Top 38 Countries with the Highest Literacy Rates 2024: What Are They Doing Right?

Most Literate Countries

Rank	Country	Literacy Rate (%)
1	Andorra	100.00
2	Finland	100.00
3	Greenland	100.00
4	Liechtenstein	100.00
5	Luxembourg	100.00
6	Norway	100.00
7	Ukraine	100.00
8	Uzbekistan	100.00
9	North Korea	100.00
10	Latvia	99.89
11	Belarus	99.87
12	Estonia	99.87
13	Lithuania	99.83
14	Czechia	99.83
15	Kazakhstan	99.80
15	Poland	99.80
15	Tajikistan	99.80
15	Azerbaijan	99.80
19	Guam	99.79
19	Armenia	99.79
21	Barbados	99.70
21	Russia	99.70
21	Slovenia	99.70
21	Turkmenistan	99.70
25	Cuba	99.67
26	Slovakia	99.60
26	Kyrgyzstan	99.60
26	Moldova	99.60
29	Georgia	99.56
30	Serbia	99.48
31	Croatia	99.45
32	Tonga	99.40
33	Cyprus	99.36
34	Italy	99.35
35	Mongolia	99.18
36	Hungary	99.10
36	Samoa	99.10
38	Australia	99.00

For example, Finland spends approximately 6.2% of its GDP on education, prioritizing free, high-quality schooling for all according to OECD.

It consistently ranks as one of the top-performing countries in the OECD PISA assessments, which measure literacy, mathematics, and science skills among 15-year-olds.

Norway provides free education from primary through university levels and allocates $15,000 per student annually in public funding, significantly higher than the global average and it ranks at the top by education rankings in the World.

Luxembourg has a GDP per capita of $105,996.66 (2023), Luxembourg invests heavily in multilingual education, preparing students to become literate in French, German, and Luxembourgish as per Trading Economics note.

Liechtenstein is a wealthy nation that ensures small class sizes, averaging 12 students per teacher, fostering personalized education.

Ukraine and Uzbekistan despite challenges, both nations prioritize universal access to primary education.

Ukraine maintains a literacy rate of 100%, supported by a longstanding tradition of compulsory schooling for 11 years as noted by their Ministry of Education.

Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, maintains a 100% literacy rate. The education system is modeled after Denmark’s, offering free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 16.

Lowest Literate Countries

Rank	Country	Literacy Rate (%)
1	Chad	26.76
2	Mali	30.76
3	South Sudan	34.52
4	Botswana	36.75
5	Afghanistan	37.27
6	Niger	37.34
7	Central African Republic	37.49
8	Somalia	37.80
9	Guinea	45.33
10	Benin	45.84
11	Burkina Faso	46.04
12	Sierra Leone	47.70
13	Liberia	48.30
14	Ethiopia	51.77
15	Guinea-Bissau	52.89
16	Yemen	54.10
17	Senegal	56.30
18	Pakistan	58.00
19	Gambia	58.06
20	Sudan	60.70
21	Papua New Guinea	61.60
22	Haiti	61.69
23	Comoros	61.99
24	Nigeria	62.02
25	Mozambique	63.42
26	Togo	66.54
27	Mauritania	66.96
28	Malawi	67.31
29	Djibouti	67.90
30	East Timor	69.90
31	Bhutan	70.95
32	Nepal	71.15
33	Angola	72.28
34	Egypt	73.09
35	India	74.37
36	Burundi	74.71
37	Bangladesh	74.91
38	Rwanda	75.90

Chad with 42% of its population living below the poverty line, Chad struggles to allocate sufficient resources to education.

Government expenditure on education accounts for just 2.6% of GDP, far below the global average.

Mali’s per capita education spending is less than $10 annually, limiting access to schools and learning materials as noted by US Agency For International Development.

South Sudan is in ongoing conflict that has disrupted the education system, with over 2.8 million children out of school, and only 7% of schools have adequate infrastructure.

UNESCO notes that Afghanistan in its years of instability has left 1.4 million of Afghan girls unable to attend school, contributing to a national literacy rate of just 37.27%.

Niger has female literacy stands at a mere 25%, compared to 50% for males. Early marriage and societal norms prevent many girls from attending school.

The literacy rate in Yemen for women is 35%, compared to 73% for men, highlighting severe gender inequality according to the Borden project.

Central African Republic – Teacher-to-student ratios exceed 1:80 in many areas, and only **5% of schools have basic amenities like water and electricity.

Somalia is spending on Education accounts for just 3% of GDP, and over **50% of school-aged children are not enrolled in school and nearly 85% of kids has not started to even go at school at all according to UNESCO.

 

Highest Ones

1. Andorra

Formal education is free and compulsory from ages 6 to 16, comprising six years of primary schooling and four years of secondary education.

The educational system is unique, offering multilingual instruction in Catalan, French, and Spanish, reflecting the diverse cultural influences in the region.

Approximately half of the students attend French-speaking schools, while the rest opt for Catalan or Spanish instruction.

The Andorran government prioritizes education, allocating 15.5% of its total budget in 1999 to education, youth, and sports according to the stateuniversity.

While many teachers are funded by Spain or France, Andorra maintains the schools.

The country also supports higher education through specialized graduate programs in nursing and computer science.

With its focus on multilingualism, strong government support, and collaboration with neighboring nations, Andorra ensures its small population enjoys a high-quality education system that supports the country’s continued development and 100% literacy.

2. Finland

Finland boasts a 100% literacy rate, underpinned by its globally renowned education system.

The country’s focus on equality ensures free access to quality education for all children from ages 7 to 16.

Beyond literacy, Finland excels in numeracy and problem-solving in technology-rich environments, as shown in the PIAAC survey results.

Key Findings from PIAAC:

• High Proficiency Levels: 22.2% of Finnish adults achieve Level 4 or 5 in literacy, significantly above the global average of 11.8%. Similarly, 19.4% reach Level 4 or 5 in numeracy compared to the global average of 12.4%.
• Youth Advantage: Finnish young adults (aged 16-24) demonstrate exceptional proficiency in literacy and numeracy, ranking among the best globally alongside peers in Japan, Korea, and the Netherlands.
• Digital Problem-Solving: Approximately 61.9% of young adults in Finland achieve Level 2 or 3 in digital problem-solving, compared to the global average of 50.7%.

3. Greenland

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Greenland, with a population of just over 55,000, proudly maintains a 100% literacy rate as of the 2007 CIA World Factbook.

Education and access to information are supported by a network of 17 public libraries, 25 school libraries, and one university library. Libraries provide free Internet access, though only 21-40% of libraries are equipped with this service.

The nation emphasizes local content online but acknowledges the scarcity of online resources in native Greenlandic languages.

Programs in Greenland’s libraries play a role in promoting social awareness, including HIV/AIDS education and literacy initiatives for women. However, detailed information on these programs remains limited. Despite the use of filtering software to protect children, Greenland’s libraries respect intellectual freedom, with no reported violations in the last two years. Furthermore, no anti-terror legislation affecting user privacy has been enacted.

Challenges persist in enhancing digital content availability in Greenlandic and expanding Internet access across library facilities. The country has yet to adopt global declarations such as the IFLA Internet Manifesto or the Glasgow Declaration, nor has it developed a code of ethics for library services.

4. Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein ensures a 100% literacy rate through a well-structured, inclusive education system overseen by the Ministerium für Inneres, Bildung und Umwelt as per AACRAO.ORG.

Education is free and compulsory from ages 6 to 15, beginning with a 5-year primary program followed by three secondary tracks: Realschule (50%), Oberschule (28%), and Gymnasium (22%).

The Berufsmittelschule offers a 3-year vocational program culminating in the Berufsmatura, granting university eligibility in Liechtenstein, Austria, and Switzerland. Post-secondary education includes three institutions but most students pursue further studies abroad in Austria or Switzerland.

Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees are available, with recently introduced doctoral programs in business economics and architecture.

The system emphasizes flexibility and integration with neighboring countries, providing diverse and high-quality educational opportunities.

5. Luxembourg

 

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Luxembourg’s 100% literacy rate is supported by its multilingual education system, offering free and compulsory education from ages 4 to 16.

Primary education integrates Luxembourgish, German, and French, ensuring fluency in three languages. Secondary education includes general and vocational tracks, leading to diplomas such as the Diplôme de Fin d’Études Secondaires and the Certificat d’Aptitude Technique et Professionnelle (CATP).

Post-secondary education is available at the Université de Luxembourg and lycées techniques, offering Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral programs. Teacher training is conducted through specialized 3-year programs, maintaining high educational standards.

6. Norway

Norway’s literacy performance according to ORBI varies significantly across different age groups and assessments.

In PIRLS 2011, which evaluates 4th graders’ reading comprehension, Norway scored below the EU average (507 vs 535), with a high proportion (29%) of low-performing readers compared to the EU average of 20%.

However, there has been improvement since 2001 when 40% of students fell into this category.

Conversely, in PISA 2012, which assesses 15-year-olds’ reading literacy, Norway outperformed the EU average (504 vs 489), with a lower proportion of low-performing readers (16.2% vs 19.7% EU average).

Adult literacy, measured by PIAAC in 2012, further highlighted Norway’s above-average performance (278 vs 271 EU average), though 13% of adults were at or below Level 1 proficiency, compared to 16.4% in the EU.

A notable challenge remains the gap in performance based on socio-economic and linguistic backgrounds, particularly for non-native speakers.

7. Ukraine

Ukraine achieved a perfect 100% literacy rate in 2021, improving from 99.97% in 2012 as per the Global Economy.

The nation has consistently maintained high literacy levels, with an average of 99.8% over two decades (2001–2021).

The lowest recorded value was 99.43% in 2001, showcasing steady progress toward universal literacy.

Ukraine demonstrates gender parity in literacy, with 100% of females aged 15-24 and 99.80% of males in the same age group being literate.

The overall youth literacy rate (ages 15-24) stands at an impressive 99.90%, highlighting the country’s success in fostering educational equity among younger populations.

Ukraine allocates 5.74% of its GDP and 14.25% of its government spending to education, reflecting its commitment to maintaining high literacy levels and robust educational infrastructure.

8. Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan achieved and maintained a 100% literacy rate in 2022, reflecting its strong commitment to education.

This is significantly higher than the global average literacy rate of 77.72%, showcasing the country’s educational achievements.

Historically, Uzbekistan’s literacy rate has averaged 99.84% since 2000, with a minimum of 98.64% recorded in that year, indicating consistent progress toward universal literacy.

Global Economy notes that Uzbekistan achieves full literacy among its youth, with 100% of females aged 15-24 literate in 2022.

This demonstrates the country’s focus on gender equity in education, a key factor in sustaining long-term literacy achievements.

They allocate 5.28% of its GDP and an impressive 21.85% of its government budget to education, reflecting one of the highest education spending rates globally.

This substantial investment supports comprehensive access to education and the maintenance of high literacy standards across all demographics.

9. North Korea

 

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North Korea maintains a perfect literacy rate of 100%, reflecting the country’s long-standing emphasis on compulsory education and universal access to basic learning.

This rate has remained stable since 2008, showcasing no recorded decline or increase according to Macrotrends.

Education in North Korea is state-controlled and free for all citizens, emphasizing literacy and ideological training as foundational elements of its curriculum.

Adult literacy is defined as the capacity to read and write simple statements about everyday life, a benchmark that the country achieves universally.

While detailed data on the methodologies or assessments used to evaluate literacy in North Korea are scarce, the country’s self-reported 100% literacy rate positions it well above the global average of 77.72%.

This performance aligns with its national policies prioritizing education as a central component of societal development.

However, international verification of these figures remains limited, requiring caution in direct comparisons.

10. Latvia

Latvia boasts an exceptionally high adult literacy rate of 99.89%, maintaining consistent performance over the years.

Women slightly outperform men in literacy, with rates of 99.91% for women and 99.86% for men in 2021 according to the Country Economy.

This gender literacy parity is a testament to Latvia’s commitment to equitable education access.

Among individuals aged 15-24, the combined literacy rate is 99.82%, with females at 99.86% and males at 99.77%. T

These figures highlight the effectiveness of Latvia’s education system in sustaining high literacy rates across generations.

Since 1989, Latvia has shown remarkable improvement in literacy, rising from 99.45% to nearly universal literacy in 2021. This reflects sustained efforts in education policy and access to learning resources.

Now Let’s See Couple of the Lowest Ones

1. Chad

Chad’s literacy rate remains among the lowest globally, with only  26.76% of adults literate as of 2016.

Despite some progress from 1993 when the literacy rate was 10.89%, there has been a decline since 2000, reflecting persistent challenges in improving education access and quality.

Youth Literacy: Youth literacy (ages 15-24) stands at 30.79%, with significant gender disparities: only 22.39% of females are literate compared to 40.69% of males as per Index Mundi notes.

While youth literacy improved from 17.35% in 1993 to 37.56% in 2000, recent years have seen stagnation and a decline.

Gender Disparities: Adult female literacy is alarmingly low at 13.96%, while male literacy is 31.33%, highlighting significant gender inequities in education access.

This gap is particularly concerning as it limits opportunities for women in socio-economic development.

2. Mali

 

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Macrotrends notes that Mali faces significant challenges in improving literacy, with only 30.76% of adults literate in 2020.

While modest gains were seen between 2011 and 2018, literacy rates declined sharply by 4.71% between 2018 and 2020, underscoring systemic barriers to sustained progress.

Mali’s adult literacy rate increased from 30.62% in 2011 to 35.47% in 2018, reflecting efforts to improve education access.

However, the recent decline highlights vulnerabilities in the education system and the impact of political instability, poverty, and limited resources.

The literacy gap between men and women remains stark, with female literacy rates significantly lower than those of males.

Cultural norms and barriers to girls’ education exacerbate these disparities, limiting opportunities for women to contribute fully to Mali’s socio

3. South Sudan

 

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South Sudan’s literacy rates reflect significant educational challenges, with only 31.99% of adults able to read and write as per Countrymeters.

Among males, the literacy rate stands at 38.62%, while for females, it is considerably lower at 25.34%, highlighting stark gender disparities.

Approximately 4.8 million adults remain illiterate, emphasizing the urgent need for improved educational access.

The youth literacy rate (ages 15-24) is slightly higher at 44.33%, with 46.89% of males and 41.74% of females literate.

While these figures suggest some progress among younger populations, the gender gap persists, limiting opportunities for women and girls.

Methodology

We sourced data from authoritative institutions, including UNESCO, OECD, and the CIA World Factbook, to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Countries were selected based on their highest and lowest literacy rates, focusing on diversity in regions and socio-economic statuses.

Statistical comparisons were made across literacy rates, gender gaps, youth trends, and government spending on education.

We incorporated historical, cultural, and economic factors to provide context for literacy performance in each country.

Tables and structured formats were used to distill complex data into digestible insights for readers.

Claims and figures were verified with multiple sources, including recent reports and global rankings, for consistency.

All information was synthesized into a coherent narrative, balancing detailed analysis with concise, reader-friendly summaries.

References:

1. U.S. Career Institute – Which Countries Have the Highest and Lowest Literacy Rates
2. OECD – PIAAC Country Notes: Finland
   • PIAAC Literacy Performance in Norway
3. Trading Economics – Luxembourg GDP Per Capita
4. The Global Economy – Ukraine Literacy Rate
   • Uzbekistan Literacy Rate
5. CIA World Factbook – Greenland
6. AACRAO – Liechtenstein Education System
   • Luxembourg Education System
7. Country Economy – Latvia Literacy Rate
8. Index Mundi – Chad Literacy Rate
9. Macrotrends – Mali Literacy Rate
   • North Korea Literacy Rate
10. Countrymeters – South Sudan Literacy Rate
11. UNESCO – UNESCO Institute for Statistics
    • Afghanistan Girls Education
    • Somalia Education System