Ireland vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Literacy rate

Ireland
98.5%
in 1950
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
98.5%
in 1950
Ireland rank
19th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
19th

Literacy rate over time

  • Ireland
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
020406080100147517121950

How they compare

Ireland currently reports 98.5% against 98.5% in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 0.0%.

Across all 5 years both countries report, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been ahead every year.

Ireland ranks 19th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 19th of 128 countries.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Ireland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
1470s 0.0% 5.0% 5.0% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1550s 0.0% 16.0% 16.0% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1650s 3.0% 53.0% 50.0% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1750s 21.0% 54.0% 33.0% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1950s 98.5% 98.5% 0.0%

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher literacy rate, Ireland or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Ireland, at 98.5% against 98.5% in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 1950.
What is the difference in literacy rate between Ireland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
0.0%, with Ireland ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Ireland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
5 years are reported by both, from 1475 to 1950.
How do Ireland and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for literacy rate?
Ireland ranks 19th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 19th of 128 countries.
Where does this data come from?
UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Literacy rate. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Ireland vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Literacy rate. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/cross-country-literacy-rates/ireland/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
128 places, 1,272 data points, 1475–2024
Last refreshed

Share of adults who can read and write a simple statement about their everyday life.