Countries in North America 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
Cuba ranks #1 with 97.7% of people 15+ (2019). Panama is second with 96.2% of people 15+, 1.5% behind. The top five are Cuba, Panama, Mexico, Dominican Republic and El Salvador. The median across all 8 is 91.9% of people 15+; Guatemala is last at 82.1% of people 15+.
- #1
- Cuba · 97.7% of people 15+
- Median
- 91.9% of people 15+
- Coverage
- 8 countries in North America
- Data year
- 2024
- Last updated
- 2026-11-14
Full ranking
| Rank | Country | Literacy rate (% of people 15+) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cuba | 97.7 | 2019 |
| 2 | Panama | 96.2 | 2024 |
| 3 | Mexico | 95.6 | 2024 |
| 4 | Dominican Republic | 94 | 2024 |
| 5 | El Salvador | 89.8 | 2024 |
| 6 | Honduras | 88.3 | 2024 |
| 7 | Belize | 87.9 | 2022 |
| 8 | Guatemala | 82.1 | 2024 |
About the top 8
#1 Cuba
Cuba ranks #1 on this list with 97.7% of people 15+ (2019).
- Capital
- Havana
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 10.94 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$107.35 billion (2020)
- GDP per person
- US$9,605 (2020)
- Life expectancy
- 78.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 77.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Havana.
Also ranks #1 in physicians per 1,000 · #2 in women in parliament share · #3 in immunisation (measles) rate.
#2 Panama
Panama ranks #2 on this list with 96.2% of people 15+.
- Capital
- Panama City
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- High income
- Population
- 4.57 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$90.46 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$19,790 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 79.8 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 66.2% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Panama City.
Also ranks #7 in gini index · #8 in income share of richest 10% · #15 in gross capital formation rate.
#3 Mexico
Mexico ranks #3 on this list with 95.6% of people 15+.
- Capital
- Mexico City
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 131.95 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$1.83 trillion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$13,889 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 75.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 80% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Greater Mexico City, Mexico City, Tijuana.
Also ranks #2 in remittances received · #3 in tourism arrivals · #4 in external debt stocks.
#4 Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic ranks #4 on this list with 94% of people 15+.
- Capital
- Santo Domingo
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 11.52 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$127.41 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$11,059 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.9 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 72.5% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Santo Domingo.
Also ranks #4 in crop production index · #14 in deposit interest rate · #19 in remittances received.
#5 El Salvador
El Salvador ranks #5 on this list with 89.8% of people 15+.
- Capital
- San Salvador
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 6.37 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$36.71 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$5,767 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.3 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 75.5% of population (2025)
Also ranks #1 in debt service share of exports · #6 in government debt share of gdp · #14 in mobile subscriptions per 100.
#6 Honduras
Honduras ranks #6 on this list with 88.3% of people 15+.
- Capital
- Tegucigalpa
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Lower middle income
- Population
- 11.01 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$39.6 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$3,598 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 59.3% of population (2025)
Largest cities: Tegucigalpa.
Also ranks #6 in deposit interest rate · #10 in gini index · #11 in homicide rate.
#7 Belize
Belize ranks #7 on this list with 87.9% of people 15+ (2022).
- Capital
- Belmopan
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 422,920 people (2025)
- GDP
- US$3.33 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$7,866 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 73.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 41.6% of population (2025)
Also ranks #2 in secure internet servers per million · #12 in homicide rate · #14 in time to start a business (days).
#8 Guatemala
Guatemala ranks #8 on this list with 82.1% of people 15+.
- Capital
- Guatemala City
- Continent
- North America
- Income group
- Upper middle income
- Population
- 18.69 million people (2025)
- GDP
- US$123.31 billion (2025)
- GDP per person
- US$6,598 (2025)
- Life expectancy
- 72.7 years (2024)
- Urban population
- 56.3% of population (2025)
Also ranks #5 in prevalence of stunting (under-5) · #9 in remittances received · #12 in gini index.
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.