Literacy rate in Cuba
Cuba: Literacy rate was 97.7% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate in Cuba, 1899–2019
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2019, literacy rate in Cuba stood at 97.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate in Cuba peaked at 99.8% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 43.1%, in 1899.
That places Cuba 33rd out of 128 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 10 years of available data.
Literacy rate in Cuba, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1899 | 43.1% | — |
| 1907 | 56.4% | +30.9% |
| 1919 | 61.3% | +8.7% |
| 1931 | 71.8% | +17.1% |
| 1943 | 76.4% | +6.4% |
| 1950 | 77.5% | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 97.8% | +26.3% |
| 2002 | 99.8% | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 99.7% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 97.7% | -2.0% |
Cuba compared with similar countries
- Cuba's 97.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 95.4%, 1.0× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- Cuba's 97.7% is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 94.4%, 1.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 43.1% | 43.1% | 43.1% | 1 |
| 1900s | 56.4% | 56.4% | 56.4% | 1 |
| 1910s | 61.3% | 61.3% | 61.3% | 1 |
| 1930s | 71.8% | 71.8% | 71.8% | 1 |
| 1940s | 76.4% | 76.4% | 76.4% | 1 |
| 1950s | 77.5% | 77.5% | 77.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 97.8% | 97.8% | 97.8% | 1 |
| 2000s | 99.8% | 99.8% | 99.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 98.7% | 97.7% | 99.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Cuba
More education data for Cuba
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 78,576 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 4,635 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 171,121 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 162,406 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 662,491 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 698,052 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -3.62 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2020)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0636 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate in Cuba?
- Literacy rate in Cuba was 97.7% in 2019, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate recorded in Cuba?
- The highest recorded value was 99.8% in 2002.
- What is the lowest literacy rate recorded in Cuba?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.1% in 1899.
- How does Cuba rank for literacy rate?
- Cuba ranks 33rd out of 128 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate rising or falling in Cuba?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Cuba 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.
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About this data
Share of adults who can read and write a simple statement about their everyday life.