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Field Listing :: Literacy
This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of the Factbook. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons. Low levels of literacy, and education in general, can impede the economic development of a country in the current rapidly changing, technology-driven world.
Country
 Literacy(%)
Afghanistan definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 28.1%
male: 43.1%
female: 12.6% (2000 est.)
Albania definition: age 9 and over can read and write
total population: 98.7%
male: 99.2%
female: 98.3% (2001 census)
Algeria definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.9%
male: 79.6%
female: 60.1% (2002 est.)
American Samoa definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)
Andorra definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Angola definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.4%
male: 82.9%
female: 54.2% (2001 est.)
Anguilla definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.)
Antigua and Barbuda definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
total population: 85.8%
male: NA
female: NA (2003 est.)
Argentina definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.2%
male: 97.2%
female: 97.2% (2001 census)
Armenia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2001 census)
Aruba definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.3%
male: 97.5%
female: 97.1% (2000 census)
Australia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Austria definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA
female: NA
Azerbaijan definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.5%
female: 98.2% (1999 census)
Bahamas, The definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.6%
male: 94.7%
female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
Bahrain definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 88.6%
female: 83.6% (2001 census)
Bangladesh definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.9%
male: 54%
female: 41.4% (2001 Census)
Barbados definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7% (2002 est.)
Belarus definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.4% (1999 census)
Belgium definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Belize definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.9%
male: 76.7%
female: 77.1% (2000 census)
Benin definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 34.7%
male: 47.9%
female: 23.3% (2002 census)
Bermuda definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (2005 est.)
Bhutan definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47%
male: 60%
female: 34% (2003 est.)
Bolivia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.7%
male: 93.1%
female: 80.7% (2001 census)
Bosnia and Herzegovina definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.7%
male: 99%
female: 94.4% (2000 est.)
Botswana definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.2%
male: 80.4%
female: 81.8% (2003 est.)
Brazil definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.6%
male: 88.4%
female: 88.8% (2004 est.)
British Virgin Islands definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: NA
female: NA (1991 est.)
Brunei definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.7%
male: 95.2%
female: 90.2% (2001 census)
Bulgaria definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.2%
male: 98.7%
female: 97.7% (2001 census)
Burkina Faso definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 21.8%
male: 29.4%
female: 15.2% (2003 est.)
Burma definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.9%
male: 93.9%
female: 86.4% (2006 est.)
Burundi definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 59.3%
male: 67.3%
female: 52.2% (2000 est.)
Cambodia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.6%
male: 84.7%
female: 64.1% (2004 est.)
Cameroon definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 77%
female: 59.8% (2001 est.)
Canada definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Cape Verde definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.6%
male: 85.8%
female: 69.2% (2003 est.)
Cayman Islands definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
Central African Republic definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.6%
male: 64.8%
female: 33.5% (2000 est.)
Chad definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 25.7%
male: 40.8%
female: 12.8% (2000 est.)
Chile definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.7%
male: 95.8%
female: 95.6% (2002 census)
China definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.2%
male: 96%
female: 88.5% (2008 census)
Christmas Island NA
Cocos (Keeling) Islands NA
Colombia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.4%
male: 90.1%
female: 90.7% (2005 census)
Comoros definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.5%
male: 63.6%
female: 49.3% (2003 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba
total population: 67.2%
male: 80.9%
female: 54.1% (2001 est.)
Congo, Republic of the definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
Cook Islands definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: NA
female: NA
Costa Rica definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.9%
male: 94.7%
female: 95.1% (2000 census)
Cote d'Ivoire definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.7%
male: 60.8%
female: 38.6% (2000 est.)
Croatia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.1%
male: 99.3%
female: 97.1% (2001 census)
Cuba definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2002 census)
Cyprus definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.3% (2001 census)
Czech Republic definition: NA
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Denmark definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Djibouti definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 78%
female: 58.4% (2003 est.)
Dominica definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 94%
male: 94%
female: 94% (2003 est.)
Dominican Republic definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87%
male: 86.8%
female: 87.2% (2002 census)
Ecuador definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 92.3%
female: 89.7% (2001 census)
Egypt definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 71.4%
male: 83%
female: 59.4% (2005 est.)
El Salvador definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.1%
male: 82.8%
female: 79.6% (2007 census)
Equatorial Guinea definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87%
male: 93.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 est.)
Eritrea definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6%
male: 69.9%
female: 47.6% (2003 est.)
Estonia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2000 census)
Ethiopia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.7%
male: 50.3%
female: 35.1% (2003 est.)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) NA
Faroe Islands NA; note - probably 99%, the same as Denmark proper
Fiji definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)
Finland definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)
France definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
French Polynesia definition: age 14 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1977 est.)
Gabon definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 63.2%
male: 73.7%
female: 53.3% (1995 est.)
Gambia, The definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.)
Gaza Strip definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 96.7%
female: 88% (2004 est.)
Georgia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2004 est.)
Germany definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Ghana definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.9%
male: 66.4%
female: 49.8% (2000 census)
Gibraltar definition: NA
total population: above 80%
male: NA
female: NA
Greece definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97.8%
female: 94.2% (2001 census)
Greenland definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2001 est.)
Grenada definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: NA
female: NA (2003 est.)
Guam definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)
Guatemala definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.1%
male: 75.4%
female: 63.3% (2002 census)
Guernsey NA
Guinea definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 29.5%
male: 42.6%
female: 18.1% (2003 est.)
Guinea-Bissau definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.4%
male: 58.1%
female: 27.4% (2003 est.)
Guyana definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 91.8%
male: 92%
female: 91.6% (2002 Census)
Haiti definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.9%
male: 54.8%
female: 51.2% (2003 est.)
Holy See (Vatican City) [definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Honduras definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 80%
male: 79.8%
female: 80.2% (2001 census)
Hong Kong definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 93.5%
male: 96.9%
female: 89.6% (2002)
Hungary definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.5%
female: 99.3% (2003 est.)
Iceland definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
India definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61%
male: 73.4%
female: 47.8% (2001 census)
Indonesia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.4%
male: 94%
female: 86.8% (2004 est.)
Iran definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77%
male: 83.5%
female: 70.4% (2002 est.)
Iraq definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.1%
male: 84.1%
female: 64.2% (2000 est.)
Ireland definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Isle of Man NA
Israel definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.1%
male: 98.5%
female: 95.9% (2004 est.)
Italy definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 98.8%
female: 98% (2001 census)
Jamaica definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 87.9%
male: 84.1%
female: 91.6% (2003 est.)
Japan definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2002)
Jersey NA
Jordan definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.9%
male: 95.1%
female: 84.7% (2003 est.)
Kazakhstan definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.5%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.3% (1999 est.)
Kenya definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.1%
male: 90.6%
female: 79.7% (2003 est.)
Kiribati NA
Korea, North definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1991 est.)
Korea, South definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 99.2%
female: 96.6% (2002)
Kosovo definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 96.6%
female: 87.5% (2007 Census)
Kuwait definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.3%
male: 94.4%
female: 91% (2005 census)
Kyrgyzstan definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.7%
male: 99.3%
female: 98.1% (1999 census)
Laos definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73%
male: 83%
female: 63% (2005 Census)
Latvia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2000 census)
Lebanon definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.4%
male: 93.1%
female: 82.2% (2003 est.)
Lesotho definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.8%
male: 74.5%
female: 94.5% (2003 est.)
Liberia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6% (2003 est.)
Libya definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.6%
male: 92.4%
female: 72% (2003 est.)
Liechtenstein definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Lithuania definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.6% (2001 census)
Luxembourg definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)
Macau definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.3%
male: 95.3%
female: 87.8% (2001 census)
Macedonia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1%
male: 98.2%
female: 94.1% (2002 census)
Madagascar definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.9%
male: 75.5%
female: 62.5% (2003 est.)
Malawi definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.7%
male: 76.1%
female: 49.8% (2003 est.)
Malaysia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.7%
male: 92%
female: 85.4% (2000 census)
Maldives definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.8%
male: 93%
female: 94.7% (2006 Census)
Mali definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 46.4%
male: 53.5%
female: 39.6% (2003 est.)
Malta definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 91.7%
female: 93.9% (2005 Census)
Marshall Islands definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 93.6%
female: 93.7% (1999)
Mauritania definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.2%
male: 59.5%
female: 43.4% (2000 census)
Mauritius definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.4%
male: 88.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 census)
Mexico definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.1%
male: 86.9%
female: 85.3% (2005 Census)
Micronesia, Federated States of definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.)
Moldova definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.7%
female: 98.6% (2005 est.)
Monaco definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Mongolia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 98%
female: 97.5% (2000 census)
Montserrat definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)
Morocco definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.3%
male: 65.7%
female: 39.6% (2004 census)
Mozambique definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.8%
male: 63.5%
female: 32.7% (2003 est.)
Namibia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85%
male: 86.8%
female: 83.5% (2001 census)
Nauru NA
Nepal definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.6%
male: 62.7%
female: 34.9% (2001 census)
Netherlands definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
New Caledonia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.8%
female: 95.5% (1996 census)
New Zealand definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Nicaragua definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.5%
male: 67.2%
female: 67.8% (2003 est.)
Niger definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 28.7%
male: 42.9%
female: 15.1% (2005 est.)
Nigeria definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68%
male: 75.7%
female: 60.6% (2003 est.)
Niue definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA
female: NA
Norfolk Island NA
Northern Mariana Islands definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)
Norway definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Oman definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.4%
male: 86.8%
female: 73.5% (2003 census)
Pakistan definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 49.9%
male: 63%
female: 36% (2005 est.)
Palau definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90% (1980 est.)
Panama definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 92.5%
female: 91.2% (2000 census)
Papua New Guinea definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.3%
male: 63.4%
female: 50.9% (2000 census)
Paraguay definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 94.9%
female: 93% (2003 est.)
Peru definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.9%
male: 96.4%
female: 89.4% (2007 Census)
Philippines definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 92.5%
female: 92.7% (2000 census)
Pitcairn Islands NA
Poland definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
Portugal definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.3%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.3% (2003 est.)
Puerto Rico definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 93.9%
female: 94.4% (2002 est.)
Qatar definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 89.1%
female: 88.6% (2004 census)
Romania definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.3%
male: 98.4%
female: 96.3% (2002 census)
Russia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2002 census)
Rwanda definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.4%
male: 76.3%
female: 64.7% (2003 est.)
Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha definition: age 20 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1987 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97.8%
male: NA
female: NA (2003 est.)
Saint Lucia definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 90.1%
male: 89.5%
female: 90.6% (2001 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1982 est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96% (1970 est.)
Samoa definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)
San Marino definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95%
Sao Tome and Principe definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.9%
male: 92.2%
female: 77.9% (2001 census)
Saudi Arabia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.8%
male: 84.7%
female: 70.8% (2003 est.)
Senegal definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 39.3%
male: 51.1%
female: 29.2% (2002 est.)
Serbia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.4%
male: 98.9%
female: 94.1% (2003 census)
note: includes Montenegro
Seychelles definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.8%
male: 91.4%
female: 92.3% (2002 census)
Sierra Leone definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic
total population: 35.1%
male: 46.9%
female: 24.4% (2004 est.)
Singapore definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 96.6%
female: 88.6% (2000 census)
Slovakia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2004)
Slovenia definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2000 est.)
Solomon Islands NA
Somalia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.8%
male: 49.7%
female: 25.8% (2001 est.)
South Africa definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 87%
female: 85.7% (2003 est.)
South Sudan definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 27%
male: 40%
female: 16%
Spain definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 98.7%
female: 97.2% (2003 est.)
Sri Lanka definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.7%
male: 92.3%
female: 89.1% (2001 census)
Sudan definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61.1%
male: 71.8%
female: 50.5% (2003 est.)
Suriname definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.6%
male: 92%
female: 87.2% (2004 census)
Svalbard NA
Swaziland definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.6%
male: 82.6%
female: 80.8% (2003 est.)
Sweden definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Switzerland definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Syria definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.6%
male: 86%
female: 73.6% (2004 census)
Taiwan definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1%
male: NA
female: NA (2003)
Tajikistan definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.5%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2000 census)
Tanzania definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic
total population: 69.4%
male: 77.5%
female: 62.2% (2002 census)
Thailand definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 94.9%
female: 90.5% (2000 census)
Timor-Leste definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6%
male: NA
female: NA (2002)
Togo definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.9%
male: 75.4%
female: 46.9% (2003 est.)
Tokelau NA
Tonga definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 98.9%
male: 98.8%
female: 99% (1999 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.1%
female: 98% (2003 est.)
Tunisia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.3%
male: 83.4%
female: 65.3% (2004 census)
Turkey definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.4%
male: 95.3%
female: 79.6% (2004 est.)
Turkmenistan definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.3%
female: 98.3% (1999 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1970 est.)
Tuvalu NA
Uganda definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.8%
male: 76.8%
female: 57.7% (2002 census)
Ukraine definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.2% (2001 census)
United Arab Emirates definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77.9%
male: 76.1%
female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
United Kingdom definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
United States definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Uruguay definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 97.6%
female: 98.4% (2003 est.)
Uzbekistan definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.3%
male: 99.6%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
Vanuatu definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74%
male: NA
female: NA (1999 census)
Venezuela definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93%
male: 93.3%
female: 92.7% (2001 census)
Vietnam definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 96.1%
female: 92% (2009 census)
Virgin Islands definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90-95% est.
male: NA
female: NA (2005 est.)
Wallis and Futuna definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50%
male: 50%
female: 50% (1969 est.)
West Bank definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 96.7%
female: 88% (2004 est.)
Western Sahara NA
World definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.7%
male: 88.3%
female: 79.2%
note: over two-thirds of the world's 793 million illiterate adults are found in only eight countries (Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Pakistan); of all the illiterate adults in the world, two-thirds are women; extremely low literacy rates are concentrated in three regions, the Arab states, South and West Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, where around one-third of the men and half of all women are illiterate (2005-09 est.)
Yemen definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50.2%
male: 70.5%
female: 30% (2003 est.)
Zambia definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 80.6%
male: 86.8%
female: 74.8% (2003 est.)
Zimbabwe definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 90.7%
male: 94.2%
female: 87.2% (2003 est.)
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