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World Literacy rate (adult) 2026: Interactive Chart & Historical Data

Literacy rate (adult) in World stood at 87.74% in 2024, according to UNESCO UIS. The latest value is up 0.16 percentage points from 87.58% in 2023. Ten years earlier, in 2014, the value was 85.56% (up 2.18 percentage points since). The latest value is the highest since 1975; the lowest was 65.42% in 1975.

Data source: UNESCO UIS · Unit: % · Category: Education · Explore more indicators on EconDash

Data updated:Last checked:Frequency:AnnualCoverage:1970–2025

Key facts

What is the latest Literacy rate (adult) in World?

Literacy rate (adult) in World stood at 87.74% in 2024, according to UNESCO UIS.

Is Literacy rate (adult) in World rising or falling?

The latest value is up 0.16 percentage points from 87.58% in 2023. Ten years earlier, in 2014, the value was 85.56% (up 2.18 percentage points since).

What is the highest Literacy rate (adult) on record in World?

The latest value is the highest since 1975; the lowest was 65.42% in 1975.

Metadata for Literacy rate (adult) in World
IndicatorLiteracy rate (adult)
CountryWorld
CategoryEducation
Unit%
SourceUNESCO UIS
Interactive chartView on EconDash
API accessEconDash API documentation

Latest value: 87.74% (2024)

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Source:World Bank via UNESCO UIS — series SE.ADT.LITR.ZS
License:CC BY 4.0
Cite this chart
APA

World Bank. (2026). Literacy rate (adult) — World [Data set]. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from EconDash: https://econdash.org/chart/literacy-rate-adult/WLD. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ADT.LITR.ZS

MLA

World Bank. "Literacy rate (adult) — World." EconDash, 2026, https://econdash.org/chart/literacy-rate-adult/WLD. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ADT.LITR.ZS.

Chicago

World Bank. 2026. "Literacy rate (adult) — World." EconDash. Accessed November 13, 2026. https://econdash.org/chart/literacy-rate-adult/WLD. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ADT.LITR.ZS.

BibTeX
@misc{econdash_literacy_rate_adult_wld,
  author = {{World Bank}},
  title = {{Literacy rate (adult) --- World}},
  howpublished = {EconDash},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://econdash.org/chart/literacy-rate-adult/WLD},
  note = {Accessed: 2026-11-13. Original source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ADT.LITR.ZS}
}