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Countries in Asia Ranked by Literacy rate (2024)

Literacy rate: each country's latest value (2019–2024), ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).

Summary

Uzbekistan ranks #1 with 100% of people 15+ (2022). Turkmenistan is second with 99.9% of people 15+, 0.1% behind. The top five are Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. The median across all 37 is 96% of people 15+; Afghanistan is last at 37.3% of people 15+. Uzbekistan's figure has risen 1% since 2000 (98.6% of people 15+ to 100% of people 15+ in 2022).

#1
Uzbekistan · 100% of people 15+
Median
96% of people 15+
Coverage
37 countries in Asia
Data year
2024
Last updated
2026-11-14
Top 10: Literacy rateBar chart of the top 10: 1. Uzbekistan 100; 2. Turkmenistan 99.9; 3. Armenia 99.8; 4. Azerbaijan 99.8; 5. Georgia 99.7; 6. United Arab Emirates 98.8; 7. Mongolia 98.6; 8. Philippines 98.5; 9. Maldives 98.2; 10. West Bank and Gaza 97.9.Uzbekistan100Turkmenistan99.9Armenia99.8Azerbaijan99.8Georgia99.7United Arab Emirates98.8Mongolia98.6Philippines98.5Maldives98.2West Bank and Gaza97.9
Top 10: Literacy rate (% of people 15+). Bar chart of the top 10: 1. Uzbekistan 100; 2. Turkmenistan 99.9; 3. Armenia 99.8; 4. Azerbaijan 99.8; 5. Georgia 99.7; 6. United Arab Emirates 98.8; 7. Mongolia 98.6; 8. Philippines 98.5; 9. Maldives 98.2; 10. West Bank and Gaza 97.9.
Literacy rate over time, top 5Uzbekistan: 98.6 in 2000 to 100 in 2022; Armenia: 99.4 in 2001 to 99.8 in 2023; Azerbaijan: 99.6 in 2007 to 99.8 in 2023; Georgia: 99.7 in 2002 to 99.7 in 2024.0255075100200020122024UzbekistanArmeniaAzerbaijanGeorgia
Literacy rate over time, top 5 (% of people 15+). Uzbekistan: 98.6 in 2000 to 100 in 2022; Armenia: 99.4 in 2001 to 99.8 in 2023; Azerbaijan: 99.6 in 2007 to 99.8 in 2023; Georgia: 99.7 in 2002 to 99.7 in 2024.

Full ranking

Countries in Asia Ranked by Literacy rate, 2024
RankCountryLiteracy rate (% of people 15+)Year
1Uzbekistan1002022
2Turkmenistan99.92022
3Armenia99.82023
4Azerbaijan99.82023
5Georgia99.72024
6United Arab Emirates98.82024
7Mongolia98.62024
8Philippines98.52020
9Maldives98.22019
10West Bank and Gaza97.92024
11Saudi Arabia97.92024
12Bahrain97.82024
13Singapore97.72021
14Oman97.32022
15Türkiye97.32021
16China96.72020
17Kuwait96.52020
18Viet Nam96.12022
19Indonesia962020
20Malaysia95.82022
21Jordan94.42024
22Syrian Arab Republic94.42021
23Myanmar93.52020
24Sri Lanka92.72024
25Lebanon922019
26Thailand91.12022
27Iran, Islamic Rep.88.92023
28Iraq84.12021
29Bangladesh792022
30India78.22024
31Lao PDR75.62023
32Cambodia71.92021
33Timor-Leste69.42022
34Nepal68.72019
35Bhutan64.92022
36Pakistan58.92021
37Afghanistan37.32021

About the top 10

#7 Mongolia

Mongolia ranks #7 on this list with 98.6% of people 15+.

Capital
Ulaanbaatar
Continent
Asia
Income group
Upper middle income
Population
3.57 million people (2025)
GDP
US$25.37 billion (2025)
GDP per person
US$7,108 (2025)
Life expectancy
72.4 years (2024)
Urban population
71.1% of population (2025)

Largest cities: Ulaanbaatar.

Also ranks #3 in mineral rents share of gdp · #4 in bank branches per 100,000 adults · #5 in hospital beds per 10,000.

Full country profile Weather in Ulaanbaatar (Purr Weather)

Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.

Related rankings

Source and method

Literacy rate: each country's latest value (2019–2024), ranked from highest to lowest.

Source: The World Bank, indicator SE.ADT.LITR.ZS. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Retrieved: 2026-11-14.

The World Bank: Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above): Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (via World Development Indicators)

Original data provider, as recorded by the World Bank: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Values are shown as published. Provider terms: The World Bank. All licences: Sources & licences.