The World Factbook. 2008.
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 |
| 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.) |