Since researching the below lists in 2014, I recently decided to update them in November 2019. However, I then decided against it because whilst the latest information available from the United Nations website shows some remarkable improvements across the majority of the poorer literacy levels of these lists, how the improvements were arrived at I decided were not very realistic. For example:-
- Some countries determined literacy based on census reports where a tick box was provided saying is this person literate?
- Some countries determined literacy by random surveys of who could read a simple sentence in their own language.
- Some countries determined literacy by a person being able to write their own name.
Whilst it is clear that improvements have been made, especially where younger people have been enrolled in schools, these methods of determining literacy are insufficient. Whilst appreciating that at present there may not be better methods available.
Also, assuming that people are literate - what is available for them to read?
In my experience, in many countries all that is available to read in one's own language is Government controlled newspapers or Religious books. Even people in these countries who are very well educated and can read in a foreign language - English, French, Spanish etc., - do not have access to books or newspapers in those languages - they are either not available or not allowed.
Also, of course the internet is not available to many of these people because either the infrastructure is not there, or the cost is prohibitive. Even countries where people have the internet and can afford its use, often find that access to much information is restricted by their governments.
Recently, Russia under Putin's virtual dictatorship, announced that they were to introduce a government controlled internet service that would be independent from and cut off from the world wide web. The purpose being censorship and to control what people could read. Once cut off from the www, even censorship avoidance search engines would become ineffective.
China, already operating strict censorship on what books and newspapers its people can read, whilst also censoring the internet, looks likely to follow Russia's lead.
It used to be the religions who wanted to control people's access to information by only allowing religious books to be read by religious scholars, whilst the rest of the population had to be given information by these scholars in a way that ensured compliance with the religions objectives.
The invention of the printing press and printed translations brought literature to the masses, but only those able to read.
Communism replaced the religious books with state controlled books and a censored press.
Despotic political and religious regimes across the world are terrified of allowing their people unfettered education, literacy and access to information. Why? Because education, literacy and access to information will bring about their regimes downfall.
Charles
|
Country |
Literacy total |
Male |
Female |
Year |
Predominant religion |
|
Below 50% Total Literacy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Niger |
18.7 percent |
27.1 percent |
10.6 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Somalia |
24.1 percent |
36.1 percent |
14 percent |
1995 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Burkina Faso |
28.5 percent |
38.8 percent |
18.2 percent |
2005 |
Islam/Traditional |
|
Afghanistan |
36.3 percent |
51 percent |
20.8 percent |
2000 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Sierra Leone |
36.3 percent |
50.7 percent |
22.6 percent |
2000 |
Islam |
|
Guinea |
41.1 percent |
55.1 percent |
27 percent |
2000 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Iraq |
41.1 percent |
56.6 percent |
25.2 percent |
2005 |
Islam |
|
Angola |
41.7 percent |
55.6 percent |
28.5 percent |
1990 |
Catholic |
|
Senegal |
42.1 percent |
51.7 percent |
32.6 percent |
2005 |
Islam |
|
The Gambia |
42.4 percent |
50.2 percent |
35 percent |
2005 |
Islam |
|
Mauritania |
42.6 percent |
52.5 percent |
33 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Timor-Leste |
43 percent |
43.1 percent |
42.8 percent |
2001 |
Catholic |
|
Benin |
43.2 percent |
58.8 percent |
28.4 percent |
2005 |
Christian mix/Traditional/Islam |
|
Bangladesh |
44.2 percent |
54.9 percent |
33 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Guinea-Bissau |
44.8 percent |
60.4 percent |
30.1 percent |
2005 |
Traditional/Islam |
|
Ethiopia |
45.1 percent |
52.4 percent |
37.8 percent |
2005 |
Christian mix |
|
Bhutan |
47.3 percent |
61.1 percent |
33.6 percent |
2000 |
Buddhist |
|
Pakistan |
47.4 percent |
61.4 percent |
32.4 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Nepal |
47.5 percent |
64.7 percent |
29.9 percent |
2005 |
Hindu |
|
Mali |
49.7 percent |
56.6 percent |
43.1 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
50 – 70% Total Literacy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mozambique |
50.4 percent |
65.8 percent |
35.5 percent |
2005 |
Traditional/Christian |
|
Djibouti |
51.4 percent |
65 percent |
38.4 percent |
2000 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Vanuatu |
52.9 percent |
57.3 percent |
47.8 percent |
1995 |
Protestant |
|
Yemen |
52.9 percent |
72.5 percent |
33.2 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Morocco |
53.5 percent |
65.6 percent |
41.5 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Chad |
53.6 percent |
66.9 percent |
40.8 percent |
2000 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Côte d'Ivoire |
53.6 percent |
60.1 percent |
46.8 percent |
2005 |
Traditional/Christian/Islam |
|
Burundi |
53.9 percent |
60 percent |
48.2 percent |
2005 |
Catholic/Traditional |
|
Central African Republic |
53.9 percent |
65.6 percent |
43.2 percent |
2005 |
Christian mix |
|
Haiti |
54.8 percent |
56.5 percent |
53.2 percent |
2005 |
Catholic/Voodoo |
|
India |
56.6 percent |
69.5 percent |
43 percent |
2005 |
Hindu |
|
Comoros |
56.8 percent |
63.9 percent |
49.7 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
São Tomé and Principe |
57.4 percent |
73.2 percent |
42.4 percent |
1995 |
Catholic |
|
Seychelles |
57.7 percent |
55.6 percent |
59.8 percent |
1995 |
Catholic |
|
Egypt |
59.3 percent |
69.4 percent |
48.9 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Liberia |
59.5 percent |
75.1 percent |
43.9 percent |
2005 |
Christian/Traditional |
|
Sudan |
63.2 percent |
73.3 percent |
53.2 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Togo |
63.5 percent |
77.4 percent |
49.9 percent |
2005 |
Christian mix/Ancestor worship |
|
Malawi |
64.3 percent |
77.1 percent |
51.9 percent |
2005 |
Christian mix |
|
Laos |
64.8 percent |
76.2 percent |
53.4 percent |
2000 |
Buddhist |
|
Madagascar |
66.5 percent |
73.6 percent |
59.7 percent |
2000 |
Christian mix/Ancestor worship |
|
Nicaragua |
68.2 percent |
67.8 percent |
68.5 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
70 - 90% Total Literacy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nigeria |
70.7 percent |
77.8 percent |
63.8 percent |
2005 |
Islam/Christian |
|
Gabon |
70.8 percent |
79.8 percent |
62.2 percent |
2000 |
Christian mix |
|
Cambodia |
71.3 percent |
81 percent |
62.5 percent |
2005 |
Buddhist |
|
Uganda |
71.6 percent |
80.7 percent |
62.7 percent |
2005 |
Anglican |
|
Guatemala |
71.9 percent |
79.2 percent |
64.7 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Algeria |
72.2 percent |
80.6 percent |
63.6 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Rwanda |
72.7 percent |
78 percent |
67.6 percent |
2005 |
Christian mix |
|
Papua New Guinea |
76 percent |
83.7 percent |
67.7 percent |
2000 |
Christian mix |
|
Tunisia |
76.2 percent |
85.7 percent |
66.7 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Ghana |
76.9 percent |
84.3 percent |
69.8 percent |
2005 |
Christian mix |
|
Honduras |
77.2 percent |
77 percent |
77.5 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Cape Verde |
78 percent |
86.7 percent |
70.9 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Oman |
78.3 percent |
84.9 percent |
70.5 percent |
2005 |
Islam |
|
Syria |
78.4 percent |
90.6 percent |
66.1 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
United Arab Emirates |
78.9 percent |
76.9 percent |
82.8 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Tanzania |
80.2 percent |
87.2 percent |
73.4 percent |
2005 |
Christian/Islam/Traditional |
|
Saudi Arabia |
80.5 percent |
85.9 percent |
73.3 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Cameroon |
81.1 percent |
86.2 percent |
76.1 percent |
2005 |
Christian mix |
|
El Salvador |
81.2 percent |
83.7 percent |
78.9 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Iran |
81.3 percent |
87.2 percent |
75.2 percent |
2005 |
Islam Shiite |
|
Botswana |
81.4 percent |
78.6 percent |
84.1 percent |
2005 |
Christian mix |
|
Saint Lucia |
81.7 percent |
80.8 percent |
82.4 percent |
1995 |
Catholic |
|
Zambia |
82.2 percent |
87.7 percent |
76.8 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Swaziland |
82.9 percent |
83.7 percent |
82.1 percent |
2005 |
Christian mix |
|
Qatar |
83.5 percent |
82 percent |
86.5 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Libya |
84.2 percent |
93.4 percent |
74.3 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Kuwait |
84.4 percent |
85.8 percent |
82.9 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Albania |
84.7 percent |
92.1 percent |
77 percent |
2000 |
Islam (nominal) but mainly atheist |
|
Dominican Republic |
85.4 percent |
85.3 percent |
85.6 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Namibia |
85.4 percent |
85.5 percent |
85.3 percent |
2005 |
Lutheran |
|
Lesotho |
85.7 percent |
75.8 percent |
95.1 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Congo, Republic of |
85.8 percent |
91.2 percent |
80.8 percent |
2005 |
Christian mix |
|
Myanmar |
86.2 percent |
89.6 percent |
82.8 percent |
2005 |
Buddhist |
|
Mauritius |
86.4 percent |
89.1 percent |
83.8 percent |
2005 |
Hindu |
|
Kenya |
86.9 percent |
91.7 percent |
82.1 percent |
2005 |
Christian mix |
|
Brazil |
87.1 percent |
86.7 percent |
87.5 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Equatorial Guinea |
87.1 percent |
94.1 percent |
80.5 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
South Africa |
87.1 percent |
87.7 percent |
86.5 percent |
2005 |
Christian mix |
|
China (Pre-communist) |
Confucianism/Daoism/Buddhist |
||||
|
China (Communist) |
87.3 percent |
93.7 percent |
80.6 percent |
2005 |
Atheism/Traditional |
|
Turkey |
87.6 percent |
94.9 percent |
80.1 percent |
2005 |
Islam |
|
Lebanon |
88.3 percent |
93.6 percent |
83.4 percent |
2005 |
Islam/Christian |
|
Bolivia |
88.4 percent |
93.8 percent |
83.1 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Jamaica |
88.7 percent |
84.9 percent |
92.3 percent |
2005 |
Protestant |
|
Antigua and Barbuda |
89 percent |
90 percent |
88 percent |
1995 |
Protestant |
|
Indonesia |
89.5 percent |
93.6 percent |
85.6 percent |
2005 |
Islam |
|
Congo, Democratic Republic of the |
89.8 percent |
95 percent |
84.9 percent |
2005 |
Christian mix |
|
Reunion |
89.8 percent |
87.9 percent |
91.7 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Malaysia |
89.9 percent |
93 percent |
86.8 percent |
2005 |
Islam |
|
90 - 95% Total Literacy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bahrain |
90 percent |
92.6 percent |
86.4 percent |
2005 |
Islam Shiite |
|
Peru |
91.6 percent |
95.6 percent |
87.7 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Jordan |
92.4 percent |
96.5 percent |
87.9 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Mexico |
92.7 percent |
94.4 percent |
91.2 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Brunei |
92.8 percent |
95.5 percent |
89.9 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Sri Lanka |
92.8 percent |
95 percent |
90.6 percent |
2005 |
Buddhist |
|
Colombia |
93 percent |
92.9 percent |
93.1 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Panama |
93 percent |
93.7 percent |
92.4 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Ecuador |
93.1 percent |
94.4 percent |
91.7 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Belize |
93.2 percent |
93.3 percent |
93.2 percent |
2000 |
Catholic/Protestant |
|
Hong Kong, China |
93.4 percent |
96.5 percent |
90 percent |
2000 |
Atheist |
|
Malta |
93.4 percent |
92.4 percent |
94.4 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Singapore |
93.9 percent |
97 percent |
90.8 percent |
2005 |
Buddhist/Islam/Hindu/Christian |
|
Venezuela |
94 percent |
94.2 percent |
93.8 percent |
2005 |
Catholic (majority non-practicing) |
|
Dominica |
94.1 percent |
94 percent |
94.2 percent |
1995 |
Catholic |
|
Portugal |
94.1 percent |
96.1 percent |
92.3 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Suriname |
94.2 percent |
95.9 percent |
92.6 percent |
2000 |
Christian/Hindu |
|
Fiji Islands |
94.4 percent |
95.9 percent |
92.9 percent |
2005 |
Protestant |
|
Paraguay |
94.4 percent |
95.2 percent |
93.6 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Vietnam |
94.4 percent |
96 percent |
92.9 percent |
2005 |
Buddhist/Confucian/Daoist (Pre-communist) Buddhist – Nominal (Communist) |
|
Macau |
94.8 percent |
97.5 percent |
92.3 percent |
2005 |
Atheist/Buddhist |
|
95 - 100% Total Literacy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
95.6 percent |
95.8 percent |
95.5 percent |
1995 |
Christian mix |
|
The Bahamas |
95.8 percent |
94.9 percent |
96.7 percent |
2005 |
Protestant |
|
Israel |
96 percent |
97.6 percent |
94.4 percent |
2005 |
Jewish |
|
San Marino |
96.1 percent |
96.8 percent |
95.3 percent |
1995 |
Catholic |
|
Costa Rica |
96.3 percent |
96.2 percent |
96.4 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Philippines |
96.3 percent |
96.3 percent |
96.2 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Thailand |
96.4 percent |
97.7 percent |
95.1 percent |
2005 |
Buddhist |
|
Chile |
96.5 percent |
96.6 percent |
96.4 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Canada |
96.6 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Catholic/Protestant |
|
The Netherlands Antilles |
96.9 percent |
96.9 percent |
97 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Aruba |
97 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1991 |
Catholic |
|
Argentina |
97.2 percent |
97.2 percent |
97.3 percent |
2005 |
Catholic (majority non-practicing) |
|
Cuba |
97.3 percent |
97.4 percent |
97.2 percent |
2005 |
Catholic/Santeria/Atheist |
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis |
97.3 percent |
97.1 percent |
97.5 percent |
1995 |
Protestant |
|
Maldives |
97.5 percent |
97.3 percent |
97.6 percent |
2005 |
Islam |
|
Greece |
97.7 percent |
98.7 percent |
96.8 percent |
2005 |
Greek Orthodox |
|
Grenada |
97.8 percent |
98 percent |
97.6 percent |
1995 |
Catholic |
|
Cyprus Greek/Turkish |
98 percent |
99.1 percent |
96.9 percent |
2005 |
G=Christian. T=Islam Sunni |
|
Ireland |
98 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Catholic |
|
Martinique |
98 percent |
97.6 percent |
98.3 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Spain |
98.1 percent |
98.8 percent |
97.4 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Trinidad and Tobago |
98.2 percent |
99 percent |
97.5 percent |
2000 |
Christian mix |
|
Uruguay |
98.2 percent |
97.8 percent |
98.5 percent |
2005 |
Catholic (majority non-practicing) |
|
Virgin Islands, British |
98.3 percent |
98.1 percent |
98.5 percent |
1995 |
Protestant |
|
Armenia |
98.4 percent |
99.3 percent |
97.6 percent |
2000 |
Christian (post-soviet) |
|
Korea, South |
98.4 percent |
99.3 percent |
97.4 percent |
2005 |
Christian/Buddhist/Confucian |
|
Romania |
98.5 percent |
99.2 percent |
97.9 percent |
2005 |
Romanian Orthodox |
|
Croatia |
98.7 percent |
99.5 percent |
98.1 percent |
2005 |
Catholic (Pre-communist) Catholic (Post-communist) |
|
Bulgaria |
98.8 percent |
99.2 percent |
98.4 percent |
2005 |
Christian (Pre-communist) Christian (Post-communist) |
|
Italy |
98.8 percent |
99.1 percent |
98.4 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Austria |
99 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Catholic |
|
Belgium |
99 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Catholic |
|
Czech Republic |
99 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Christian (Pre-communist) Atheist/Catholic (Post-communist) |
|
Denmark |
99 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Lutheran |
|
France |
99 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Catholic |
|
Germany |
99 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Lutheran/Catholic |
|
Guyana |
99 percent |
99.2 percent |
98.7 percent |
2005 |
Protestant/Hindu |
|
Japan |
99 percent |
99 percent |
99 percent |
1995 |
Shinto/Buddhist/Christian |
|
Korea, North (Pre-communist) |
Confucian/Buddhist |
||||
|
Korea, North (Communist) |
99 percent |
99 percent |
99 percent |
1995 |
Theory=Religious freedom Practice=No religion |
|
New Zealand |
99 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Christian mix / Atheist |
|
Norway |
99 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Lutheran |
|
Sweden |
99 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Lutheran |
|
Switzerland |
99 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Catholic |
|
The Netherlands |
99 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Catholic/Protestant |
|
United Kingdom |
99 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Christian mix/Non-religious |
|
Mongolia |
99.2 percent |
99.2 percent |
99.1 percent |
2005 |
Buddhist (Pre-communist) Buddhist (Post-communist) |
|
Uzbekistan |
99.2 percent |
99.6 percent |
98.8 percent |
2000 |
Islam (Pre-communist) Islam (Post-communist) |
|
Moldova |
99.3 percent |
99.7 percent |
99 percent |
2005 |
Christian mix |
|
Hungary |
99.4 percent |
99.5 percent |
99.3 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Georgia |
99.5 percent |
99.7 percent |
99.4 percent |
1995 |
Christian |
|
Tajikistan |
99.5 percent |
99.7 percent |
99.2 percent |
2005 |
Islam Sunni (Pre-communist) Islam Sunni (Post-communist) |
|
United States |
99.5 percent |
N/A |
N/A |
1995 |
Christian mix |
|
Azerbaijan |
99.6 percent |
99.7 percent |
99.5 percent |
1995 |
Islam Shiite (post-soviet) |
|
Kazakhstan |
99.6 percent |
99.7 percent |
99.5 percent |
1995 |
Islam (nominally) |
|
Kyrgyzstan |
99.6 percent |
99.7 percent |
99.5 percent |
1995 |
Islam Sunni |
|
Lithuania |
99.6 percent |
99.7 percent |
99.6 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Russian Federation |
99.6 percent |
99.7 percent |
99.6 percent |
2005 |
Atheist |
|
Tonga |
99.6 percent |
99.7 percent |
99.5 percent |
1995 |
Protestant |
|
Ukraine |
99.6 percent |
99.8 percent |
99.5 percent |
2000 |
Eastern Orthodox |
|
Barbados |
99.7 percent |
99.7 percent |
99.7 percent |
2000 |
Protestant |
|
Belarus |
99.7 percent |
99.8 percent |
99.6 percent |
2005 |
Atheist/Mixed |
|
Samoa |
99.7 percent |
99.7 percent |
99.7 percent |
2005 |
Protestant |
|
Slovenia |
99.7 percent |
99.7 percent |
99.6 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Turkmenistan |
99.7 percent |
99.8 percent |
99.6 percent |
1995 |
Islam Sunni (Pre-communist) Islam Sunni (Post-communist) |
|
Estonia |
99.8 percent |
99.8 percent |
99.8 percent |
2003 |
Christian/Atheist |
|
Latvia |
99.8 percent |
99.8 percent |
99.8 percent |
2005 |
Christian mix/Atheist |
|
Poland |
99.8 percent |
99.8 percent |
99.8 percent |
2005 |
Catholic |
|
Australia |
100 percent |
N/A |
N/A |
1995 |
Christian mix |
|
Finland |
100 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Lutheran |
|
Iceland |
100 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Lutheran |
|
Luxembourg |
100 percent |
Not available |
Not available |
1995 |
Catholic |
|
Andorra |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
N/A |
Catholic |
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
N/A |
Islam Sunni |
|
Cook Islands |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
N/A |
Christian mix |
|
Kiribati |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
N/A |
Christian mix |
|
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
N/A |
Christian/Islam |
|
Monaco |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
N/A |
Catholic |
|
Niue |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
N/A |
Protestant |
|
Slovakia |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
N/A |
Catholic |
|
Solomon Islands |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
N/A |
Protestant |
|
Tuvalu |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
N/A |
Protestant |