Literacy rate in Malta
Malta: Literacy rate was 93.3% in 2011. ▲ Rising
Literacy rate in Malta, 1950–2011
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 Malta is 93.3%, measured in 2011. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy rate in Malta peaked at 93.3% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 57.5%, in 1950.
That places Malta 66th out of 128 countries with data for 2011, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy rate in Malta, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 57.5% | — |
| 1985 | 86.9% | +51.2% |
| 1995 | 87.9% | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 92.4% | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 93.3% | +1.0% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 93.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 97.8%, 95% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Malta's 93.3% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 93.3%, 1.0× the median. (19 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 57.5% | 57.5% | 57.5% | 1 |
| 1980s | 86.9% | 86.9% | 86.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 87.9% | 87.9% | 87.9% | 1 |
| 2000s | 92.4% | 92.4% | 92.4% | 1 |
| 2010s | 93.3% | 93.3% | 93.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More education data for Malta
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 4,664 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 70 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4,949 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4,626 (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 32,424 (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 27,337 (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.1 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0495 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy rate in Malta?
- Literacy rate in Malta was 93.3% in 2011, according to UNESCO (1957) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy rate recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 93.3% in 2011.
- What is the lowest literacy rate recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.5% in 1950.
- How does Malta rank for literacy rate?
- Malta ranks 66th out of 128 countries with data for 2011.
- Is literacy rate rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malta 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.