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Countries Ranked by Literacy rate in 2023

Literacy rate for each country in 2023, ranked from highest to lowest. Source: The World Bank (CC BY 4.0).

Summary

In 2023, Armenia ranks #1 with 99.8% of people 15+. Azerbaijan is second with 99.8% of people 15+, 0.06% behind. The top five are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Tonga and Uruguay. The median across all 33 is 94.3% of people 15+; Burkina Faso is last at 41.6% of people 15+.

#1
Armenia · 99.8% of people 15+
Median
94.3% of people 15+
Coverage
33 countries
Data year
2023
Last updated
2026-11-14
Top 10: Literacy rateBar chart of the top 10: 1. Armenia 99.8; 2. Azerbaijan 99.8; 3. Georgia 99.6; 4. Tonga 99.5; 5. Uruguay 98.8; 6. Mongolia 98.6; 7. United Arab Emirates 98.1; 8. Bahrain 97.9; 9. Albania 97.7; 10. Naoero 96.6.Armenia99.8Azerbaijan99.8Georgia99.6Tonga99.5Uruguay98.8Mongolia98.6United Arab Emirates98.1Bahrain97.9Albania97.7Naoero96.6
Top 10: Literacy rate (% of people 15+). Bar chart of the top 10: 1. Armenia 99.8; 2. Azerbaijan 99.8; 3. Georgia 99.6; 4. Tonga 99.5; 5. Uruguay 98.8; 6. Mongolia 98.6; 7. United Arab Emirates 98.1; 8. Bahrain 97.9; 9. Albania 97.7; 10. Naoero 96.6.
Literacy rate over time, top 5Armenia: 99.4 in 2001 to 99.8 in 2023; Azerbaijan: 98.8 in 1999 to 99.8 in 2023; Georgia: 99.7 in 2002 to 99.6 in 2023; Tonga: 99 in 2006 to 99.5 in 2023; Uruguay: 97.8 in 2006 to 98.8 in 2023.0255075100199920112023ArmeniaAzerbaijanGeorgiaTongaUruguay
Literacy rate over time, top 5 (% of people 15+). Armenia: 99.4 in 2001 to 99.8 in 2023; Azerbaijan: 98.8 in 1999 to 99.8 in 2023; Georgia: 99.7 in 2002 to 99.6 in 2023; Tonga: 99 in 2006 to 99.5 in 2023; Uruguay: 97.8 in 2006 to 98.8 in 2023.

Full ranking

Countries Ranked by Literacy rate in 2023, 2023
RankCountryLiteracy rate (% of people 15+)
1Armenia99.8
2Azerbaijan99.8
3Georgia99.6
4Tonga99.5
5Uruguay98.8
6Mongolia98.6
7United Arab Emirates98.1
8Bahrain97.9
9Albania97.7
10Naoero96.6
11Panama96.1
12Mexico95.8
13Bolivia95.6
14Colombia95.5
15Jordan94.9
16Brazil94.6
17Dominican Republic94.3
18Mauritius94.3
19Sri Lanka92.7
20El Salvador89.9
21Iran, Islamic Rep.88.9
22Vanuatu88
23Namibia87.6
24Honduras87.1
25Tunisia86.3
26Guatemala83
27India81.7
28Uganda80.5
29Lao PDR75.6
30Congo, Dem. Rep.68.5
31Angola68.2
32Senegal50.4
33Burkina Faso41.6

About the top 10

#6 Mongolia

Mongolia ranks #6 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 for each country in 2023, 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.