Adult Literacy Since 1920s

Adult literacy rate (%) · 1920s, 1950, 1970, 1990, 2010, latest · run 18 Oct 2026 11:11 CEST · Claude cost $0.864 (76 web searches)
Data: Literacy rate, long-run series (Our World in Data, combining UNESCO (1953, 1957), van Zanden et al. (2014) and the UNESCO Institute for Statistics), gaps filled by web search with page-level checks · download CSV
Dataset Web source (figure checked on the page)

Canada

050100 19001925195019752000 1901: 82.9% (dataset)1911: 89.0% (dataset)1921: 94.3% (dataset)1931: 95.7% (dataset)1950: 97.5% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s 94.3%1921dataset
1950 97.5%1950dataset
1970 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
1990 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
2010 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
latest ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured

United States

050100 19001925195019752000 1900: 89.3% (dataset)1910: 92.3% (dataset)1920: 94.0% (dataset)1930: 95.7% (dataset)1940: 97.1% (dataset)1950: 96.5% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s 95.7%1930dataset
1950 96.5%1950dataset
1970 ≥97% by 1940; no longer measured
1990 ≥97% by 1940; no longer measured
2010 ≥97% by 1940; no longer measured
latest ≥97% by 1940; no longer measured

Mexico

050100 19001925195019752000 1900: 22.3% (dataset)1910: 27.7% (dataset)1921: 33.8% (dataset)1930: 38.5% (dataset)1940: 46.0% (dataset)1950: 62.5% (dataset)1980: 83.0% (dataset)1990: 87.6% (dataset)2000: 90.5% (dataset)2002: 90.3% (dataset)2004: 91.0% (dataset)2005: 91.6% (dataset)2006: 91.7% (dataset)2007: 92.8% (dataset)2008: 92.9% (dataset)2009: 93.4% (dataset)2010: 93.1% (dataset)2011: 93.5% (dataset)2012: 94.2% (dataset)2013: 94.0% (dataset)2014: 94.6% (dataset)2015: 94.5% (dataset)2016: 94.9% (dataset)2017: 95.0% (dataset)2018: 95.4% (dataset)2019: 95.4% (dataset)2020: 95.2% (dataset)2021: 95.7% (dataset)2022: 95.1% (dataset)2023: 95.8% (dataset)2024: 95.5% (dataset) 1970: 74.2% (uv.mx)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s 33.8%1921dataset
1950 62.5%1950dataset
1970 74.2%1970uv.mx · 15 years and over · National (Mexico), 1970 census population data as tabulated in a 2012 academic article on illiteracy in Mexico (uv.mx); the article's table homogenises the denominator to population 15+
1990 87.6%1990dataset
2010 93.1%2010dataset
latest 95.5%2024dataset

Chile

050100 19001925195019752000 1907: 50.1% (dataset)1920: 63.1% (dataset)1930: 75.6% (dataset)1940: 73.6% (dataset)1950: 77.5% (dataset)1982: 91.1% (dataset)1992: 94.3% (dataset)2002: 95.7% (dataset)2011: 96.7% (dataset)2013: 96.3% (dataset)2015: 96.9% (dataset)2017: 96.4% (dataset) 1970: 89.8% (museodelaeducacion.gob.cl)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s 75.6%1930dataset
1950 77.5%1950dataset
1970 89.8%1970museodelaeducacion.gob.cl · not stated · National figure from the 1970 Censo de Población y Vivienda (INE), as cited by a Chilean education history article; covers the total population share, not specifically ages 15+
1990 94.3%1992dataset
2010 96.7%2011dataset
latest 96.4%2017dataset

Argentina

050100 19001925195019752000 1914: 64.9% (dataset)1947: 86.4% (dataset)1950: 87.5% (dataset)1980: 93.9% (dataset)1991: 96.0% (dataset)2001: 97.2% (dataset)2020: 99.1% (dataset) 1970: 92.6% (inforama.com.ar)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 87.5%1950dataset
1970 92.6%1970inforama.com.ar · 10 years and older (as stated for the national census series) · national; census-based figure as reported by Diario Inforama, citing national censuses
1990 96.0%1991dataset
2010 ≥97% by 2001; no longer measured
latest 99.1%2020dataset

Uruguay

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 82.5% (dataset)1975: 93.9% (dataset)1985: 95.4% (dataset)1996: 96.8% (dataset)2006: 97.8% (dataset)2007: 97.9% (dataset)2008: 98.2% (dataset)2009: 98.3% (dataset)2010: 98.1% (dataset)2011: 98.3% (dataset)2012: 98.4% (dataset)2013: 98.4% (dataset)2014: 98.4% (dataset)2015: 98.5% (dataset)2016: 98.6% (dataset)2017: 98.6% (dataset)2018: 98.7% (dataset)2019: 98.8% (dataset)2020: 99.0% (dataset)2022: 98.8% (dataset)2023: 98.8% (dataset)2024: 98.9% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 82.5%1950dataset
1970 93.9%1975dataset
1990 95.4%1985dataset
2010 98.1%2010dataset
latest 98.9%2024dataset

Brazil

050100 19001925195019752000 1900: 34.7% (dataset)1920: 35.1% (dataset)1940: 43.9% (dataset)1950: 47.5% (dataset)1980: 74.6% (dataset)2000: 86.4% (dataset)2004: 88.6% (dataset)2006: 89.6% (dataset)2007: 90.0% (dataset)2008: 90.0% (dataset)2009: 90.3% (dataset)2010: 90.4% (dataset)2011: 91.4% (dataset)2012: 91.3% (dataset)2013: 91.5% (dataset)2014: 91.7% (dataset)2015: 92.0% (dataset)2016: 92.8% (dataset)2017: 93.1% (dataset)2018: 93.2% (dataset)2019: 93.9% (dataset)2020: 94.7% (dataset)2021: 94.8% (dataset)2022: 94.4% (dataset)2023: 94.6% (dataset)2024: 94.7% (dataset) 1970: 66.4% (cnnbrasil.com.br)1970: 66.0% (repositorio.ipea.gov.br)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s 35.1%1920dataset
1950 47.5%1950dataset
1970 66.4%1970cnnbrasil.com.br · 15 anos ou mais · National (Brazil), illiteracy rate attributed to the Censo by a news article (CNN Brasil); differs slightly from the 33.7 figure in the INEP table
1990 no figure found
2010 90.4%2010dataset
latest 94.7%2024dataset
All verified web data points (2)
1970: 33.6 (illiteracy) · 15 anos ou mais · National (Brazil), illiteracy rate attributed to the Censo by a news article (CNN Brasil); differs slightly from the 33.7 figure in the INEP table · cnnbrasil.com.br
“1970: 33,6%”
1970: 66 · 15 anos ou mais · National (Brazil), literacy rate in an IPEA discussion paper citing IBGE censuses (Anuário Estatístico 1995) · repositorio.ipea.gov.br
“1970 | 35 586 771 | 18 146 977 | | 274 856 | | | | 66”
Unverified, not charted (1)
1970: 33.7 (illiteracy, 15 anos ou mais) · download.inep.gov.br · could not download page (ConnectError)
“1970 · 53.633 · 18.100 · 33,7”

Scandinavia

Sweden

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 98.5% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 98.5%1950dataset
1970 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
1990 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
2010 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
latest ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured

Norway

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 98.5% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 98.5%1950dataset
1970 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
1990 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
2010 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
latest ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured

Denmark

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 98.5% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 98.5%1950dataset
1970 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
1990 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
2010 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
latest ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured

United Kingdom

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 98.5% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 98.5%1950dataset
1970 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
1990 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
2010 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
latest ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured

Germany

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 98.5% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 98.5%1950dataset
1970 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
1990 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
2010 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
latest ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured

France

050100 19001925195019752000 1901: 83.5% (dataset)1906: 85.9% (dataset)1911: 88.1% (dataset)1921: 91.8% (dataset)1926: 93.9% (dataset)1931: 94.7% (dataset)1936: 96.0% (dataset)1946: 96.6% (dataset)1950: 96.5% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s 93.9%1926dataset
1950 96.5%1950dataset
1970 no figure found
1990 no figure found
2010 no figure found
latest no figure found

North Africa

Morocco

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 12.5% (dataset)1982: 30.3% (dataset)1994: 41.6% (dataset)2004: 52.3% (dataset)2008: 55.1% (dataset)2009: 56.1% (dataset)2011: 67.1% (dataset)2012: 69.2% (dataset)2014: 64.3% (dataset) 2024: 75.2% (casainvest.ma)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 12.5%1950dataset
1970 no figure found
1990 41.6%1994dataset
2010 67.1%2011dataset
latest 75.2%2024casainvest.ma · 10 years and over · national, total population; figure from the HCP 2024 General Population and Housing Census (RGPH 2024), as cited in HCP's results note

Algeria

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 17.5% (dataset)1987: 49.6% (dataset)2002: 69.9% (dataset)2006: 72.7% (dataset)2008: 75.1% (dataset) 2018: 81.4% (fr.wikipedia.org)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 17.5%1950dataset
1970 no figure found
1990 49.6%1987dataset
2010 75.1%2008dataset
latest 81.4%2018fr.wikipedia.org · not stated · national; figure attributed by the page to the 2018 census (Recensement de 2018), as cited in French Wikipedia's article on Algeria's education system

Tunisia

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 17.5% (dataset)1984: 48.2% (dataset)2004: 74.3% (dataset)2007: 77.2% (dataset)2008: 77.7% (dataset)2010: 79.1% (dataset)2011: 79.7% (dataset)2012: 80.2% (dataset)2014: 79.0% (dataset)2018: 79.5% (dataset)2019: 80.5% (dataset)2021: 83.7% (dataset)2023: 86.2% (dataset) 1956: 15.3% (ins.tn)1989: 62.8% (regionetdeveloppement.univ-tln.fr)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 17.5%1950dataset
1970 no figure found
1990 62.8%1989regionetdeveloppement.univ-tln.fr · population aged over 10 years ("plus de 10 ans") · national, from the 1989 Enquête sur la population et l'emploi, as cited by the Région et Développement article (Lahcen, 2005)
2010 79.1%2010dataset
latest 86.2%2023dataset
All verified web data points (2)
1956: 84.7 (illiteracy) · not stated · national, census (Recensement de février 1956, one month before independence), as reported in the INS RGPH 2014 publication · ins.tn
“A la veille de l'indépendance (1)^1 le taux d'analphabétisme était de 84.7%.”
1989: 37.2 (illiteracy) · population aged over 10 years ("plus de 10 ans") · national, from the 1989 Enquête sur la population et l'emploi, as cited by the Région et Développement article (Lahcen, 2005) · regionetdeveloppement.univ-tln.fr
“le taux d'analphabétisme des Tunisiens âgés de plus de 10 ans s'élevait à 37,2”
Unverified, not charted (1)
1990: 35 (illiteracy, not stated) · businessnews.com.tn · could not download page (HTTPStatusError)
“passant de 84 % en 1956 à 35 % en 1990”

Libya

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 7.5% (dataset)1984: 60.2% (dataset) 1984: 60.2% (indexmundi.com)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 7.5%1950dataset
1970 no figure found
1990 no figure found
2010 no figure found
latest no figure found
All verified web data points (1)
1984: 60.16 · ages 15 and above · national; UNESCO Institute for Statistics figure as republished by IndexMundi · indexmundi.com
“| 1984 | 60.16 |”
Unverified, not charted (3)
1994: 76.5 (literacy, ages 15 and above) · indexmundi.com · figure 76.5 not found near 1994 on the page
“| 1994 | 76.50 |”
2004: 86.1 (literacy, ages 15 and above) · indexmundi.com · figure 86.1 not found near 2004 on the page
“| 2004 | 86.10 |”
2015: 91.39 (literacy, Percent of People Aged 15+) · ycharts.com · could not download page (HTTPStatusError)
“Libya Adult Literacy Rate is at 91.39%”

Egypt

050100 19001925195019752000 1907: 7.3% (dataset)1917: 8.8% (dataset)1927: 14.1% (dataset)1937: 14.8% (dataset)1950: 22.5% (dataset)1976: 38.2% (dataset)1986: 44.4% (dataset)1996: 55.6% (dataset)2005: 67.3% (dataset)2006: 66.4% (dataset)2010: 72.0% (dataset)2012: 73.9% (dataset)2013: 72.4% (dataset)2017: 71.2% (dataset)2021: 82.1% (dataset)2022: 79.5% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s 14.1%1927dataset
1950 22.5%1950dataset
1970 no figure found
1990 44.4%1986dataset
2010 72.0%2010dataset
latest 79.5%2022dataset

Nigeria

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 12.5% (dataset)1991: 55.5% (dataset)2003: 54.8% (dataset)2006: 70.2% (dataset)2016: 58.2% (dataset)2021: 63.2% (dataset)2024: 70.4% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 12.5%1950dataset
1970 no figure found
1990 55.5%1991dataset
2010 70.2%2006dataset
latest 70.4%2024dataset

Ghana

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 22.5% (dataset)2000: 57.9% (dataset)2010: 71.5% (dataset)2015: 60.2% (dataset)2017: 64.5% (dataset)2021: 76.5% (dataset) 1970: 30.0% (countrystudies.us)1970: 30.0% (census.gov)1989: 40.0% (countrystudies.us)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 22.5%1950dataset
1970 30.0%1970countrystudies.us · 15 and above · National estimate attributed to the United Nations (as reported by countrystudies.us, Library of Congress Country Studies); not a census figure
1990 40.0%1989countrystudies.us · not stated · National figure from 'reliable press reports' as reported by countrystudies.us; not a census or official statistics figure, and refers to 1989 rather than 1990
2010 71.5%2010dataset
latest 76.5%2021dataset
All verified web data points (3)
1970: 70 (illiteracy) · 15 and above · National estimate attributed to the United Nations (as reported by countrystudies.us, Library of Congress Country Studies); not a census figure · countrystudies.us
“it was estimated by the United Nations in 1970 that about 70 percent of the nation's inhabitants above the age of fifteen (57 percent of males and 82 percent of females) were illiterate”
1970: 30 · not stated · National figure, cited by the US Census Bureau from UNESCO (1995); age group not stated · census.gov
“between 1970 and 1995, the literacy rate more than doubled from 30 percent to 64 percent (UNESCO, 1995)”
1989: 40 · not stated · National figure from 'reliable press reports' as reported by countrystudies.us; not a census or official statistics figure, and refers to 1989 rather than 1990 · countrystudies.us
“the adult literacy rate in Ghana was about 40 percent of the total population”

Kenya

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 22.5% (dataset)2000: 82.2% (dataset) 2022: 82.9% (tradingeconomics.com)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 22.5%1950dataset
1970 no figure found
1990 no figure found
2010 no figure found
latest 82.9%2022tradingeconomics.com · 15 and above · national, total population; World Bank World Development Indicators figure as republished by Trading Economics

South Africa

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 42.5% (dataset)1980: 76.2% (dataset)1996: 82.4% (dataset)2007: 88.7% (dataset)2009: 92.9% (dataset)2010: 92.9% (dataset)2011: 93.1% (dataset)2012: 93.7% (dataset)2014: 94.1% (dataset)2015: 94.4% (dataset)2016: 91.7% (dataset)2019: 95.0% (dataset)2021: 90.0% (dataset)2024: 91.2% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 42.5%1950dataset
1970 no figure found
1990 no figure found
2010 92.9%2010dataset
latest 91.2%2024dataset

Russia

050100 19001925195019752000 1989: 98.0% (dataset)2002: 99.4% (dataset)2010: 99.7% (dataset)2021: 99.9% (dataset) 1926: 40.7% (wiki.kubsu.ru)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s 40.7%1926wiki.kubsu.ru · not stated (page notes literacy was recorded from age 5) · USSR-wide literate share of the population, 1926 census, as stated on Wiki-KubSU page on the 1926 census; differs from the 9-49 figure above because of a different age base
1950 no figure found
1970 no figure found
1990 98.0%1989dataset
2010 99.7%2010dataset
latest 99.9%2021dataset
Unverified, not charted (2)
1926: 56.6 (literacy, 9-49 years) · istmat.org · could not download page (ReadTimeout)
“1926 г · 71,5 · 42,7 · 56,6”
1959: 98.5 (literacy, 9-49 years) · istmat.org · could not download page (ReadTimeout)
“1959 г · 99,3 · 97,8 · 98,5”

Afghanistan

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 3.0% (dataset)1979: 18.2% (dataset)2011: 31.4% (dataset)2015: 33.8% (dataset)2020: 36.0% (dataset)2021: 37.3% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 3.0%1950dataset
1970 no figure found
1990 no figure found
2010 31.4%2011dataset
latest 37.3%2021dataset

Turkey

050100 19001925195019752000 1927: 8.2% (dataset)1935: 20.4% (dataset)1945: 30.5% (dataset)1950: 32.5% (dataset)1975: 61.6% (dataset)1980: 65.7% (dataset)1985: 76.0% (dataset)1990: 79.2% (dataset)2004: 87.4% (dataset)2005: 88.2% (dataset)2006: 88.1% (dataset)2007: 88.7% (dataset)2009: 90.8% (dataset)2010: 92.7% (dataset)2011: 94.1% (dataset)2012: 94.9% (dataset)2013: 95.3% (dataset)2014: 95.4% (dataset)2015: 95.6% (dataset)2016: 95.9% (dataset)2017: 96.2% (dataset)2019: 96.7% (dataset)2021: 97.3% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s 8.2%1927dataset
1950 32.5%1950dataset
1970 61.6%1975dataset
1990 79.2%1990dataset
2010 92.7%2010dataset
latest 97.3%2021dataset

Iran

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 12.5% (dataset)1976: 36.5% (dataset)1986: 52.3% (dataset)1991: 65.5% (dataset)1996: 73.1% (dataset)2002: 77.0% (dataset)2005: 82.4% (dataset)2006: 82.3% (dataset)2008: 83.0% (dataset)2009: 83.2% (dataset)2010: 83.7% (dataset)2011: 83.5% (dataset)2012: 83.6% (dataset)2013: 84.6% (dataset)2014: 84.7% (dataset)2015: 85.3% (dataset)2016: 85.5% (dataset)2017: 85.9% (dataset)2018: 86.9% (dataset)2019: 87.4% (dataset)2020: 87.9% (dataset)2021: 88.5% (dataset)2022: 88.6% (dataset)2023: 88.9% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 12.5%1950dataset
1970 no figure found
1990 65.5%1991dataset
2010 83.7%2010dataset
latest 88.9%2023dataset
Unverified, not charted (2)
1966: 28.7 (literacy, not stated) · iranstatis.com · year 1966 not found on the page
“نرخ باسوادی ایران از سال 1345 الی 1402 بر اساس داده‌های مرکز آمار ایران تهیه شده است”
1966: 28 (literacy, 6 years and older) · fa.wikipedia.org · year 1966 not found on the page
“میزان باسوادی جمعیت ۶ سال و بیشتر کشور در سال‌های ۱۳۴۵، ۱۳۳۵ و۱۳۵۵ به ترتیب ۲۸، ۱۵ و ۴۱٫۷ درصد بوده‌است.”

Israel

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 92.5% (dataset)1983: 91.8% (dataset) 1983: 91.8% (fred.stlouisfed.org)1983: 91.8% (indexmundi.com)1992: 95.0% (indexmundi.com)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 92.5%1950dataset
1970 no figure found
1990 95.0%1992indexmundi.com · not stated · national, total population; figure attributed by IndexMundi to the US Census Bureau (IndexMundi table, age group not stated)
2010 no figure found
latest no figure found
All verified web data points (3)
1983: 91.75 · 15 and above · national, total population; UNESCO figure as republished by FRED (World Development Indicators) · fred.stlouisfed.org
“1983: · 91.75”
1983: 91.75 · 15 and above · national, total population; UNESCO figure as republished by IndexMundi · indexmundi.com
“| 1983 | 91.75 |”
1992: 95 · not stated · national, total population; figure attributed by IndexMundi to the US Census Bureau (IndexMundi table, age group not stated) · indexmundi.com
“Country 1992 2003 2004 2011 Israel 95 95.4 97.1 97.8”

Saudi Arabia

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 3.0% (dataset)1992: 70.8% (dataset)2000: 79.3% (dataset)2004: 82.9% (dataset)2013: 94.4% (dataset)2017: 95.3% (dataset)2020: 97.6% (dataset)2024: 97.9% (dataset) 1972: 40.0% (fawco.org)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 3.0%1950dataset
1970 40.0%1972fawco.org · not stated · National, as cited by a secondary article (FAWCO, American Women of the Eastern Province); the article does not name an original census or statistics office source, so treat as unverified
1990 70.8%1992dataset
2010 94.4%2013dataset
latest 97.9%2024dataset

Yemen

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 3.0% (dataset)1994: 37.1% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 3.0%1950dataset
1970 no figure found
1990 37.1%1994dataset
2010 no figure found
latest no figure found
Unverified, not charted (2)
2011: 65 (literacy, not stated) · un-ilibrary.org · could not download page (HTTPStatusError)
“between 2004 and 2011, total literacy increased from 55 to 65 per cent.”
2015: 69.96 (literacy, 15+) · ycharts.com · could not download page (HTTPStatusError)
“69.96% for 2015”

Mongolia

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 57.5% (dataset)2000: 97.8% (dataset)2010: 98.3% (dataset)2018: 96.9% (dataset)2019: 98.5% (dataset)2020: 99.2% (dataset)2021: 99.2% (dataset)2022: 98.7% (dataset)2023: 98.6% (dataset)2024: 98.6% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 57.5%1950dataset
1970 no figure found
1990 no figure found
2010 98.3%2010dataset
latest 98.6%2024dataset
Unverified, not charted (1)
1921: 3 (literacy, All population) · researchgate.net · could not download page (HTTPStatusError)
“1921 647.5 All population 964 3.0”

China

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 47.5% (dataset)1982: 65.5% (dataset)1990: 77.8% (dataset)2000: 90.9% (dataset)2010: 95.1% (dataset)2020: 96.7% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 47.5%1950dataset
1970 no figure found
1990 77.8%1990dataset
2010 95.1%2010dataset
latest 96.7%2020dataset

Tibet

050100 19001925195019752000 2022: 66.0% (statista.com)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 no figure found
1970 no figure found
1990 no figure found
2010 no figure found
latest 66.0%2022statista.com · not stated · Tibet (China), as reported by Statista; underlying source not stated on the page
Unverified, not charted (2)
1990: 69 (illiteracy, 15 years and older) · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · year 1990 not found on the page
“Illiteracy among persons aged 15 years and older declined from 74% in 1982, to 69% in 1990.”
1982: 74 (illiteracy, 15 years and older) · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · year 1982 not found on the page
“Illiteracy among persons aged 15 years and older declined from 74% in 1982, to 69% in 1990.”

India

050100 19001925195019752000 1901: 6.2% (dataset)1911: 7.0% (dataset)1921: 8.3% (dataset)1931: 9.1% (dataset)1950: 17.5% (dataset)1981: 40.8% (dataset)1991: 48.2% (dataset)2001: 61.0% (dataset)2006: 62.8% (dataset)2010: 68.3% (dataset)2011: 69.3% (dataset)2012: 69.8% (dataset)2018: 73.7% (dataset)2019: 74.9% (dataset)2020: 75.5% (dataset)2021: 76.1% (dataset)2022: 76.3% (dataset)2023: 81.7% (dataset)2024: 78.2% (dataset) 1971: 34.5% (mospi.gov.in)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s 8.3%1921dataset
1950 17.5%1950dataset
1970 34.5%1971mospi.gov.in · 5 years and above · National (all India), Census of India 1971 as reproduced by the Office of the Registrar General and MoSPI; the table's 1971 row gives total persons, with female 21.97 and male 45.96
1990 48.2%1991dataset
2010 68.3%2010dataset
latest 78.2%2024dataset

Pakistan

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 17.5% (dataset)1981: 25.7% (dataset)1998: 42.7% (dataset)2005: 49.9% (dataset)2006: 54.1% (dataset)2007: 52.1% (dataset)2008: 55.5% (dataset)2009: 54.9% (dataset)2010: 55.4% (dataset)2011: 54.7% (dataset)2012: 56.8% (dataset)2013: 55.6% (dataset)2014: 57.0% (dataset)2017: 59.1% (dataset)2018: 57.0% (dataset)2019: 58.0% (dataset)2021: 58.9% (dataset) 1970: 21.0% (country-studies.com)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 17.5%1950dataset
1970 21.0%1970country-studies.com · 15+ · national; figure as reported by the Library of Congress-based Country Studies profile (not an official Pakistani census table)
1990 no figure found
2010 55.4%2010dataset
latest 58.9%2021dataset

Bangladesh

050100 19001925195019752000 1981: 29.2% (dataset)1991: 35.3% (dataset)2001: 47.5% (dataset)2011: 58.8% (dataset)2012: 57.9% (dataset)2013: 61.0% (dataset)2014: 61.1% (dataset)2015: 65.1% (dataset)2016: 72.8% (dataset)2017: 72.9% (dataset)2018: 73.9% (dataset)2019: 74.7% (dataset)2020: 74.9% (dataset)2021: 76.4% (dataset)2022: 79.0% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 no figure found
1970 no figure found
1990 35.3%1991dataset
2010 58.8%2011dataset
latest 79.0%2022dataset

Japan

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 97.5% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 97.5%1950dataset
1970 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
1990 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
2010 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
latest ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured

South Korea

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 37.5% (dataset)2008: 98.0% (dataset) 1970: 87.6% (countrystudies.us)1930: 22.3% (m.koreatimes.com)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s 22.3%1930m.koreatimes.com · not stated · Colonial-era figure for the Korean population as cited by a Korea Times article; the article does not name the underlying census, and the figure is not from the 1920s
1950 37.5%1950dataset
1970 87.6%1970countrystudies.us · not stated · National figure as given in a US Library of Congress country study (countrystudies.us); the page does not name a census or statistics office as its source
1990 no figure found
2010 98.0%2008dataset
latest ≥97% by 2008; no longer measured

Philippines

050100 19001925195019752000 1918: 49.2% (dataset)1939: 48.8% (dataset)1948: 61.3% (dataset)1950: 62.5% (dataset)1980: 83.3% (dataset)1990: 93.6% (dataset)1994: 93.9% (dataset)2000: 92.6% (dataset)2003: 92.6% (dataset)2008: 95.4% (dataset)2010: 97.1% (dataset)2013: 96.4% (dataset)2015: 98.2% (dataset)2019: 96.3% (dataset)2020: 98.5% (dataset) 1970: 82.6% (countrystudies.us)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s 49.2%1918dataset
1950 62.5%1950dataset
1970 82.6%1970countrystudies.us · not stated · National, Philippines. Figure attributed to Philippine government figures as cited by the US Library of Congress Country Studies page. Government definition counts as literate anyone who completed four years of elementary school, which differs from the brief's read-and-write-a-simple-statement definition. Secondary source; not verified against the 1970 census itself.
1990 93.6%1990dataset
2010 97.1%2010dataset
latest 98.5%2020dataset

Vietnam

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 17.5% (dataset)1979: 83.8% (dataset)1989: 87.6% (dataset)1999: 90.3% (dataset)2000: 90.2% (dataset)2009: 93.5% (dataset)2019: 95.8% (dataset)2022: 96.1% (dataset) 1938: 5.0% (vietnamnet.vn)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 17.5%1950dataset
1970 no figure found
1990 87.6%1989dataset
2010 93.5%2009dataset
latest 96.1%2022dataset
All verified web data points (1)
1938: 95 (illiteracy) · not stated · national (whole population of Vietnam); figure attributed to the French Indochina Directorate of Education (Nha Học chính Đông Pháp) as cited by VietnamNet. Not a 1920s or 1970 figure; closest pre-war benchmark found. · vietnamnet.vn
“Theo tài liệu ghi lại của Nha Học chính Đông Pháp vào năm 1938 thì “95% dân chúng Việt Nam không biết một thứ chữ gì””

Indonesia

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 17.5% (dataset)1980: 67.3% (dataset)1990: 81.5% (dataset)2004: 90.4% (dataset)2006: 92.0% (dataset)2008: 92.2% (dataset)2009: 92.6% (dataset)2010: 92.3% (dataset)2011: 92.8% (dataset)2014: 95.1% (dataset)2015: 95.2% (dataset)2016: 95.4% (dataset)2018: 95.7% (dataset)2020: 96.0% (dataset) 1971: 59.0% (kompas.id)1930: 6.3% (en.wikipedia.org)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s 6.3%1930en.wikipedia.org · not stated · National, as recorded in the 1930 census (cited via Wikipedia; age group and sex breakdown not stated)
1950 17.5%1950dataset
1970 59.0%1971kompas.id · 10 years and over · National, both sexes; census figure as reported by Kompas (3 June 1975), not the BPS publication itself
1990 81.5%1990dataset
2010 92.3%2010dataset
latest 96.0%2020dataset

Australia

050100 19001925195019752000 1950: 98.5% (dataset)
BenchmarkValueYearSource
1920s no figure found
1950 98.5%1950dataset
1970 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
1990 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
2010 ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured
latest ≥97% by 1950; no longer measured

Method

Values at each benchmark come from the dataset where it has a figure in the window: “1920s” = 1915–1934, a year label = ±5 years, “latest” = the last 10 years. Gaps after a country first reached the saturation level are marked as no longer measured. Remaining gaps were searched on the web. A web figure is charted only if its page appeared in the search results and the figure was found near its year when the page was downloaded and checked. Illiteracy figures are shown as 100 − illiteracy. Definitions of literacy and age groups differ between sources and periods, so compare with care.