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  Field Listing - Literacy


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: NA
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: NA
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: 43.1%
male: 53.9%
female: 31.8% (2003 est.)
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% (1991 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%
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% (2000 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: 51%
male: 63.3%
female: 39.9% (2003 est.)
Chad definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 47.5%
male: 56%
female: 39.3% (2003 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: 90.9%
male: 95.1%
female: 86.5% (2000 census)
Christmas Island NA
Cocos (Keeling) Islands NA
Colombia definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92.9%
female: 92.7% (2004 est.)
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: 65.5%
male: 76.2%
female: 55.1% (2003 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: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%
Costa Rica definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 95.9%
female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50.9%
male: 57.9%
female: 43.6% (2003 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% (2003 est.)
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 10 and over can read and write
total population: 80.2%
male: 82.8%
female: 77.7% (2003 est.)
Equatorial Guinea definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.7%
male: 93.3%
female: 78.4% (2003 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 definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
note: probably 100%, 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 definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: 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: 98.8%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.5% (2003 est.)
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: NA
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 definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: 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 definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: 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 definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Korea, North definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99%
Korea, South definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 99.2%
female: 96.6% (2002)
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: 68.7%
male: 77%
female: 60.9% (2001 est.)
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: 96.3%
male: 96.2%
female: 96.4% (2000 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: 92%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
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)
Mayotte definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Mexico definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 92.4%
female: 89.6% (2004 est.)
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 definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: 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.)
Netherlands Antilles definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.7%
male: 96.7%
female: 96.8% (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: NA
total population: 81.4%
male: 86.8%
female: 73.5% (2003 est.)
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: 87.7%
male: 93.5%
female: 82.1% (2004 est.)
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 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 but excludes Kosovo
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% (2001 est.)
Slovenia definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6%
Solomon Islands definition: NA
total population: NA
male: NA
female: 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.)
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: 90.3%
male: 93.9%
female: 86.9% (2002 est.)
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: 82%
male: 87%
female: 77%
note: over two-thirds of the world's 785 million illiterate adults are found in only eight countries (India, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Egypt); of all the illiterate adults in the world, two-thirds are women; extremely low literacy rates are concentrated in three regions, South and West Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Arab states, where around one-third of the men and half of all women are illiterate (2005 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.)

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008
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