Estimated world illiteracy rates by region and gender for last year

The bar chart illustrates the estimated illiteracy rates across six global regions, categorised by gender, for the previous year. Overall, it is evident that illiteracy is more prevalent among females than males in every region, with the most pronounced gaps observed in South Asia and the Arab States.

In Developed Countries, illiteracy rates are minimal, standing at 1% for males and 2% for females. Similarly, Latin American and Caribbean nations report relatively low figures, with 10% of males and 12% of females being illiterate. In East Asia and Oceania, the male illiteracy rate is 8%, whereas the female rate is notably higher at 20%.

Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arab States, and South Asia exhibit the highest overall illiteracy levels. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 31% of males and 48% of females are illiterate. The Arab States show a similar trend, with 29% of males and 52% of females lacking literacy skills. South Asia records the highest rates overall, where 34% of males and 56% of females are illiterate. In these three regions, the female illiteracy rate is consistently at least 17 percentage points higher than that of their male counterparts.