Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, adjusted gender in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, adjusted gender was 0.99 GPIA in 2024. ▬ Flat
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, adjusted gender in Sri Lanka, 1981–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in GPIA.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, adjusted gender in Sri Lanka is 0.99 GPIA, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 14 years on record.
The figure is up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, adjusted gender in Sri Lanka peaked at 0.99 GPIA in 2001 and was at its lowest, 0.95 GPIA, in 1981.
Sri Lanka ranks 20th of 57 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, adjusted gender in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | GPIA | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 0.95 GPIA | — |
| 2001 | 0.99 GPIA | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 0.99 GPIA | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.97 GPIA | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 0.98 GPIA | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 0.98 GPIA | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.98 GPIA | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 0.98 GPIA | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 0.99 GPIA | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 0.98 GPIA | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 0.98 GPIA | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 0.98 GPIA | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.99 GPIA | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 0.99 GPIA | +0.0% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 0.99 GPIA is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1 GPIA, 99% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.95 GPIA | 0.95 GPIA | 0.95 GPIA | 1 |
| 2000s | 0.9833 GPIA | 0.97 GPIA | 0.99 GPIA | 3 |
| 2010s | 0.982 GPIA | 0.98 GPIA | 0.99 GPIA | 5 |
| 2020s | 0.984 GPIA | 0.98 GPIA | 0.99 GPIA | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More education data for Sri Lanka
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 155,543 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 0 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 224,799 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 214,300 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.54 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.58 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -2.89 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0715 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, adjusted gender in Sri Lanka?
- Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, adjusted gender in Sri Lanka was 0.99 GPIA in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, adjusted gender recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 0.99 GPIA in 2001.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, adjusted gender recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.95 GPIA in 1981.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, adjusted gender?
- Sri Lanka ranks 20th out of 57 countries with data for 2024.
- Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, adjusted gender rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, adjusted gender parity index (GPIA). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release