CIA SealFactbook Logo Literacy
Country profile category: People
 
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Afghanistan: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  31.5%

male:  47.2%

female:  15% (1999 est.)
Albania: definition:  age 9 and over can read and write

total population:  93% (1997 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Algeria: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  61.6%

male:  73.9%

female:  49% (1995 est.)
American Samoa: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  98%

female:  97% (1980 est.)
Andorra: definition:  NA

total population:  100%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Angola: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  42%

male:  56%

female:  28% (1998 est.)
Anguilla: definition:  age 12 and over can read and write

total population:  95%

male:  95%

female:  95% (1984 est.)
Antigua and Barbuda: definition:  age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling

total population:  89%

male:  90%

female:  88% (1960 est.)
Argentina: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  96.2%

male:  96.2%

female:  96.2% (1995 est.)
Armenia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99%

male:  99%

female:  98% (1989 est.)
Aruba: definition:  NA

total population:  97%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Australia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  100%

male:  100%

female:  100% (1980 est.)
Austria: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Azerbaijan: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  99%

female:  96% (1989 est.)
Bahamas, The: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98.2%

male:  98.5%

female:  98% (1995 est.)
Bahrain: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  85.2%

male:  89.1%

female:  79.4% (1995 est.)
Bangladesh: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  56%

male:  63%

female:  49% (2000 est.)
Barbados: definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  97.4%

male:  98%

female:  96.8% (1995 est.)
Belarus: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  99%

female:  97% (1989 est.)
Belgium: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Belize: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  70.3%

male:  70.3%

female:  70.3% (1991 est.)

note:  other sources list the literacy rate as high as 75%
Benin: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  37.5%

male:  52.2%

female:  23.6% (2000)
Bermuda: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  98%

female:  99% (1970 est.)
Bhutan: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  42.2%

male:  56.2%

female:  28.1% (1995 est.)
Bolivia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  83.1%

male:  90.5%

female:  76% (1995 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina: definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Botswana: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  69.8%

male:  80.5%

female:  59.9% (1995 est.)
Brazil: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  83.3%

male:  83.3%

female:  83.2% (1995 est.)
British Virgin Islands: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97.8% (1991 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Brunei: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  88.2%

male:  92.6%

female:  83.4% (1995 est.)
Bulgaria: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  99%

female:  98% (1999)
Burkina Faso: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  19.2%

male:  29.5%

female:  9.2% (1995 est.)
Burma: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  83.1%

male:  88.7%

female:  77.7% (1995 est.)

note:  these are official statistics; estimates of functional literacy are likely closer to 30% (1999 est.)
Burundi: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  35.3%

male:  49.3%

female:  22.5% (1995 est.)
Cambodia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  35%

male:  48%

female:  22% (1990 est.)
Cameroon: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  63.4%

male:  75%

female:  52.1% (1995 est.)
Canada: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97% (1986 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Cape Verde: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  71.6%

male:  81.4%

female:  63.8% (1995 est.)
Cayman Islands: definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  98%

male:  98%

female:  98% (1970 est.)
Central African Republic: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  60%

male:  68.5%

female:  52.4% (1995 est.)
Chad: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic

total population:  48.1%

male:  62.1%

female:  34.7% (1995 est.)
Chile: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  95.2%

male:  95.4%

female:  95% (1995 est.)
China: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  81.5%

male:  89.9%

female:  72.7% (1995 est.)
Colombia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  91.3%

male:  91.2%

female:  91.4% (1995 est.)
Comoros: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  57.3%

male:  64.2%

female:  50.4% (1995 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba

total population:  77.3%

male:  86.6%

female:  67.7% (1995 est.)
Congo, Republic of the: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  74.9%

male:  83.1%

female:  67.2% (1995 est.)
Cook Islands: definition:  NA

total population:  95%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Costa Rica: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  94.8%

male:  94.7%

female:  95% (1995 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  48.5%

male:  57%

female:  40%
Croatia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  99%

female:  95% (1991 est.)
Cuba: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  95.7%

male:  96.2%

female:  95.3% (1995 est.)
Cyprus: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  94%

male:  98%

female:  91% (1987 est.)
Czech Republic: definition:  NA

total population:  99.9% (1999 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Denmark: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  100%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Djibouti: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  46.2%

male:  60.3%

female:  32.7% (1995 est.)
Dominica: definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  94%

male:  94%

female:  94% (1970 est.)
Dominican Republic: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  82.1%

male:  82%

female:  82.2% (1995 est.)
Ecuador: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  90.1%

male:  92%

female:  88.2% (1995 est.)
Egypt: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  51.4%

male:  63.6%

female:  38.8% (1995 est.)
El Salvador: definition:  age 10 and over can read and write

total population:  71.5%

male:  73.5%

female:  69.8% (1995 est.)
Equatorial Guinea: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  78.5%

male:  89.6%

female:  68.1% (1995 est.)
Eritrea: definition:  NA

total population:  25%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Estonia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  100%

male:  100%

female:  100% (1998 est.)
Ethiopia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  35.5%

male:  45.5%

female:  25.3% (1995 est.)
Faroe Islands: definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

note:  similar to Denmark proper
Fiji: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  91.6%

male:  93.8%

female:  89.3% (1995 est.)
Finland: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  100% (1980 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
France: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99%

male:  99%

female:  99% (1980 est.)
French Guiana: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  83%

male:  84%

female:  82% (1982 est.)
French Polynesia: definition:  age 14 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  98%

female:  98% (1977 est.)
Gabon: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  63.2%

male:  73.7%

female:  53.3% (1995 est.)
Gambia, The: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  47.5%

male:  58.4%

female:  37.1% (2001 est.)
Gaza Strip: definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Georgia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99%

male:  100%

female:  98% (1989 est.)
Germany: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99% (1977 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Ghana: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  64.5%

male:  75.9%

female:  53.5% (1995 est.)
Gibraltar: definition:  NA

total population:  above 80%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Greece: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  95%

male:  98%

female:  93% (1991 est.)
Greenland: definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%

note:  similar to Denmark proper
Grenada: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  98%

female:  98% (1970 est.)
Guadeloupe: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  90%

male:  90%

female:  90% (1982 est.)
Guam: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99%

male:  99%

female:  99% (1990 est.)
Guatemala: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  63.6%

male:  68.7%

female:  58.5% (2000 est.)
Guernsey: definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Guinea: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  35.9%

male:  49.9%

female:  21.9% (1995 est.)
Guinea-Bissau: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  53.9%

male:  67.1%

female:  40.7% (1997 est.)
Guyana: definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  98.1%

male:  98.6%

female:  97.5% (1995 est.)
Haiti: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  45%

male:  48%

female:  42.2% (1995 est.)
Holy See (Vatican City): definition:  NA

total population:  100%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Honduras: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  72.7%

male:  72.6%

female:  72.7% (1995 est.)
Hong Kong: definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  92.2%

male:  96%

female:  88.2% (1996 est.)
Hungary: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99%

male:  99%

female:  98% (1980 est.)
Iceland: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99.9% (1997 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
India: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  52%

male:  65.5%

female:  37.7% (1995 est.)
Indonesia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  83.8%

male:  89.6%

female:  78% (1995 est.)
Iran: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  72.1%

male:  78.4%

female:  65.8% (1994 est.)
Iraq: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  58%

male:  70.7%

female:  45% (1995 est.)
Ireland: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98% (1981 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Israel: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  95%

male:  97%

female:  93% (1992 est.)
Italy: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98% (1998)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Jamaica: definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  85%

male:  80.8%

female:  89.1% (1995 est.)
Japan: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99% (1970 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Jersey: definition:  NA

total population:  NA

male:  NA

female:  NA
Jordan: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  86.6%

male:  93.4%

female:  79.4% (1995 est.)
Kazakhstan: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  99%

female:  96% (1989 est.)
Kenya: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  78.1%

male:  86.3%

female:  70% (1995 est.)
Kiribati: definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Korea, North: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write Korean

total population:  99%

male:  99%

female:  99% (1990 est.)
Korea, South: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  99.3%

female:  96.7% (1995 est.)
Kuwait: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  78.6%

male:  82.2%

female:  74.9% (1995 est.)
Kyrgyzstan: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  99%

female:  96% (1989 est.)
Laos: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  57%

male:  70%

female:  44% (1999 est.)
Latvia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  100%

male:  100%

female:  99% (1989 est.)
Lebanon: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  86.4%

male:  90.8%

female:  82.2% (1997 est.)
Lesotho: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  83%

male:  72%

female:  93% (1999 est.)
Liberia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  38.3%

male:  53.9%

female:  22.4% (1995 est.)

note:  these figures are increasing because of the improving school system
Libya: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  76.2%

male:  87.9%

female:  63% (1995 est.)
Liechtenstein: definition:  age 10 and over can read and write

total population:  100%

male:  100%

female:  100% (1981 est.)
Lithuania: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  99%

female:  98% (1989 est.)
Luxembourg: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  100%

male:  100%

female:  100% (2000 est.)
Macau: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  90%

male:  93%

female:  86% (1981 est.)
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of: definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Madagascar: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  80%

male:  88%

female:  73% (1990 est.)
Malawi: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  58%

male:  72.8%

female:  43.4% (1999 est.)
Malaysia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  83.5%

male:  89.1%

female:  78.1% (1995 est.)
Maldives: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  93.2%

male:  93.3%

female:  93% (1995 est.)
Mali: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  31%

male:  39.4%

female:  23.1% (1995 est.)
Malta: definition:  age 10 and over can read and write

total population:  88.76%

male:  86.91%

female:  89.55% (1995 census)
Man, Isle of: definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Marshall Islands: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  93%

male:  100%

female:  88% (1980 est.)
Martinique: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  93%

male:  92%

female:  93% (1982 est.)
Mauritania: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  46.7%

male:  53.4%

female:  40% (1998 est.)
Mauritius: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  82.9%

male:  87.1%

female:  78.8% (1995 est.)
Mayotte: definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Mexico: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  89.6%

male:  91.8%

female:  87.4% (1995 est.)
Micronesia, Federated States of: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  89%

male:  91%

female:  88% (1980 est.)
Moldova: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  96%

male:  99%

female:  94% (1989 est.)
Monaco: definition:  NA

total population:  99%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Mongolia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  98%

female:  97.5% (2000)
Montserrat: definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  97%

male:  97%

female:  97% (1970 est.)
Morocco: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  43.7%

male:  56.6%

female:  31% (1995 est.)
Mozambique: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  42.3%

male:  58.4%

female:  27% (1998 est.)
Namibia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  38%

male:  45%

female:  31% (1960 est.)
Nauru: definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Nepal: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  27.5%

male:  40.9%

female:  14% (1995 est.)
Netherlands: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99% (2000 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Netherlands Antilles: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  98%

female:  99% (1981 est.)
New Caledonia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  91%

male:  92%

female:  90% (1976 est.)
New Zealand: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99% (1980 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Nicaragua: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  65.7%

male:  64.6%

female:  66.6% (1995 est.)
Niger: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  13.6%

male:  20.9%

female:  6.6% (1995 est.)
Nigeria: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  57.1%

male:  67.3%

female:  47.3% (1995 est.)
Niue: definition:  NA

total population:  95%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Northern Mariana Islands: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  97%

female:  96% (1980 est.)
Norway: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  100%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Oman: definition:  NA

total population:  approaching 80%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Pakistan: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  42.7%

male:  55.3%

female:  29% (1998)
Palau: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  92%

male:  93%

female:  90% (1980 est.)
Panama: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  90.8%

male:  91.4%

female:  90.2% (1995 est.)
Papua New Guinea: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  72.2%

male:  81%

female:  62.7% (1995 est.)
Paraguay: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  92.1%

male:  93.5%

female:  90.6% (1995 est.)
Peru: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  88.7%

male:  94.5%

female:  83% (1995 est.)
Philippines: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  94.6%

male:  95%

female:  94.3% (1995 est.)
Poland: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99%

male:  99%

female:  98% (1978 est.)
Portugal: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  87.4%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Puerto Rico: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  89%

male:  90%

female:  88% (1980 est.)
Qatar: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  79%

male:  79%

female:  80% (1995 est.)
Reunion: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  79%

male:  76%

female:  80% (1982 est.)
Romania: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  98%

female:  95% (1992 est.)
Russia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  100%

female:  97% (1989 est.)
Rwanda: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  48%

male:  52%

female:  45% (1995 est.)
Saint Helena: definition:  age 20 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  97%

female:  98% (1987 est.)
Saint Kitts and Nevis: definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  97%

male:  97%

female:  98% (1980 est.)
Saint Lucia: definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  67%

male:  65%

female:  69% (1980 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99%

male:  99%

female:  99% (1982 est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  96%

male:  96%

female:  96% (1970 est.)
Samoa: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  97%

female:  97% (1971 est.)
San Marino: definition:  age 10 and over can read and write

total population:  96%

male:  97%

female:  95% (1976 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  73%

male:  85%

female:  62% (1991 est.)
Saudi Arabia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  62.8%

male:  71.5%

female:  50.2% (1995 est.)
Senegal: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  33.1%

male:  43%

female:  23.2% (1995 est.)
Seychelles: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  58%

male:  56%

female:  60% (1971 est.)
Sierra Leone: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic

total population:  31.4%

male:  45.4%

female:  18.2% (1995 est.)
Singapore: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  93.5%

male:  97%

female:  89.8% (1999)
Slovakia: definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Slovenia: definition:  NA

total population:  99%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Solomon Islands: definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Somalia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  24%

male:  36%

female:  14% (1990 est.)
South Africa: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  81.8%

male:  81.9%

female:  81.7% (1995 est.)
Spain: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Sri Lanka: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  90.2%

male:  93.4%

female:  87.2% (1995 est.)
Sudan: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  46.1%

male:  57.7%

female:  34.6% (1995 est.)
Suriname: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  93%

male:  95%

female:  91% (1995 est.)
Swaziland: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  76.7%

male:  78%

female:  75.6% (1995 est.)
Sweden: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99% (1979 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Switzerland: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99% (1980 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Syria: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  70.8%

male:  85.7%

female:  55.8% (1997 est.)
Tajikistan: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  99%

female:  97% (1989 est.)
Tanzania: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic

total population:  67.8%

male:  79.4%

female:  56.8% (1995 est.)
Thailand: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  93.8%

male:  96%

female:  91.6% (1995 est.)
Togo: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  51.7%

male:  67%

female:  37% (1995 est.)
Tonga: definition:  can read and write Tongan and/or English

total population:  98.5%

male:  98.4%

female:  98.7% (1996 est.)
Trinidad and Tobago: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97.9%

male:  98.8%

female:  97% (1995 est.)
Tunisia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  66.7%

male:  78.6%

female:  54.6% (1995 est.)
Turkey: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  85%

male:  94%

female:  77% (2000)
Turkmenistan: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  99%

female:  97% (1989 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands: definition:  age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population:  98%

male:  99%

female:  98% (1970 est.)
Tuvalu: definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Uganda: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  61.8%

male:  73.7%

female:  50.2% (1995 est.)
Ukraine: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  98%

male:  100%

female:  97% (1989 est.)
United Arab Emirates: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  79.2%

male:  78.9%

female:  79.8% (1995 est.)
United Kingdom: definition:  age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling

total population:  99% (1978 est.)

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
United States: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97%

male:  97%

female:  97% (1979 est.)
Uruguay: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  97.3%

male:  96.9%

female:  97.7% (1995 est.)
Uzbekistan: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  99%

male:  99%

female:  99% (yearend 1996)
Vanuatu: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  53%

male:  57%

female:  48% (1979 est.)
Venezuela: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  91.1%

male:  91.8%

female:  90.3% (1995 est.)
Vietnam: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  93.7%

male:  96.5%

female:  91.2% (1995 est.)
Virgin Islands: definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Wallis and Futuna: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  50%

male:  50%

female:  50% (1969 est.)
West Bank: definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Western Sahara: definition:  NA

total population:  NA%

male:  NA%

female:  NA%
Yemen: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  38%

male:  53%

female:  26% (1990 est.)
Yugoslavia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  93%

male:  97.2%

female:  88.9% (1991)
Zambia: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write English

total population:  78.2%

male:  85.6%

female:  71.3% (1995 est.)
Zimbabwe: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write English

total population:  85%

male:  90%

female:  80% (1995 est.)
Taiwan: definition:  age 15 and over can read and write

total population:  86% (1980 est.); note - literacy for the total population has reportedly increased to 94% (1998 est.)

male:  93% (1980 est.)

female:  79% (1980 est.)