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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.
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)
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.)
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)
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.)
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)
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.)
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)
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)
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
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)
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 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.)
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.)
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)
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.)
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.)
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.)
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 (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 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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