Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Kuwait
Kuwait: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes was 96.5% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Kuwait, 2006–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Kuwait stood at 96.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.8% on the previous year and up 1.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Kuwait peaked at 97.2% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 93.5%, in 2006.
That places Kuwait 25th out of 57 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Kuwait, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 93.5% | — |
| 2007 | 93.8% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 93.9% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 95.0% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 97.0% | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 95.6% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 96.8% | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 97.2% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 97.2% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 96.5% | -0.8% |
Kuwait compared with similar countries
- Kuwait's 96.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 98.2%, 98% of the median. (9 countries reporting)
- Kuwait's 96.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 94.7%, 1.0× the median. (11 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 93.7% | 93.5% | 93.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 96.5% | 95.0% | 97.2% | 6 |
| 2020s | 96.5% | 96.5% | 96.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Kuwait
More education data for Kuwait
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 47,443 (2021)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 11 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 30,349 (2021)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 29,489 (2021)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 302,047 (2015)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 265,113 (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -4.44 % change on previous year (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0608 units per person (2021)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Kuwait?
- Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Kuwait was 96.5% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in Kuwait?
- The highest recorded value was 97.2% in 2018.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in Kuwait?
- The lowest recorded value was 93.5% in 2006.
- How does Kuwait rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes?
- Kuwait ranks 25th out of 57 countries with data for 2020.
- Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in Kuwait?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Kuwait 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