Countries in Europe 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
Russian Federation ranks #1 with 99.9% of people 15+ (2021). San Marino is second with 99.9% of people 15+, 0.02% behind. The top five are Russian Federation, San Marino, Belarus, Spain and Italy. The median across all 8 is 99.5% of people 15+; Albania is last at 97.7% of people 15+.
- #1
- Russian Federation · 99.9% of people 15+
- Median
- 99.5% of people 15+
- Coverage
- 8 countries in Europe
- Data year
- 2024
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | Literacy rate (% of people 15+) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russian Federation | 99.9 | 2021 |
| 2 | San Marino | 99.9 | 2022 |
| 3 | Belarus | 99.9 | 2019 |
| 4 | Spain | 99.7 | 2021 |
| 5 | Italy | 99.4 | 2019 |
| 6 | Serbia | 99.3 | 2022 |
| 7 | Romania | 99.2 | 2021 |
| 8 | Albania | 97.7 | 2023 |
About the top 8
#1 Russian Federation
Russian Federation ranks #1 on this list with 99.9% of people 15+ (2021).
- Capital
- Moscow
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 143.51 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.56 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$17,547 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 75.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk.
Also ranks #1 in land area · #1 in surface area · #1 in forest area.
#2 San Marino
San Marino ranks #2 on this list with 99.9% of people 15+ (2022).
- Capital
- San Marino
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 34,109 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.03 billion (2023)
- GDP per person
- US$59,871 (2023)
- Life expectancy
- 85.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 97.2% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in bank branches per 100,000 adults · #2 in life expectancy · #2 in male life expectancy.
#3 Belarus
Belarus ranks #3 on this list with 99.9% of people 15+ (2019).
- Capital
- Minsk
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 9.09 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$93.4 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$10,279 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 74.4 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 79.5% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Minsk.
Also ranks #2 in income share of poorest 10% · #4 in hospital beds per 10,000 · #6 in literacy rate.
#4 Spain
Spain ranks #4 on this list with 99.7% of people 15+ (2021).
- Capital
- Madrid
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 49.36 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.91 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$38,627 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 83.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 80.5% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Madrid city, Barcelona, City of Valencia.
Also ranks #7 in female life expectancy · #7 in government debt share of gdp · #8 in tourism arrivals.
#5 Italy
Italy ranks #5 on this list with 99.4% of people 15+ (2019).
- Capital
- Rome
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 58.92 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$2.55 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$43,309 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 84 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 69.7% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Rome, Milan, Naples.
Also ranks #4 in population ages 65+ share · #5 in age dependency ratio (old) · #6 in tourism arrivals.
#6 Serbia
Serbia ranks #6 on this list with 99.3% of people 15+ (2022).
- Capital
- Belgrade
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 6.55 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$99.95 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$15,262 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 62.6% of population (2025)
Largest cities: City of Belgrade, Belgrade.
Also ranks #3 in death rate · #4 in smoking prevalence · #13 in age dependency ratio (old).
#7 Romania
Romania ranks #7 on this list with 99.2% of people 15+ (2021).
- Capital
- Bucharest
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 19.02 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$428.68 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$22,538 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 76.5 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 52.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Bucharest.
Also ranks #1 in alcohol consumption per capita · #8 in hospital beds per 10,000 · #13 in death rate.
#8 Albania
Albania ranks #8 on this list with 97.7% of people 15+ (2023).
- Capital
- Tirana
- Continent
- Europe
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 2.35 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$30.54 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$12,998 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 79.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 58.9% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in electricity access rate · #2 in access to electricity (rural) · #11 in completion rate (lower secondary).
Profile facts: World Bank (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0); weather links go to Purr Weather, another ChowChow Labs site.
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.