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Field Listing :: Literacy | PRINT
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.)
| The online Factbook is updated weekly. ISSN 1553-8133 For additional information on government leaders in selected foreign countries, go to World Leaders.

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