Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Nepal
Nepal: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes was 72.5% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Nepal, 1981–2019
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2019, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Nepal stood at 72.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 8.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Nepal peaked at 79.3% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 47.4%, in 1981.
Nepal ranks 52nd of 57 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Nepal, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 47.4% | — |
| 2001 | 68.5% | +44.6% |
| 2011 | 79.3% | +15.8% |
| 2016 | 71.7% | -9.6% |
| 2019 | 72.5% | +1.1% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 72.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 84.3%, 86% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 47.4% | 47.4% | 47.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 68.5% | 68.5% | 68.5% | 1 |
| 2010s | 74.5% | 71.7% | 79.3% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More education data for Nepal
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 124,257 (2025)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 263,796 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 752,326 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 609,324 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.67 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.57 million (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.31 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1204 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Nepal?
- Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Nepal was 72.5% in 2019, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 79.3% in 2011.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.4% in 1981.
- How does Nepal rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes?
- Nepal ranks 52nd out of 57 countries with data for 2019.
- Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Nepal 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