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Countries Ranked by Literacy rate in 2015

Literacy rate for each country in 2015, ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).

Summary

In 2015, Uzbekistan ranks #1 with 100% of people 15+. Azerbaijan is second with 99.8% of people 15+, 0.19% behind. The top five are Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Uruguay, Philippines and Spain. The median across all 47 is 92.5% of people 15+; Mali is last at 33.1% of people 15+.

#1
Uzbekistan · 100% of people 15+
Median
92.5% of people 15+
Coverage
47 countries
Data year
2015
Last updated
2026-11-14
Top 10: Literacy rateBar chart of the top 10: 1. Uzbekistan 100; 2. Azerbaijan 99.8; 3. Uruguay 98.5; 4. Philippines 98.2; 5. Spain 98.1; 6. Chile 96.9; 7. Singapore 96.8; 8. Venezuela, RB 96.6; 9. Palau 96.6; 10. West Bank and Gaza 96.5.Uzbekistan100Azerbaijan99.8Uruguay98.5Philippines98.2Spain98.1Chile96.9Singapore96.8Venezuela, RB96.6Palau96.6West Bank and Gaza96.5
Top 10: Literacy rate (% of people 15+). Bar chart of the top 10: 1. Uzbekistan 100; 2. Azerbaijan 99.8; 3. Uruguay 98.5; 4. Philippines 98.2; 5. Spain 98.1; 6. Chile 96.9; 7. Singapore 96.8; 8. Venezuela, RB 96.6; 9. Palau 96.6; 10. West Bank and Gaza 96.5.
Literacy rate over time, top 5Uzbekistan: 98.6 in 2000 to 100 in 2015; Azerbaijan: 98.8 in 1999 to 99.8 in 2015; Uruguay: 96.8 in 1996 to 98.5 in 2015; Philippines: 93.9 in 1994 to 98.2 in 2015; Spain: 96.5 in 1991 to 98.1 in 2015.0255075100199120032015UzbekistanAzerbaijanUruguayPhilippinesSpain
Literacy rate over time, top 5 (% of people 15+). Uzbekistan: 98.6 in 2000 to 100 in 2015; Azerbaijan: 98.8 in 1999 to 99.8 in 2015; Uruguay: 96.8 in 1996 to 98.5 in 2015; Philippines: 93.9 in 1994 to 98.2 in 2015; Spain: 96.5 in 1991 to 98.1 in 2015.

Full ranking

Countries Ranked by Literacy rate in 2015, 2015
RankCountryLiteracy rate (% of people 15+)
1Uzbekistan100
2Azerbaijan99.8
3Uruguay98.5
4Philippines98.2
5Spain98.1
6Chile96.9
7Singapore96.8
8Venezuela, RB96.6
9Palau96.6
10West Bank and Gaza96.5
11Kuwait95.7
12Türkiye95.6
13Paraguay95.6
14Indonesia95.2
15Mexico94.5
16Ecuador94.5
17South Africa94.4
18Colombia94.3
19Peru94.2
20Oman93
21Thailand92.9
22Mauritius92.7
23Sri Lanka92.6
24Bolivia92.5
25Brazil92.1
26Dominican Republic92
27Belize90.9
28El Salvador88
29Honduras87.9
30Cabo Verde86.8
31Iran, Islamic Rep.85.3
32Lao PDR84.7
33Cambodia80.5
34Guatemala80.2
35Tanzania77.9
36Angola66.2
37Bangladesh65.1
38Mauritania65.1
39Timor-Leste64.5
40Togo63.8
41Ghana60.2
42Mozambique56
43Gambia, The50.8
44Sierra Leone49.4
45Senegal43.6
46Afghanistan33.8
47Mali33.1

About the top 10

#8 Venezuela, RB

Venezuela, RB ranks #8 on this list with 96.6% of people 15+.

Capital
Caracas
Continent
South America
Income group
Lower middle income
Population
28.52 million people (2025)
GDP
US$99.66 billion (2025)
GDP per person
US$3,495 (2025)
Life expectancy
72.7 years (2024)
Urban population
89.3% of population (2025)

Largest cities: Caracas, Maracaibo, Valencia.

Also ranks #1 in time to start a business (days) · #3 in protected terrestrial area share · #11 in refugee population by origin.

Full country profile

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 for each country in 2015, 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.