Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in Thailand
Thailand: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes was 91.1% in 2022. ▬ Flat
Latest (2022)
91.1%
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
46th
of 89 countries
All-time high
96.4%
in 2010
All-time low
88.0%
in 1980
Years of data
10
1980–2022
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in Thailand, 1980–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in Thailand is 91.1%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in Thailand peaked at 96.4% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 88.0%, in 1980.
Thailand ranks 46th of 89 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in Thailand, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 88.0% | — |
| 2000 | 92.7% | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 93.5% | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 96.4% | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 93.7% | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 92.9% | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 92.0% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 93.8% | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 91.3% | -2.7% |
| 2022 | 91.1% | -0.2% |
Thailand compared with similar countries
- Thailand's 91.1% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 95.5%, 95% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Thailand's 91.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96.1%, 95% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 88.0% | 88.0% | 88.0% | 1 |
| 2000s | 93.1% | 92.7% | 93.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 93.3% | 91.3% | 96.4% | 6 |
| 2020s | 91.1% | 91.1% | 91.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Thailand
- 43 Ecuador 93.5% compare
- 44 Sri Lanka 92.7% compare
- 45 South Africa 91.2% compare
- 47 Lesotho 90.5% compare
- 48 El Salvador 89.8% compare
- 49 Iran, Islamic Republic of 88.9% compare
More education data for Thailand
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 243,991 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 13,596 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 758,147 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 716,498 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.26 million (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.45 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.23 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0621 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in Thailand?
- Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes in Thailand was 91.1% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Thailand?
- The highest recorded value was 96.4% in 2010.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes recorded in Thailand?
- The lowest recorded value was 88.0% in 1980.
- How does Thailand rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes?
- Thailand ranks 46th out of 89 countries with data for 2022.
- Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes rising or falling in Thailand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Thailand data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 10 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release