Adult Literacy
Share of people aged 15+ who can read and write. Gapminder, 2016–2023.
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Avg (2023)
46.4%
+4.6pp vs 2022
Improving
3
of 60 tracked
Declining
30
period over period
Stable
14
±0.5pp band
Adult literacy rate
Interactive — choose a period, search a country, switch between bars, table and map.
Trend over time
Group average by period, 2016–2023.
AsiaEuropeAmericasAfrica
Movers
Biggest period-over-period changes.
Top risers
| Entity | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan | 99.8% | +99.8pp |
| 🇼🇫 Wallis et Futuna | 99.8% | +99.8pp |
| 🇦🇱 Albania | 97.7% | +97.7pp |
| 🇳🇷 Nauru | 96.6% | +96.6pp |
| 🇵🇦 Panama | 96.1% | +96.1pp |
Top fallers
| Entity | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 🇹🇰 Tokelau | 0% | -100.0pp |
| 🇹🇻 Tuvalu | 0% | -100.0pp |
| 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | 0% | -100.0pp |
| 🇸🇲 San Marino | 0% | -99.9pp |
| 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan | 0% | -99.9pp |
By group
Change by group, latest period.
Africa +8.4pp
Americas +0.80pp
Asia +0.40pp
Europe -0.40pp
| Group | Members | Avg | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | 4 | 99.2% | -0.40pp |
| Americas | 10 | 93.1% | +0.80pp |
| Asia | 11 | 92.1% | +0.40pp |
| Africa | 6 | 73.7% | +8.4pp |
Related indicators
More in education.