Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, male in Iraq

Iraq: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, male was 90.3% in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
90.3%
World rank
52nd
of 88 countries
All-time high
91.2%
in 2017
All-time low
84.1%
in 2000
Years of data
6
2000–2021

Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, male in Iraq, 2000–2021

0204060801002000201020212000: 84.1 %2012: 85.9 %2014: 90 %2016: 90 %2017: 91.2 %2021: 90.3 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Iraq recorded 90.3% for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, male in 2021.

The figure is up 5.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, male in Iraq peaked at 91.2% in 2017 and was at its lowest, 84.1%, in 2000.

Iraq ranks 52nd of 88 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, male in Iraq, year by year

Annual values for Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, male (%) in Iraq, 2000 to 2021.
Year % Change
2000 84.1%
2012 85.9% +2.2%
2014 90.0% +4.8%
2016 90.0% +0.0%
2017 91.2% +1.3%
2021 90.3% -1.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 84.1% 84.1% 84.1% 1
2010s 89.3% 85.9% 91.2% 4
2020s 90.3% 90.3% 90.3% 1

Countries ranked near Iraq

  1. 49 El Salvador 91.6% compare
  2. 50 South Africa 91.5% compare
  3. 51 Thailand 90.7% compare
  4. 53 Cambodia 90.3% compare
  5. 54 Namibia 87.9% compare
  6. 55 Honduras 87.6% compare

See the full ranking of 291 places →

More education data for Iraq

All data for Iraq →

Frequently asked questions

What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, male in Iraq?
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, male in Iraq was 90.3% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, male recorded in Iraq?
The highest recorded value was 91.2% in 2017.
What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, male recorded in Iraq?
The lowest recorded value was 84.1% in 2000.
How does Iraq rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, male?
Iraq ranks 52nd out of 88 countries with data for 2021.
Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, male rising or falling in Iraq?
Over the last ten years it is up 5.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Iraq data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, male in Iraq. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/adult-literacy-rate-population-15-years-male-percent/iraq/

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About this data

Indicator
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, male (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
291 places, 9,521 data points, 1970–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release