 82.1% | 86.9% | 78.5% | 2024 |
| 136 |  Zambia | 82.0% | 87.2% | 77.2% | 2023 |
| 137 |  India | 81.7% | 88.3% | 74.9% | 2023 |
| 138 |  Botswana | 81.2% | 80.4% | 81.8% | 2003 |
| 139 |  Jamaica | 79.9% | 74.1% | 90.8% | 1999 |
| 140 |  Egypt | 79.5% | 85.3% | 73.3% | 2022 |
| 141 |  Uganda | 79.1% | 84.7% | 73.9% | 2021 |
| 142 |  Bangladesh | 79.0% | 81.4% | 76.5% | 2022 |
| 143 |  Rwanda | 78.8% | 81.0% | 76.7% | 2022 |
| 144 |  Tanzania | 78.2% | 84.3% | 73.1% | 2022 |
| 145 |  Solomon Islands | 76.6% | 83.7% | — | 1999 |
| 146 |  Ghana | 76.5% | 81.3% | 72.1% | 2021 |
| 147 |  Republic of the Congo | 76.1% | 86.1% | 67.5% | 2005 |
| 148 |  Comoros | 75.8% | 79.9% | 72.3% | 2021 |
| 149 |  Laos | 75.6% | 85.1% | 66.7% | 2023 |
| 150 |  Algeria | 75.1% | 82.6% | 74.2% | 2008 |
| 151 |  Madagascar | 74.7% | 77.9% | 71.8% | 2021 |
| 152 |  Togo | 72.6% | 82.9% | 63.7% | 2022 |
| 153 |  Cameroon | 72.6% | 79.7% | 66.2% | 2018 |
| 154 |  Timor-Leste | 72.5% | 73.1% | 71.8% | 2022 |
| 155 |  Cambodia | 71.9% | 90.4% | 63.6% | 2021 |
| 156 |  Burundi | 71.4% | 78.2% | 66.2% | 2020 |
| 157 |  Nigeria | 70.4% | 78.4% | 62.4% | 2024 |
| 158 |  Malawi | 70.2% | 78.6% | 62.7% | 2020 |
| 159 |  Nepal | 68.7% | 79.8% | 59.4% | 2019 |
| 160 |  Haiti | 68.0% | 72.9% | 63.9% | 2017 |
| 161 |  Angola | 66.2% | 83.8% | 51.9% | 2015 |
| 162 |  DR Congo | 65.7% | 87.5% | 56.1% | 2020 |
| 163 |  Bhutan | 64.9% | 73.4% | 57.0% | 2022 |
| 164 |  Eritrea | 64.7% | 75.1% | 54.8% | 2008 |
| 165 |  Morocco | 64.3% | 75.4% | 53.4% | 2014 |
| 166 |  Guinea-Bissau | 63.9% | 77.3% | 52.2% | 2022 |
| 167 |  Mozambique | 61.7% | 74.1% | 50.9% | 2022 |
| 168 |  Ethiopia | 60.5% | 71.0% | 50.0% | 2022 |
| 169 |  Mauritania | 59.5% | 70.1% | 51.8% | 2020 |
| 170 |  Liberia | 59.4% | 72.5% | 47.8% | 2010 |
| 171 |  Pakistan | 58.9% | 69.1% | 48.5% | 2021 |
| 172 |  Somalia | 54.1% | 64.5% | 43.9% | 2022 |
| 173 |  Sudan | 53.5% | 59.8% | 46.7% | 2008 |
| 174 |  Gambia | 51.6% | 65.3% | 40.5% | 2021 |
| 175 |  Benin | 51.4% | 62.6% | 41.5% | 2022 |
| 176 |  Senegal | 50.4% | 61.5% | 41.5% | 2023 |
| 177 |  Ivory Coast | 50.0% | 68.0% | 40.3% | 2021 |
| 178 |  Sierra Leone | 43.6% | 54.6% | 33.9% | 2019 |
| 179 |  Central African Republic | 42.4% | 59.8% | 27.1% | 2019 |
| 180 |  Burkina Faso | 41.4% | 48.4% | 35.7% | 2023 |
| 181 |  Guinea | 39.6% | 54.4% | 27.7% | 2018 |
| 182 |  Afghanistan | 37.3% | 52.1% | 26.6% | 2021 |
| 183 |  Yemen | 37.1% | 56.7% | 54.1% | 1994 |
| 184 |  Niger | 35.6% | 47.9% | 25.7% | 2022 |
| 185 |  Mali | 35.5% | 46.2% | 25.7% | 2018 |
| 186 |  Chad | 30.6% | 44.5% | 18.6% | 2019 |
| 187 |  South Sudan | 26.8% | 34.8% | 19.2% | 2008 |
What correlates with Total Population Literacy Rate?
Pearson r against 1,383 other country metrics sharing at least 113 countries. Correlation is not causation.
Higher together
Places that have a higher Total Population Literacy Rate tend to score higher on these
Opposite directions
Places that have a higher Total Population Literacy Rate tend to score lower on these
Quick answers
- Which country has the highest Total Population Literacy Rate?
- Uzbekistan has the highest Total Population Literacy Rate, at 100.0%, followed by North Korea (100.0%) and Norway (100.0%).
- Which country has the lowest Total Population Literacy Rate?
- South Sudan has the lowest Total Population Literacy Rate, at 26.8%.
- What is the median Total Population Literacy Rate across countries?
- The median is 95.6% across the 187 countries with data.
- Where does this literacy rate by country data come from?
- Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above) - World Bank; Literacy - CIA World Factbook; 4.6.2. Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes - UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS); Adult literacy rate - Our World in Data. Last updated 2026-10-28.