total population: 74.98 years
male: 71.99 years
female: 78.12 years (2009 est.)
New Zealand
total population: 80.36 years
male: 78.43 years
female: 82.39 years (2009 est.)
Nicaragua
total population: 71.5 years
male: 69.35 years
female: 73.75 years (2009 est.)
Niger
total population: 52.6 years
male: 51.39 years
female: 53.85 years (2009 est.)
Nigeria
total population: 46.94 years
male: 46.16 years
female: 47.76 years (2009 est.)
Niue
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Norfolk Island
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Northern Mariana Islands
total population: 76.7 years
male: 74.08 years
female: 79.47 years (2009 est.)
Norway
total population: 79.95 years
male: 77.29 years
female: 82.74 years (2009 est.)
Oman
total population: 74.16 years
male: 71.87 years
female: 76.55 years (2009 est.)
Pakistan
total population: 64.49 years
male: 63.4 years
female: 65.64 years (2009 est.)
Palau
total population: 71.22 years
male: 68.08 years
female: 74.54 years (2009 est.)
Panama
total population: 77.25 years
male: 74.47 years
female: 80.16 years (2009 est.)
Papua New Guinea
total population: 66.34 years
male: 64.08 years
female: 68.72 years (2009 est.)
Paraguay
total population: 75.77 years
male: 73.19 years
female: 78.49 years (2009 est.)
Peru
total population: 70.74 years
male: 68.88 years
female: 72.69 years (2009 est.)
Philippines
total population: 71.09 years
male: 68.17 years
female: 74.15 years (2009 est.)
Pitcairn Islands
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Poland
total population: 75.63 years
male: 71.65 years
female: 79.85 years (2009 est.)
Portugal
total population: 78.21 years
male: 74.95 years
female: 81.69 years (2009 est.)
Puerto Rico
total population: 78.53 years
male: 74.85 years
female: 82.39 years (2009 est.)
Qatar
total population: 75.35 years
male: 73.66 years
female: 77.14 years (2009 est.)
Romania
total population: 72.45 years
male: 68.95 years
female: 76.16 years (2009 est.)
Russia
total population: 66.03 years
male: 59.33 years
female: 73.14 years (2009 est.)
Rwanda
total population: 50.52 years
male: 49.25 years
female: 51.83 years (2009 est.)
Saint Helena
total population: 78.44 years
male: 75.52 years
female: 81.5 years (2009 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
total population: 73.2 years
male: 70.33 years
female: 76.25 years (2009 est.)
Saint Lucia
total population: 76.45 years
male: 73.78 years
female: 79.27 years (2009 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
total population: 79.07 years
male: 76.69 years
female: 81.57 years (2009 est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
total population: 73.65 years
male: 71.82 years
female: 75.54 years (2009 est.)
Samoa
total population: 71.86 years
male: 69.03 years
female: 74.84 years (2009 est.)
San Marino
total population: 81.97 years
male: 78.53 years
female: 85.72 years (2009 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe
total population: 68.32 years
male: 66.65 years
female: 70.04 years (2009 est.)
Saudi Arabia
total population: 76.3 years
male: 74.23 years
female: 78.48 years (2009 est.)
Senegal
total population: 59 years
male: 57.12 years
female: 60.93 years (2009 est.)
Serbia
total population: 73.9 years
male: 71.09 years
female: 76.89 years (2009 est.)
Seychelles
total population: 73.02 years
male: 68.33 years
female: 77.85 years (2009 est.)
Sierra Leone
total population: 41.24 years
male: 38.92 years
female: 43.64 years (2009 est.)
Singapore
total population: 81.98 years
male: 79.37 years
female: 84.78 years (2009 est.)
Slovakia
total population: 75.4 years
male: 71.47 years
female: 79.53 years (2009 est.)
Slovenia
total population: 76.92 years
male: 73.25 years
female: 80.84 years (2009 est.)
Solomon Islands
total population: 73.69 years
male: 71.14 years
female: 76.37 years (2009 est.)
Somalia
total population: 49.63 years
male: 47.78 years
female: 51.53 years (2009 est.)
South Africa
total population: 48.98 years
male: 49.81 years
female: 48.13 years (2009 est.)
Spain
total population: 80.05 years
male: 76.74 years
female: 83.57 years (2009 est.)
Sri Lanka
total population: 75.14 years
male: 73.08 years
female: 77.28 years (2009 est.)
Sudan
total population: 51.42 years
male: 50.49 years
female: 52.4 years (2009 est.)
Suriname
total population: 73.73 years
male: 71 years
female: 76.65 years (2009 est.)
Svalbard
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Swaziland
total population: 31.99 years
male: 31.69 years
female: 32.3 years (2009 est.)
Sweden
total population: 80.86 years
male: 78.59 years
female: 83.26 years (2009 est.)
Switzerland
total population: 80.85 years
male: 78.03 years
female: 83.83 years (2009 est.)
Syria
total population: 71.19 years
male: 69.8 years
female: 72.68 years (2009 est.)
Taiwan
total population: 77.96 years
male: 75.12 years
female: 81.05 years (2009 est.)
Tajikistan
total population: 65.33 years
male: 62.29 years
female: 68.52 years (2009 est.)
Tanzania
total population: 52.01 years
male: 50.56 years
female: 53.51 years (2009 est.)
Thailand
total population: 73.1 years
male: 70.77 years
female: 75.55 years (2009 est.)
Timor-Leste
total population: 67.27 years
male: 64.92 years
female: 69.75 years (2009 est.)
Togo
total population: 58.69 years
male: 56.56 years
female: 60.88 years (2009 est.)
Tokelau
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Tonga
total population: 70.73 years
male: 68.18 years
female: 73.41 years (2009 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago
total population: 70.86 years
male: 67.98 years
female: 73.82 years (2009 est.)
Tunisia
total population: 75.78 years
male: 73.98 years
female: 77.7 years (2009 est.)
Turkey
total population: 71.96 years
male: 70.12 years
female: 73.89 years (2009 est.)
Turkmenistan
total population: 67.87 years
male: 64.94 years
female: 70.95 years (2009 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands
total population: 75.42 years
male: 73.12 years
female: 77.83 years (2009 est.)
Tuvalu
total population: 69.29 years
male: 66.99 years
female: 71.7 years (2009 est.)
Uganda
total population: 52.72 years
male: 51.66 years
female: 53.81 years (2009 est.)
Ukraine
total population: 68.25 years
male: 62.37 years
female: 74.5 years (2009 est.)
United Arab Emirates
total population: 76.11 years
male: 73.56 years
female: 78.78 years (2009 est.)
United Kingdom
total population: 79.01 years
male: 76.52 years
female: 81.63 years (2009 est.)
United States
total population: 78.11 years
male: 75.65 years
female: 80.69 years (2009 est.)
Uruguay
total population: 76.35 years
male: 73.1 years
female: 79.72 years (2009 est.)
Uzbekistan
total population: 71.96 years
male: 68.95 years
female: 75.15 years (2009 est.)
Vanuatu
total population: 63.98 years
male: 62.37 years
female: 65.66 years (2009 est.)
Venezuela
total population: 73.61 years
male: 70.54 years
female: 76.83 years (2009 est.)
Vietnam
total population: 71.58 years
male: 68.78 years
female: 74.57 years (2009 est.)
Virgin Islands
total population: 79.05 years
male: 76.02 years
female: 82.26 years (2009 est.)
Wallis and Futuna
total population: 78.2 years
male: 75.22 years
female: 81.32 years (2009 est.)
West Bank
total population: 74.54 years
male: 72.54 years
female: 76.65 years (2009 est.)
Western Sahara
total population: 54.32 years
male: 52 years
female: 56.73 years (2009 est.)
World
total population: 66.57 years
male: 64.52 years
female: 68.76 years (2009 est.)
Yemen
total population: 63.27 years
male: 61.3 years
female: 65.33 years (2009 est.)
Zambia
total population: 38.63 years
male: 38.53 years
female: 38.73 years (2009 est.)
Zimbabwe
total population: 45.77 years
male: 46.36 years
female: 45.16 years (2009 est.)
======================================================================
@2103
Field Listing :: Literacy
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: 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: 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% (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% (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: 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: 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: NA
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 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: 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: 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
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%
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: 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
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.)