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Countries Ranked by Literacy rate in 2020

Literacy rate for each country in 2020, ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).

Summary

In 2020, Georgia ranks #1 with 99.9% of people 15+. Palau is second with 99.8% of people 15+, 0.05% behind. The top five are Georgia, Palau, Armenia, Mongolia and Argentina. The median across all 42 is 94.2% of people 15+; Afghanistan is last at 36% of people 15+.

#1
Georgia · 99.9% of people 15+
Median
94.2% of people 15+
Coverage
42 countries
Data year
2020
Last updated
2026-11-14
Top 10: Literacy rateBar chart of the top 10: 1. Georgia 99.9; 2. Palau 99.8; 3. Armenia 99.8; 4. Mongolia 99.2; 5. Argentina 99.1; 6. Uruguay 99; 7. Kiribati 98.6; 8. Spain 98.6; 9. Philippines 98.5; 10. Saudi Arabia 97.6.Georgia99.9Palau99.8Armenia99.8Mongolia99.2Argentina99.1Uruguay99Kiribati98.6Spain98.6Philippines98.5Saudi Arabia97.6
Top 10: Literacy rate (% of people 15+). Bar chart of the top 10: 1. Georgia 99.9; 2. Palau 99.8; 3. Armenia 99.8; 4. Mongolia 99.2; 5. Argentina 99.1; 6. Uruguay 99; 7. Kiribati 98.6; 8. Spain 98.6; 9. Philippines 98.5; 10. Saudi Arabia 97.6.
Literacy rate over time, top 5Georgia: 99.7 in 2002 to 99.9 in 2020; Palau: 99.5 in 2013 to 99.8 in 2020; Armenia: 99.4 in 2001 to 99.8 in 2020; Mongolia: 97.8 in 2000 to 99.2 in 2020.0255075100200020102020GeorgiaPalauArmeniaMongolia
Literacy rate over time, top 5 (% of people 15+). Georgia: 99.7 in 2002 to 99.9 in 2020; Palau: 99.5 in 2013 to 99.8 in 2020; Armenia: 99.4 in 2001 to 99.8 in 2020; Mongolia: 97.8 in 2000 to 99.2 in 2020.

Full ranking

Countries Ranked by Literacy rate in 2020, 2020
RankCountryLiteracy rate (% of people 15+)
1Georgia99.9
2Palau99.8
3Armenia99.8
4Mongolia99.2
5Argentina99.1
6Uruguay99
7Kiribati98.6
8Spain98.6
9Philippines98.5
10Saudi Arabia97.6
11West Bank and Gaza97.5
12Singapore97.1
13Oman96.9
14China96.7
15Kuwait96.5
16Indonesia96
17Colombia95.6
18Mexico95.3
19Brazil94.7
20Paraguay94.5
21Peru94.5
22Bolivia93.9
23Dominican Republic93.7
24Ecuador93.6
25Myanmar93.5
26Sri Lanka92.4
27El Salvador90
28Vanuatu89.8
29Iran, Islamic Rep.87.9
30Guyana85.6
31Cambodia82.6
32Tanzania82.2
33Zambia81.8
34Rwanda80.1
35India75.5
36Bangladesh74.9
37Burundi71.3
38Malawi70.2
39Congo, Dem. Rep.65.7
40Mozambique59.8
41Mauritania59.5
42Afghanistan36

About the top 10

#4 Mongolia

Mongolia ranks #4 on this list with 99.2% 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 for each country in 2020, 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.