| Field Listing - Literacy

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Country | Literacy (%)
Afghanistan | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 36% male: 51% female: 21% (1999 est.)
Albania | definition: age 9 and over can read and write total population: 86.5% male: 93.3% female: 79.5% (2003 est.)
Algeria | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 70% male: 78.8% female: 61% (2003 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: 66.8% male: 82.1% female: 53.8% (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: 97.1% male: 97.1% female: 97.1% (2003 est.)
Armenia | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.6% male: 99.4% female: 98% (2003 est.)
Aruba | definition: NA total population: 97% male: NA% female: NA%
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% (2003 est.)
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: 89.1% male: 91.9% female: 85% (2003 est.)
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: 99.5% (2003 est.)
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: 94.1% male: 94.1% female: 94.1% (2003 est.)
Benin | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 33.6% male: 46.4% female: 22.6% (2002 est.)
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: 87.2% male: 93.1% female: 81.6% (2003 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.6% male: 98.4% female: 91.1% (2000 est.)
Botswana | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79.8% male: 76.9% female: 82.4% (2003 est.)
Brazil | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.4% male: 86.1% female: 86.6% (2003 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: 93.9% male: 96.3% female: 91.4% (2002)
Bulgaria | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.6% male: 99.1% female: 98.2% (2003 est.)
Burkina Faso | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 26.6% male: 36.9% female: 16.6% (2003 est.)
Burma | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85.3% male: 89.2% female: 81.4% (2002)
Burundi | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 51.6% male: 58.5% female: 45.2% (2003 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: 79% male: 84.7% female: 73.4% (2003 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: 96.2% male: 96.4% female: 96.1% (2003 est.)
China | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.9% male: 95.1% female: 86.5% (2002)
Christmas Island | NA
Cocos (Keeling) Islands | NA
Colombia | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.5% male: 92.4% female: 92.6% (2003 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: 98.5% male: 99.4% female: 97.8% (2003 est.)
Cuba | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97% male: 97.2% female: 96.9% (2003 est.)
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: 84.7% male: 84.6% female: 84.8% (2003 est.)
East Timor | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 58.6% male: NA% female: NA% (2002)
Ecuador | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.5% male: 94% female: 91% (2003 est.)
Egypt | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 57.7% male: 68.3% female: 46.9% (2003 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% (2003 est.)
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 Guiana | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 83% male: 84% female: 82% (1982 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: 91.9% male: 96.3% female: 87.4% (2003 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: 74.8% male: 82.7% female: 67.1% (2003 est.)
Gibraltar | definition: NA total population: above 80% male: NA female: NA
Greece | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.5% male: 98.6% female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
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.)
Guadeloupe | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90% male: 90% female: 90% (1982 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: 70.6% male: 78% female: 63.3% (2003 est.)
Guernsey | definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Guinea | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.9% male: 49.9% female: 21.9% (1995 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: 76.2% male: 76.1% female: 76.3% (2003 est.)
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: 59.5% male: 70.2% female: 48.3% (2003 est.)
Indonesia | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87.9% male: 92.5% female: 83.4% (2002 est.)
Iran | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79.4% male: 85.6% female: 73% (2003 est.)
Iraq | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 40.4% male: 55.9% female: 24.4% (2003 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: 95.4% male: 97.3% female: 93.6% (2003 est.)
Italy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.6% male: 99% female: 98.3% (2003 est.)
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: 91.3% male: 95.9% female: 86.3% (2003 est.)
Kazakhstan | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.4% male: 99.1% female: 97.7% (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: 83.5% male: 85.1% female: 81.7% (2003 est.)
Kyrgyzstan | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.7% male: 99.3% female: 98.1% (1999 est.)
Laos | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 66.4% male: 77.4% female: 55.5% (2002)
Latvia | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
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: 99.7% female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
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: 94.5% male: 97.2% female: 92% (2003 est.)
Macedonia | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.1% male: 98.2% female: 94.1% (2002 est.)
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% (2002)
Maldives | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.2% male: 97.1% female: 97.3% (2003 est.)
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)
Martinique | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.7% male: 97.4% female: 98.1% (2003 est.)
Mauritania | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 41.7% male: 51.8% female: 31.9% (2003 est.)
Mauritius | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85.6% male: 88.6% female: 82.7% (2003 est.)
Mayotte | definition: NA total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Mexico | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.2% male: 94% female: 90.5% (2003 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: 99.6% female: 98.7% (2003 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% (2002)
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: 51.7% male: 64.1% female: 39.4% (2003 est.)
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: 84% male: 84.4% female: 83.7% (2003 est.)
Nauru | definition: NA total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Nepal | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 45.2% male: 62.7% female: 27.6% (2003 est.)
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: 91% male: 92% female: 90% (1976 est.)
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: 17.6% male: 25.8% female: 9.7% (2003 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: 75.8% male: 83.1% female: 67.2%
Pakistan | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 48.7% male: 61.7% female: 35.2% (2004 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: 92.6% male: 93.2% female: 91.9% (2003 est.)
Papua New Guinea | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 64.6% male: 71.1% female: 57.7% (2002)
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% (2002)
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 est.)
Reunion | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.9% male: 87% female: 90.8% (2003 est.)
Romania | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.4% male: 99.1% female: 97.7% (2003 est.)
Russia | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.6% male: 99.7% female: 99.5% (2003 est.)
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% (1976 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 79.3% male: 85% female: 62% (1991 est.)
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: 40.2% male: 50% female: 30.7% (2003 est.)
Serbia and Montenegro | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.4% male: 98.9% female: 94.1% (2002 est.)
Seychelles | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.9% male: 91.4% female: 92.3% (2003 est.)
Sierra Leone | definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic total population: 29.6% male: 39.8% female: 20.5% (2000 est.)
Singapore | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.5% male: 96.6% female: 88.6% (2002)
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: 92.3% male: 94.8% female: 90% (2003 est.)
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: 88% male: 92.3% female: 84.1% (2000 est.)
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: 76.9% male: 89.7% female: 64% (2003 est.)
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: 99.4% male: 99.6% female: 99.1% (2003 est.)
Tanzania | definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic total population: 78.2% male: 85.9% female: 70.7% (2003 est.)
Thailand | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.6% male: 94.9% female: 90.5% (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 est.)
Turkey | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.5% male: 94.3% female: 78.7% (2003 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: 69.9% male: 79.5% female: 60.4% (2003 est.)
Ukraine | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.7% male: 99.8% female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
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
Venezuela | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.4% male: 93.8% female: 93.1% (2003 est.)
Vietnam | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 90.3% male: 93.9% female: 86.9% (2002)
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: 91.9% male: 96.3% female: 87.4% (2003 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.)

This page was last updated on 29 March, 2006