Question 1

Which countries have the highest literacy rates?

Accepted Answer

More than 50 countries report adult literacy rates above 99%, including most of Europe, North America, and East Asia, where near-universal schooling has been established for generations.

Question 2

Which countries have the lowest literacy rates?

Accepted Answer

The lowest adult literacy rates are concentrated in parts of West and Central Africa, where several countries report rates below 50% of the adult population.

Question 3

What is the global average literacy rate?

Accepted Answer

The global adult literacy rate is approximately 87%, meaning about 1 in 8 adults worldwide — roughly 765 million people — still cannot read and write.