Least developed countries vs Malaysia: Literacy rate, adult total

Least developed countries
68.3%
in 2024
Malaysia
95.8%
in 2022
Least developed countries rank
35th
Malaysia rank
33rd

Literacy rate, adult total over time

  • Least developed countries
  • Malaysia
020406080100198020022024

How they compare

Malaysia currently reports 95.8% against 68.3% in Least developed countries, a difference of 27.5%.

That makes Malaysia's figure about 1.4 times Least developed countries's.

Across all 8 years both countries report, Malaysia has been ahead every year.

Least developed countries ranks 35th and Malaysia ranks 33rd of 39 groups.

Malaysia has averaged higher in every one of the 4 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Least developed countries Malaysia Difference Ahead
1990s 45.1% 82.9% 37.8% Malaysia
2000s 52.1% 88.7% 36.6% Malaysia
2010s 63.9% 94.6% 30.7% Malaysia
2020s 67.5% 95.8% 28.2% Malaysia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher literacy rate, adult total, Least developed countries or Malaysia?
Malaysia, at 95.8% against 68.3% in Least developed countries as of 2022.
What is the difference in literacy rate, adult total between Least developed countries and Malaysia?
27.5%, with Malaysia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Least developed countries and Malaysia?
8 years are reported by both, from 1991 to 2022.
How do Least developed countries and Malaysia rank globally for literacy rate, adult total?
Least developed countries ranks 35th and Malaysia ranks 33rd of 39 groups.
Where does this data come from?
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Least developed countries vs Malaysia: Literacy rate, adult total. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/literacy-rate-adult-total-percent-of-people-ages-15-and-above/least-developed-countries-un-classification/malaysia/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate, adult total (% of people ages 15 and above)
Unit
% of people ages 15 and above
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
128 places, 2,592 data points, 1973–2024
Last refreshed

Adult literacy rate is the percentage of people ages 15 and above who can both read and write with understanding a short simple statement about their everyday life.