Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Spain
Spain: Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes was 98.7% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Spain, 2004–2020
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Spain is 98.7%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Spain peaked at 98.7% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 97.6%, in 2004.
Spain ranks 14th of 57 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Spain, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 97.6% | — |
| 2005 | 98.1% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 98.1% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 98.2% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 97.9% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 98.0% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 98.0% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 98.0% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 98.0% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 98.2% | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 98.3% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 98.3% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 98.4% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 98.6% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 98.7% | +0.1% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 98.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 98.2%, 1.0× the median. (9 countries reporting)
- Spain's 98.7% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 99.9%, 99% of the median. (7 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 98.0% | 97.6% | 98.2% | 6 |
| 2010s | 98.2% | 98.0% | 98.6% | 8 |
| 2020s | 98.7% | 98.7% | 98.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 11 United Arab Emirates 98.8% compare
- 12 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 98.8% compare
- 13 Qatar 98.8% compare
- 15 Panama 98.2% compare
- 16 Palestine, State of 98.0% compare
- 17 Oman 97.9% compare
More education data for Spain
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 344,203 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 37,817 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 570,954 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 538,977 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 3.71 million (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.83 million (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.058 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Spain?
- Adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes in Spain was 98.7% in 2020, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 98.7% in 2020.
- What is the lowest adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 97.6% in 2004.
- How does Spain rank for adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes?
- Spain ranks 14th out of 57 countries with data for 2020.
- Is adult literacy rate, population 15+ years, urban, both sexes rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Spain 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