Belgium vs United States: Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling

Belgium
96.5%
in 1950
United States
96.5%
in 1950
Belgium rank
41st
United States rank
41st

Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling over time

  • Belgium
  • United States
020406080100147517121950

How they compare

Belgium currently reports 96.5% against 96.5% in United States, a difference of 0.0%.

Across all 5 years both countries report, United States has been ahead every year.

Belgium ranks 41st and United States ranks 41st of 128 countries.

United States has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Belgium United States Difference Ahead
1900s 80.4% 89.3% 8.9% United States
1910s 86.6% 92.3% 5.7% United States
1920s 92.2% 94.0% 1.8% United States
1930s 94.1% 95.7% 1.6% United States
1950s 96.5% 96.5% 0.0%

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher literacy rate vs. average years of schooling, Belgium or United States?
Belgium, at 96.5% against 96.5% in United States as of 1950.
What is the difference in literacy rate vs. average years of schooling between Belgium and United States?
0.0%, with Belgium ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Belgium and United States?
5 years are reported by both, from 1900 to 1950.
How do Belgium and United States rank globally for literacy rate vs. average years of schooling?
Belgium ranks 41st and United States ranks 41st 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 vs. average years of schooling. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Belgium vs United States: Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/compare/literacy-rates-vs-average-years-of-schooling/belgium/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Literacy rate vs. average years of schooling
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, 1,242 data points, 1475–2023
Last refreshed

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