Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Cambodia
Cambodia: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes was 81.7% in 2021. ▬ Flat
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Cambodia, 2004–2021
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2021, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Cambodia stood at 81.7%. That is the lowest value across all 8 years on record.
The figure is down 12.4% on the previous year and down 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Cambodia peaked at 93.2% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 81.7%, in 2021.
Cambodia ranks 46th of 57 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Cambodia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 83.8% | — |
| 2008 | 89.1% | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 89.2% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 90.3% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 90.2% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 91.3% | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 93.2% | +2.1% |
| 2021 | 81.7% | -12.4% |
Cambodia compared with similar countries
- Cambodia's 81.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 84.3%, 97% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
- Cambodia's 81.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 97.7%, 84% of the median. (8 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 87.4% | 83.8% | 89.2% | 3 |
| 2010s | 91.3% | 90.2% | 93.2% | 4 |
| 2020s | 81.7% | 81.7% | 81.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Cambodia
More education data for Cambodia
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 107,312 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 124,310 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 199,569 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 201,390 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 1.17 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.27 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.07 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1285 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Cambodia?
- Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Cambodia was 81.7% in 2021, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in Cambodia?
- The highest recorded value was 93.2% in 2019.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in Cambodia?
- The lowest recorded value was 81.7% in 2021.
- How does Cambodia rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes?
- Cambodia ranks 46th out of 57 countries with data for 2021.
- Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in Cambodia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Cambodia data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release