Literacy Rate
WorldPopulationSocial / HealthThe percentage of the population, age 15 years or older, who has the ability to read, write, and use arithmetic. Some countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia do not report these rates to UNESCO.
A world map shows literacy rates. Dark purple (more than 98 percent): Russia, Argentina, Poland, Ukraine, and Mongolia. Purple to light purple (70 to 98 percent): China, Brazil, India. Very light purple (less than 70 percent): Countries in central Africa.
Class | Rank | Percent | Class | Rank | Years | Extent of U.S., 1803 | Louisiana Purchase, 1803 | West Florida, 1810–1813 | British Cession, 1818 | East Florida, 1819 | Northern Maine, 1842 | Texas Annexation, 1845 | Oregon Country, 1846 | Mexican Cession, 1848 | Gadsden Purchase, 1853 | Alaska, 1867 | Hawaii, 1898 | Class | Rank | People per square kilometer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91.6% | 79.0% | 7.81% | 30.8% | 98.3% | 16.6% | 50.1% | 57.7% | 66.4% | 12.6% | 63.8% | 91.5% | ||||||||||