Literacy rate in Lebanon
Lebanon: Literacy rate was 92.0% in 2019. ▲ Rising
Latest (2019)
92.0%
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
70th
of 128 countries
All-time high
92.7%
in 2018
All-time low
47.5%
in 1950
Years of data
5
1950–2019
Literacy rate in Lebanon, 1950–2019
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 Lebanon is 92.0%, measured in 2019.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate in Lebanon peaked at 92.7% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 47.5%, in 1950.
Lebanon ranks 70th of 128 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate in Lebanon, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 47.5% | — |
| 2007 | 89.6% | +88.7% |
| 2009 | 91.2% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 92.7% | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 92.0% | -0.7% |
Lebanon compared with similar countries
- Lebanon's 92.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.2%, 1.2× the median. (39 countries reporting)
- Lebanon's 92.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 93.3%, 99% of the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 47.5% | 47.5% | 47.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 90.4% | 89.6% | 91.2% | 2 |
| 2010s | 92.3% | 92.0% | 92.7% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Lebanon
More education data for Lebanon
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 45,252 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 34,874 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 102,145 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 96,517 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 417,800 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 533,550 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.8 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0919 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate in Lebanon?
- Literacy rate in Lebanon was 92.0% 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 Lebanon?
- The highest recorded value was 92.7% in 2018.
- What is the lowest literacy rate recorded in Lebanon?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.5% in 1950.
- How does Lebanon rank for literacy rate?
- Lebanon ranks 70th out of 128 countries with data for 2019.
- Is literacy rate rising or falling in Lebanon?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Lebanon 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.