Literacy rate in Belize
Belize: Literacy rate was 87.9% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
87.9%
World rank
80th
of 128 countries
All-time high
90.9%
in 2015
All-time low
70.3%
in 1991
Years of data
5
1950–2022
Literacy rate in Belize, 1950–2022
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy rate in Belize is 87.9%, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of down 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate in Belize peaked at 90.9% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 70.3%, in 1991.
That places Belize 80th out of 128 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate in Belize, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 77.5% | — |
| 1991 | 70.3% | -9.3% |
| 2000 | 76.9% | +9.4% |
| 2015 | 90.9% | +18.2% |
| 2022 | 87.9% | -3.3% |
Belize compared with similar countries
- Belize's 87.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 95.4%, 92% of the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Belize's 87.9% is below the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 94.4%, 93% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 77.5% | 77.5% | 77.5% | 1 |
| 1990s | 70.3% | 70.3% | 70.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 76.9% | 76.9% | 76.9% | 1 |
| 2010s | 90.9% | 90.9% | 90.9% | 1 |
| 2020s | 87.9% | 87.9% | 87.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Belize
More education data for Belize
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 2,319 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 2,390 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 3,316 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 3,346 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 38,323 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 44,757 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.0671 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1073 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate in Belize?
- Literacy rate in Belize was 87.9% in 2022, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate recorded in Belize?
- The highest recorded value was 90.9% in 2015.
- What is the lowest literacy rate recorded in Belize?
- The lowest recorded value was 70.3% in 1991.
- How does Belize rank for literacy rate?
- Belize ranks 80th out of 128 countries with data for 2022.
- Is literacy rate rising or falling in Belize?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belize data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of adults who can read and write a simple statement about their everyday life.