Literacy rate in Italy
Italy: Literacy rate was 99.3% in 2019. ◆ Volatile
Literacy rate in Italy, 1475–2019
Source: UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2019, literacy rate in Italy stood at 99.3%. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate in Italy peaked at 99.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 15.0%, in 1475.
That places Italy 8th out of 128 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Literacy rate in Italy, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1475 | 15.0% | — |
| 1550 | 18.0% | +20.0% |
| 1650 | 23.0% | +27.8% |
| 1750 | 23.0% | +0.0% |
| 1901 | 51.8% | +125.2% |
| 1911 | 62.8% | +21.2% |
| 1921 | 73.2% | +16.6% |
| 1931 | 78.4% | +7.1% |
| 1950 | 87.5% | +11.6% |
| 1981 | 96.5% | +10.2% |
| 2001 | 98.4% | +2.0% |
| 2011 | 98.8% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 99.3% | +0.5% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 99.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 97.8%, 1.0× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Italy's 99.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 98.5%, 1.0× the median. (25 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Literacy rate in Italy changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | +125.2% | 23.0% | 51.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1470s | 15.0% | 15.0% | 15.0% | 1 |
| 1550s | 18.0% | 18.0% | 18.0% | 1 |
| 1650s | 23.0% | 23.0% | 23.0% | 1 |
| 1750s | 23.0% | 23.0% | 23.0% | 1 |
| 1900s | 51.8% | 51.8% | 51.8% | 1 |
| 1910s | 62.8% | 62.8% | 62.8% | 1 |
| 1920s | 73.2% | 73.2% | 73.2% | 1 |
| 1930s | 78.4% | 78.4% | 78.4% | 1 |
| 1950s | 87.5% | 87.5% | 87.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 96.5% | 96.5% | 96.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 98.4% | 98.4% | 98.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 99.1% | 98.8% | 99.3% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More education data for Italy
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 423,797 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 6,592 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 667,641 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 620,157 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 4.61 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 2.63 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.167 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0445 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate in Italy?
- Literacy rate in Italy was 99.3% 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 Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 99.3% in 2019.
- What is the lowest literacy rate recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.0% in 1475.
- How does Italy rank for literacy rate?
- Italy ranks 8th out of 128 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy 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.